Page 39 of Crash Course

“Thank you.” I’m not sure how much they cost but I’m assuming they’re pricier than the tiny pieces of plastic suggest.

I lift one out and turn it in my fingers. “They stay in?”

“Step two.” He steps closer and takes them from me, presses them in my ears.

I bite my lip. It shouldn’t be sexy to have a guy put earbuds on you. But when Theo does it, it kind of is.

He hits a few buttons on his phone and it’s suddenly playing music.

“I could get into this.” I laugh.

I’ve never had a guy give me a gift before. The AirPods are generous and exactly what I need. It’s as if he’s still making amends for the accident even though it wasn’t his fault.

I didn’t know guys like this existed.

“What’s step three?” I ask, probably too loudly.

Theo hits pause on the music, and I reluctantly set the earbuds back in the case.

“Step three is a few of us are going to the city for dinner and karting tonight,” he says. “You should come with.”

Theo Ashford is asking me out.

Theo Ashford, owner of the most devastating smile I’ve ever seen, is asking me out.

He’s just a guy, I remind myself as a little thrill races through me. I’m a grown-up, and why is it I want to spread my legs every time he grins?

I press my thighs together on principle. “You want me to hang out with your friends.”

“Mostly with me. We can ditch them if you want.” Theo’s grin widens.

Tonight is Dad’s night off, so I don’t have to be at the garage.

“Sure. I’ll meet you there.”

“Great.” He brushes a piece of hair behind my ear.

Theo turns and starts back down the hall, reaching for his phone. In a few steps, he’s laughing on the line with someone.

“Remember the part where you were going to stay away from my brother?” Jameson’s irritated voice cuts through my haze.

“Drawing a blank.” I pull out my own phone and manage to connect my earbuds in a few keystrokes. “But I remember a piece of good advice I got recently.”

The tiny case goes in the front pocket of my bag, which goes back over my shoulder. I pop the earbuds back in my ears.

“When someone stands between me and what I want…fuck them.”

When I hit Play on my music, it drowns out whatever he might have said in response.

I take a beat to relish the stunned expression on his unreasonably attractive face before heading back down the hall.

By the time my last class of the day lets out, I’m longing to hang out with Theo. For the chance to forget my responsibilities and just flirt with a hot guy who, for some inexplicable reason, seems to think I’m more interesting than any other person in school.

I go out to my spot, turn on the Mustang, and wince. It’s running more than a little rough because it needs a tune-up, which I haven’t had time for.

Chords blast through the speakers. I don’t usually leave it on this loud.

I put the car in gear and start on the ring road that laps the building. The Mustang cruises slowly but sputters a little. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” streams out.