Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
I don’t know how I’m going to survive much longer like this. What happens next month if I can’t find the money?
A tear leaks from my eye. I can’t do this. “She lied.”
“Who lied?” he asks as he moves closer to where I am.
I don’t bother to look up. Instead, I focus my attention on my hands, twisting my fingers in my shirt. “My mom.”
A few more steps echo in my brain before he sits beside me, and then my hand is in his hand. “What did she lie about?”
I shut my eyes, fresh liquid collecting behind my lids. “Mom said I was strong. That I’d be okay ...when she was—”
When I stop speaking, Aiden squeezes my hand. “Was what?”
“Gone,” I whisper, hating to say the word.
“Look at me, Pip.” At his words, I do. His arctic blue eyes peer into mine, begging me to listen. “You are strong.”
“No, I’m not. If I were strong…” I stop, a sob lodging in my throat.
His gaze continues to cling to mine. “One day, we’ll both get out of here.”
I nod at his words, hoping, praying for them to be true. “Pinky promise?”
“Pinky promise on my puck.”
We both fall quiet, and then he breaks the silence. “You know, you never talk about her.”
I look up at him, perplexed. “Who?”
A small line creeps up between his brows, and my heart rattles because I know who he’s asking about. I’m just not sure I can talk about her. It’s bad enough he already found me crying. If I open that door, I might never be able to close it.
“Your mom.” Aiden’s voice is soft like he’s treading carefully over this topic. “Tell me about her.”
I bite my lower lip, considering his request. “What do you want me to tell?”
“Anything that makes you happy, Pip.”
I pause and swallow. “Did you know that all Jeeps have a secret?”
Aiden’s eyelid twitches. He’s getting annoyed. “Seriously, Pip. Deflecting again. Talk to me.”
“I am.”
He lets out an exhale. “Tell me about the secret.”
“Nope. Your loss.” I cross my arms at my chest and lift my chin in defiance. If he’s going to act like this, I’m not going to tell him.
“Come on, don’t be like that. Spit it out.”
“Fine,” I huff, and he raises an eyebrow for me to go on. “They all have a secret design.”
“Design? What kind of design?”
“It could be anything. But every Jeep has one, and it’s like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.”
“How do you know this?”
I pause for a moment, my mind drifting back to when I was younger. “We used to have a Jeep when I was little. It was my mom’s favorite car. She always told me stories about the secret character and how it made each Jeep special.”
He looks at me with curiosity. “What kind of stories did she tell you?”
I take a deep breath; my voice feels like it might crack. “One of my last memories, actually. Together, we found the little symbol. It was a tiny lizard hidden on the side mirror. She said that the lizard was a symbol of strength and resilience, and that it would protect the people inside the car. She said I was that lizard. A symbol of strength.” A tugging feeling spreads through my chest. “She said it’s like each Jeep holds a unique secret, just waiting to be discovered. It’s a reminder that there’s something special in every ordinary thing.”
I’ve only shared that with one person.
Aiden.
Did he drive this because of me?
No.
It’s obviously a coincidence.
Jeeps are one of the most popular cars. No way he did it for you. He doesn’t even remember you.
“Not a fan?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts by the bite to his tone. “Or was it not what you expected?”
My eyes narrow at his attitude. He’s defensive, and I haven’t even said a word.
“Not at all. I actually love Jeeps.”
His hands have a white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel as he looks forward.
“What then? Did you expect a Bentley?”
I turn toward him. “You can drive what you want. I didn’t expect anything. Maybe some would, but I’m not like other people, and you seem to keep forgetting that.”
He turns and stares at me. I don’t dare move. I want him to see that I mean it and that I’m a little irked that he’d think so little of me.
“You like it, then?”
I bob my head. “I love it. It’s perfect. I’m a bit jealous. I kinda want my own.”
His eyes narrow slightly, but after a few long, tense moments, his features relax, and he shakes his head, chuckling. “Let’s get out of here.”
While the atmosphere isn’t quite as tense as it was moments ago, he still seems off. Lost in his own head.
What could he be thinking about? I wish I knew.
“You okay?” I ask, and he grunts. I chuckle awkwardly. “Is that a yes, Cassidy? I’m just fine?”