Was I really going to do something so incredibly stupid?
Yeah. I was.
I sat in the car and looked around at all the buttons. This was much more complicated than a go-cart. I sighed and picked up my phone. YouTube would teach me what I needed to know. After skimming through a few videos and locating the important pieces of the car, I think I understood enough of the basics.
I leaned down to figure out the buttons to move the seat so I could reach the gas and brake pedals. My head jerked up a second later when I heard a thunk on my door. My eyes widened when I saw Kingston’s grinning face in the window, and I scrambled for the lock button to keep him out. A second of fumbling cost me my chance at escape because it locked a second too late.
The front passenger door had already opened to reveal Maverik and his insufferable smirk. He slid in the seat next to me, and I scowled at him.
“What?” he asked as he made himself comfortable.
“You know what,” I growled in irritation. “Get out.”
“No way!” Kingston laughed as he climbed in the back. “Mav and I have been wanting to take this baby out for a spin since Dad had it delivered, but we haven’t wanted to risk his wrath just yet.”
I blinked at him in surprise. “I thought this SUV looking thing would be less obvious than one of the sports cars.”
Kingston grabbed his heart as if he were in pain. “Sis, you are sitting in the fastest SUV on the planet. We’re talking 0-to-60 in 3.6 seconds flat and up to 190 miles per hour while sitting in a cocoon of luxury that rivals a palace. This is the infamous Lamborghini Urus.”
“Why not just get a sports car?” I asked with a frown.
Maverik rolled his eyes. “You could take this baby off-roading in the snow and ice with four of your favorite friends and have it handle like a dream.”
“Or hot chicks you want to impress,” Kingston added.
“Whatever,” I said with a shrug. “Are we done here?”
“Not even close,” Kingston laughed. “Start it up, and let’s go.”
“No,” I said irritably. “The two of you need to get out.” I turned to Maverik. “Especially you.”
Maverik adjusted his seat and then met my eyes. “Is this about your best friend betraying your trust? Because you can hardly blame his poor decisions on me.”
I glared at him. “I can blame you for being a manipulative asshole. Ryan has been there for me through everything. Now he’s going through some shit, and I’m not going to leave him to suffer alone.”
“Fine,” Maverik said with a shrug.
“I think a drive in one of the hottest cars on the planet might make you feel better, Kitty Kat,” Kingston said as he popped his head between the front seats. “Dad had this one custom made for him, so it’s a one of a kind.”
I flushed with embarrassment. “Uh, it sounds like this might be important to your dad. Maybe we shouldn’t.”
Maverik smirked, and I hated how hot he looked with his dark scruff and full lips. “You were ready to go just a minute ago. Don’t let us stop you.”
I bit my lower lip. Making it to the school by coasting and hoping no one noticed me was a big difference from having these guys witness my struggle to figure out how to drive for the first time. But I was already pissed at Maverik. Admitting I didn’t know how to drive felt like handing him yet another victory.
He examined me closely, and I knew his grey eyes saw too much. “Here, I’ll hit the start button so you can say I helped you take the car.”
The engine purred to life, and I swallowed nervously.
“Despite its speed capabilities, it’s quite safe,” Maverik said casually. “If we turn on the lane-keeping assist and a traffic sign recognition, it can practically drive itself.”
“Maybe just a short drive,” I murmured.
I knew I was being stupid, and I should get out of the car right now, but I couldn’t hold back the excitement that was bubbling up inside of me. Being able to drive would give me the freedom that was taken away from me when I moved to Bedford. I hated being trapped in the house with no way out, and this was my chance to fly free.
I looked over at Maverik. If he wanted to give me a free driving lesson, I’d take it. I’d let him show me the basics, then pretend to go back to my ballet studio. Once I was sure the guys were busy elsewhere, I’d sneak off again.
Maverik was the whole reason I was here right now. He poisoned Ryan against me, so it was only fair that I use him to fix things.
Is it really his fault, though? A tiny voice said deep down inside of me.
I immediately pushed it away. Of course, it was his fault; Ryan wouldn’t just wake up one morning and decide to change his entire life for no reason. Ryan was hurting, and I needed to be there to help him through this crisis.
Maverik was shockingly patient with me as I awkwardly put the car in drive. I pressed down on the accelerator, and the car shot forward. I panicked and slammed my foot down on the brake, making us screech to a halt.
Kingston wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, so he slammed into the back of my seat and laughed. “You don’t even have a fucking license, do you?”
I ignored him,
