She gives a slight shrug, the tension in her shoulders loosening just a bit.“I’m more of a rock girl.The Grinders are my favorite band.”
Raising an eyebrow at her, I’m impressed.“Old-school respect.You can change the station if you want.”
“They aren’t that old,” Tessa says, a flicker of a smile crossing her lips.I can see the gears in her mind shifting—she’s starting to get comfortable.Good.That’s what I need.
“They’ve been around for over twenty years,” I say, trying to keep my tone light but factual.
“Yeah, but they’ve only just released a new album,” she counters, sounding a little defensive but in a good way.It’s like she’s proud of her favorite band.
Tilting my head slightly, I consider that.“Have they now?I didn’t know that.”
I let the silence stretch for a beat before I speak again, noticing how she’s still glancing at me, her gaze flicking from my hands on the wheel to my eyes.She’s watching me more carefully now as if she’s trying to read something in me.
Then, out of nowhere, she asks, “Why do I feel safe around you?”
I turn my head slightly, my smile just a little tighter now.“Well, you can tell I’m not a threat.”
Her eyes narrow just the slightest bit, studying me for the truth in my words.“But you are, aren’t you?In fact, you might just be the scariest one of them all.”
I laugh, low and rumbling in my chest.Tessa is smarter than I gave her credit for.“How’d you figure that?”
She tilts her head, studying me for a moment before answering.“Here I am, tapping my foot, having a lovely conversation, and I’m not scared.Even though I know I should be.”She pauses, then glances out the window, her fingers tapping on her knee nervously.“How are you doing that?What are you?”
Laughing again, I lean back slightly in my seat.“Didn’t Vex tell you it’s rude to ask one of us that?”
Her lips twitch upward.She’s caught between frustration and curiosity.“Yeah.”
“But you asked anyway?”I question, raising an eyebrow.
“Yep.”
I let out a breath and turn the truck down a dirt road that leads toward the outskirts of the town, the trees around us swaying gently in the breeze.It’s quiet here, peaceful, the kind of quiet that makes you feel as if time slows down.She’s trying to make sense of everything, but there’s only so much I can give her.
Here I am, with her sitting next to me, tense and uncertain, yet I feel Tessa is starting to trust me just a little.It’s all part of the game, part of who I am.
Leaning in closer, I flash her a grin that I know is charming.“Here I was thinking you were smart.It’s part of my personality.I exude friendship.Trust and, dare I say it, love.But...”I wink, “...you’re safe with me.”
Her heart rate skips a beat and speeds up.Aw, crap, I’ve made her nervous.The subtle shift in her pulse doesn’t go unnoticed, and I can almost hear it thudding in the quiet truck, even over the hum of the engine and the music playing in the background.
Glancing at her, my smile softens, but I keep my tone casual, trying to ease the tension I’ve just caused.“Would you like me to drop you at home or the diner?”
Her eyes flicker toward me before she answers a little too quickly, as if she’s trying to shake off whatever I stirred in her.“The diner.”
I raise an eyebrow at that, my mind already working over the possibilities.“Safety in numbers?”I ask, letting the words come out light, but there’s a hint of curiosity behind them.
She glances out the window, avoiding my gaze now, and I notice the way her fingers twitch against her leg, the little signs of anxiety that she’s trying to mask.
“Yeah,” she says quietly, almost to herself.“I guess so.”
I can tell there’s more to it, but I don’t press.The truck shifts from gravel to asphalt, the smoothness beneath us signaling we’re getting close to town.
“You know...”I say, my voice steady, “...both Blade and Vex meant it when they said we won’t harm you.With both of them making that promise, if one of us hurt you, they’d kill us.”I keep my eyes on the road, watching her out of the corner of my eye.I don’t want to make this feel too heavy, but she needs to understand.
Tessa’s eyes go wide, and I can feel the tension in the air as her pulse picks up.“Did you tell me that to relax me?’Cause it doesn’t help,” she mutters, her voice a little shaky.
Chuckling, I shake my head and glance over at her.“Nope.I told you that so you’d know they were sincere.Think about it, Tessa.We’ve lived here for a while, and we haven’t killed anyone in town.”I let the words sink in, trying to offer some reassurance.
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.“That we know of,” she quips, and I can’t help but laugh at her sharpness.
