Chapter Sixteen, Car Cherry #2
Her lips curled into a small, almost fond smile, and for a moment, I was caught off guard by how… sad she seemed. “Good for him. It’s the best candy.”
She reached for a bag of sour candy, tossing it into her basket with the same precision she seemed to carry herself with. Like even picking up candy was something that required focus and care.
I smiled back, feeling a little more at ease. “Yeah, he thinks so, too. Anyway, I hope you have a great day.”
The woman paused for a moment, her dark eyes lingering on me as if she were trying to figure something out. Then, with a nod, she said, “See you around, Blue.”
Before I could say anything else, she turned and walked away, her long black hair swaying behind her like a cape.
Blue? That was new. Oddly… familiar.
She didn’t even sound sarcastic about it, which was nice, I guess. Maybe all my skills with women hadn’t gone entirely. There was still some hope for me.
Shaking my head, I cursed myself silently for being such an awkward mess. Clearly, I needed to get out more. I couldn’t even have a normal conversation with a stranger without turning into a bumbling fool.
Just as I was about to wander off, Atlas reappeared, gross protein bars in hand. He walked up beside me; his presence instantly calmed my nerves.
“You didn’t do anything menacing that I need to punish you for, did you?” He sounded hopeful and not.
“Of course not,” I grinned. “I was right here, making friends. Being cool and chilled out. Totally normal, like a normal girl.” I did a couple of gun finger moves, fully cementing my calm vibe. Not at all blushing and wondering if I needed to take more drugs when I got home.
Atlas’s brows furrowed, his sharp gaze sweeping the aisle before landing back on me. “Friends?”
I shrugged, pushing the cart toward the checkout now that we were done and could pay. “Met a lady who likes sour candy. She called me Blue. I said she was pretty. It was a real fun time and not at all awkward.”
He chuckled as he placed his hand on the small of my back. “I’m sure you were fine. Nobody could dislike you. You’re sweet and soft and delicious.”
“I’m actually very dangerous,” I teased, leaning into his touch as we made our way to the counter.
“And I don’t think being delicious is something other people would know.
Not unless there’s a serial licker running around in the woods, desperate to find an innocent person to wipe his filthy tongue on. ”
“If I roamed the woods, I’d lick you. So I can’t blame him.” Atlas mused as he unpacked our goods and refused to let me help. “But if someone does lick you other than me and Gio, then tell me. I’ll cut their tongues out and gift them to you.”
The checkout lady didn’t even blink at the ridiculous amount of junk food we were buying.
She scanned each item with the kind of bored efficiency that came from years of working in a small-town store, her gum snapping in her mouth as she asked if we wanted some bags.
Once more I zoned out, leaving Atlas to pack them, then load them into the truck because he refused to let me help.
He was almost insulted at the idea that he would stand there and watch me do menial tasks, and as much as I enjoyed doing things for myself, I was not a freak. If a pretty man wanted to treat me like a princess, then you bet your ass I was sticking on a crown and relaxing.
“Heaven.” He called my name when he closed the back door on our goods. “Do you wanna drive?”
My brows rose, pink glossy lips parting. “Are you sure? You’re gonna have to do the stick stuff.”
“I’ll teach you how to do it.” He opened the driver’s side door for me, ushering me inside and slapping my ass when I wriggled past him.
Giggling, I got comfortable in his chair. The seat was brought higher, and closer to the wheel. The wheel was adjusted a little, then I tweaked the mirror. By the time Atlas was belted in beside me, I’d moved every setting he had and thoroughly made the truck mine.
“I’m going to forget to change it all back.” I murmured as I grabbed the wheel, fingers flexing. “Just so when you climb in next, you get all squished and stuff.”
“I don’t mind.” He chuckled, leaving me to my staring at the unfamiliar gearstick like it was the control panel of a spaceship. Obviously, it wasn’t my first time driving, but the last time I’d tried a stick, it hadn’t gone so well.
Granted, I didn’t have a drugged up gang leader in the trunk.
He was just at home in the role all men ought to have had; house husband.
Okay, sometimes he could have his own hobbies too.
But mostly stuff for me. He made great food, and I liked food.
Plus, he was pretty. And who didn’t want to look at a pretty face as they made you dinner?
That was really the only point of men. Otherwise, they were just there, giving unwanted opinions and spreading their cooties without care.
“Alright, malyshka,” Atlas said, his deep voice laced with a calm authority that should’ve been reassuring.
Instead, it made me hyper-aware of the fact that he was about to trust me with his precious truck and life.
“First things first—clutch, brake, gas. You’ve got three pedals now, not just two. Know which one’s which?”
“Ha-ha,” I deadpanned, wiggling my toes against the pedals like I was warming up for a recital. I was glad I’d worn flats and not heels now. “Yes, I know which is which. I’m not completely clueless.”
He explained each of the gears, his words short, sharp and fast. I did my best to listen and actually remember them all.
Surprisingly, it didn’t sound half as bad as I thought it would.
But again, I really wasn’t stressed now.
Gio wasn’t being kidnapped. I wasn’t panicking about being murdered.
I was relaxed, smelling like strawberries and full of our pancake breakfast. My makeup was flawless, my clothes were comfortable and cute.
My period pains had vanished when I’d woken up.
I was basically a god today. I could do this shit. Easy.
“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get all Fast and Furious in this bitch.
” In my past life, I reckoned I was a street racer.
Maybe one who had a cute pink Subaru with neon lights inside.
A girl I’d gone to high school with had one, and she always looked hot as fuck behind the wheel.
I wanted to be hot. Hot and dangerous. They were my life goals.
“Good,” Atlas leaned back in his seat with a smirk that made me hot and bothered. “Let’s see what you can do.”
Taking a deep breath, I pressed the clutch all the way down and started the engine. The truck growled to life, a deep, throaty sound that made me feel like I was about to tame a beast.
“Okay, now put it in first.” He slid his hand onto my thigh, tattooed fingers slightly cool and soft.
I reached for the gearstick, fumbling a little as I shifted into first. But doing it all the same.
“Good girl. Now, nice and easy on the gas,” he said, watching me closely. “Release the clutch slowly. It’s all about balance. You only want to do it a little at a time.”
“Balance,” I repeated under my breath, like I was trying to summon the power of the universe to aid me. My foot eased off the clutch, but the truck lurched forward with all the grace of a dying fish before jerking to a complete stop.
Atlas chuckled as I cursed. “Not bad for your first try. Let’s go again.”
I shot him a glare, my cheeks heating. “Not bad? I just gave you whiplash.”
He squeezed my leg, smile still firm. “Relax, Heaven. You’re not going to break me. I promise. Just try once more, but go a bit slower still.”
It took a few more tries—and a lot more stalling—but eventually; I eased the truck into motion. The wheels rolled forward, slow and steady, and my heart swelled with a weird mix of pride and relief as we headed home.
I was driving a stick. Me. Heather Motherfucking Kane. Fuck, I really was a God. A car wizard. A driver. Racer. Ruler of the streets.
The gears shifted, and the car groaned as I stalled and clipped a piece of fence on the side of the road. But that was fine. It was in a stupid location, anyway. Who had a fence outside the front of their yard? Idiots.
“See?” Atlas said, his tone bordering on smug. “You’re a natural. You’re doing such a good job.”
“Oh, please,” I shot back, gripping the wheel like my life depended on it. “I’m about as natural at this as I am at being a murderous goth.”
That earned me a laugh, a rare sound that made my stomach do a weird little flip. I loved hearing him laugh. He didn’t do it nearly enough. Especially lately.
I wanted to make him laugh more. All the time. So much so that he died of hysteria, like my computer minions did in The Sims. Just because it was their birthday, they liked the decor, and their creepy neighbor had told them a joke as they forced their unwanted cakes on me.
Atlas didn’t say anything when I fucked up. He just kept giving me calm, clear instructions, his voice a steady anchor that kept me from panicking every time I messed up.
“You’re doing good,” he said as we hit the main road toward our cabin, his pretty, blue eyes flicking between me and the surroundings. “Better than most people on their first real try.”
I glanced at him, trying not to let the compliment go to my head. “I think I could do this again. It’s not as scary as it was last time.”
“I want you to be comfortable in a car,” he replied. “Not just for emergencies, but for you. If you ever need to go somewhere without us—whether it’s because you’re in danger or because you just want some time to yourself—I want you to have that option.”
I tightened my grip on the wheel, his words sinking in. It wasn’t just about teaching me a skill. It was about giving me freedom. Independence. Choices I hadn’t had before because I hadn’t been able to afford them. Or had people to teach me.
He was making sure I could survive and thrive regardless of what happened, and I… I loved that. I loved him.