My Wolf's Bane (12 page)

I shrugged. “She started it.”

“Which required bullying?” he asked.

My fists clenched. To prevent myself from looking any worse, I backed up and made a sweeping gesture toward Gina. “She’s all yours.”

“Thanks, Zack.” Gina rubbed her shoulder — which I hadn’t even touched — while gazing up at Zack with wide, moist eyes. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up. We’re still on for Saturday, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you later. I need a minute with Autumn.” He glanced at me, one eyebrow up as though I’d misbehaved.

Gina moved behind Zack where he couldn’t see, then smirked.

I wanted to slap her. To keep myself from going after Gina, I focused on Zack. “Why are you even here? You’re
always
around.”

He shook his head. “Extortion is beneath you, don’t you think? Well, maybe not.”

“How do you know I wasn’t demanding
my
things?” My nostrils flared and I raged inside, my body vibrating. “Never mind. Just get out of my way.” I was too incensed to stick around. I stormed past him and down the hall toward my car, praying it would start. I needed to get away before I detonated.

Much to my relief, my car fired up right away.

At home, I stomped through the house and tried to think of anything that would calm me down. Wait. Where was my backpack? It contained all my homework.

In my locker at school.

After Gina had distracted me, I’d forgotten about it. I wanted to weep in frustration.

Hearing my phone beep, I tried to remember where I’d left my purse during my fit of fury when I’d flown through the front door. Spotting it on the kitchen table, I rummaged through it. Two texts from my mom.

Sweetie, check your email STAT.

I scrolled to the next message.

Check ur email. Why arent u answering ur txts?

Apparently, I’d been too emotionally distraught to hear my phone go off. My fingers flitted over the keyboard in reply. My poor parents were probably worked into a frenzy imagining all the reasons, none of them good, why I hadn’t answered.

I’m fine. Checking email now.

I sprinted up the stairs, raced to my laptop and rapidly scanned my inbox.

Hi Sweetie,

We love Arizona. In fact, we’ve decided to stay a few extra days past the completion of your father’s job. We’d like to see the Grand Canyon and there’s an art festival coming up. We plan to come home before going to Montana, but we’ll be in touch with the return flight details.

We’re very sorry to miss your birthday, but to make up for it, we’ve decided to buy you that car you keep nagging us for. Isn’t that something?

Shocking, actually. But the last thing I’d do was question it and risk them doing a take-back. I eagerly read on.

However, we do have some stipulations.

Of course they would.

We’d like you to hang onto the money you’ve been saving for a car until we can get together and agree on its use. In other words, don’t blow it on a shopping spree.

The second condition is that you not buy a brand new car due to how much it depreciates once you’ve driven it off the lot.

Mom, always practical.

We don’t care what kind of car you buy

Score!

so long as it gets decent gas mileage, has enough power to get you out of a tight jam when necessary and has low miles.

I could handle that.

Our last condition is that the car must be thoroughly inspected by someone at the auto shop. We’d prefer Timothy, but we trust him to delegate it to someone competent.

Oh, almost forgot. We wired fifteen thousand dollars into your account. Use it to pay for the mechanic, the car and whatever else car-related that pops up.

             
Fifteen grand? Woo-freakin’-hoo.

We trust you to make good choices. Happy shopping. And happy birthday. We love you.

Love, Mom and Dad

Hallelujah! A new car! Who knew blackmail could be so rewarding?

I didn’t need to be told twice. I speedily typed in a message full of thanks and telling them I was off to see Timothy. Scooping up my purse, I flew out the door. Memories of my rotten day faded and I could barely contain my excitement as I drove the three miles to the auto shop.

After arriving at the garage, I waited until Timothy finished with a customer, then approached the counter.

“Hi, Autumn. Problem with your car?”

“Not exactly.” I explained the situation, the words spewing from my mouth.

“No problem,” Timothy said. “When you find the car you want, give me a fifteen minute warning and drive it over.”

“I have to bring it
here
?” I squeaked. “And if it doesn’t pass your inspection, I have to return it and start all over with a different car?”

“That’s the way it’s done.” Tim seemed like he felt sorry for me, but not enough to give in. “I have too much work to do here at the shop.”

“It’s just that I don’t know the first thing about cars. I could bring you twenty before finding a keeper. I’d be happy to pay one of your employees to go with me.” There would still be plenty in the budget for a great car.

“I’m sorry, Autumn.” He shook his head. “I wish I could help you.”

Oh, no. This couldn’t be happening. My parents’ behavior was totally out of character and I couldn’t blow my chance before they snapped out of it. I mean, hello? Wiring fifteen grand when a week ago they could barely leave me alone for an hour? Who knew how long the aliens would control them?

My eyes teared. “But I know zilch about cars.”

“You know what?” Timothy rubbed his chin. “I have a part-time kid I can spare for a couple days or so. Just for you.”

That was when I felt it. His presence. Oh, God, please no. As if in slow motion, I turned to see Zack getting out of his Jeep. He’d changed into a navy blue shirt that matched Timothy’s.

Could it be that the future of my car was now in Zack’s hands?

He approached, eyes narrowed at me.

“Autumn, this is Zack. Zack, you’re going to help this nice, young lady find a car her parents would approve of. You’re in a hurry, right, Autumn?”

I nodded.

“We can do without you for a few days while you take care of her. Work out the schedule with Autumn.” He switched to me again. “You guys are good customers, so I’ll only charge you twenty bucks an hour.” 

Totally doable. “Great.”

“Did you want to start today?” Timothy asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. “You’ve still got time before car dealers close.”

Could I handle another dose of Zack so soon after the Gina incident? The answer was clear. If it meant getting my car even one day sooner, yes. “If he’s up for it.”

Zack groaned, but too low for Timothy to hear. “Isn’t there anyone else who can do this?” 

Timothy cocked his head, eyes turning into slits. “You’re not qualified to advise her on a car?”

“I am, sir, but—”

“Excellent.” Timothy jotted an address on a slip of paper and handed it to me. “I suggest Abraham’s Auto Sales. They have good, affordable cars and they’re close by. At Weatherly, go south and it’s right on the corner.” He swiveled to his left and looked past me. “May I help you?”

A woman to my right bellied up to the counter.

Reluctantly facing Zack, I said, “You ready to go?”

“Can we take mine as opposed to…” He eyed my car.

“If we take mine, maybe I can trade it in.”

“Or sell it privately and get more for it,” Zack countered.

“Okay. I just need to lock it up.” I headed toward the Taurus.

“Yeah, because there’s someone out there who’s dying to steal that car.”

I turned and glared.

He gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist.”

I gave him a look that said I wasn’t amused, then forged on. Inside my car, I rolled up the windows, then got out and closed the driver’s side. Something didn’t sound right. The door hung off kilter, so I bumped it with my hip and it closed fully. I backed up and stared at the indentation my thigh had made. Great. Like my car wasn’t unsightly enough.

Willing myself to relax, I jumped into the Jeep and strapped on the seatbelt. The vehicle began to move.

“Want the radio on?” he asked.

Would Zack bond with me over a favorite song? Not likely. But the music might keep my mind off the awkwardness of being stuck with him. “Sure,” I said.

He fiddled with the radio until he found a station with The White Stripes and their beats pounded from the speakers.

The ratty soft-top wasn’t airtight and the windows were down. Tendrils of hair escaped and whipped me in the face. I gathered most of it into a ponytail with one hand while my other hand stayed busy trying to capture the rebels.

“Would you like the window up?” Zack asked.

I spared him a quick glance. “Uhm, sure.”

Without hesitation, he rolled it up. “Want the air on?”

“Why are you being so accommodating?” My eyes narrowed.

“We’re not at school, Autumn. This is
work
. Timothy needs to hear I was courteous and professional.” He sighed. “I need this job. I have to save enough money, so I’m okay when…” His words trailed off.

My stomach tightened as I remembered what Maya told me about his mom and how she was dying. The thought of him being left parentless made me wonder what were the right words to say.

“Anyway...” Zack shifted in his seat. “Was that a yes on the A/C?”

I quickly averted my gaze. “Yes, please.”

He reached over to adjust the air and my eyes drifted to his well-defined forearms. Who knew arms could be so sexy? And he had confidence — the most powerful aphrodisiac known to womankind. He was decent too, always there when I needed him, even if he was a bit reluctant about it. When he was polite, I actually
liked
him. How would he act if he didn’t dislike me? That would be interesting.

Oh, God, no! Contemplating being with Zack in any other way than as my mechanic or classmate would lead to disappointment, since he thought I was a snob and all. I couldn’t allow myself to crush on him. But wasn’t I already doing that? I’d switched from a twisted pervert who loved me too much to an ill-mannered oaf who didn’t like me at all.

What was wrong with me? The super-powers had given me some sort of dementia or something. Panic swept through me and I panted, almost hyperventilating. In horror at my physical reaction, I ripped my gaze from him, stared out the window and tried to stay calm.

Zack was so right. I had lousy taste in guys. 

I felt his eyes on me. “Are you okay? Do I need to pull over?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” My heart pounded and a rush of heat spread through me. “A little nervous about car shopping.”

He chuckled. “Driving a new car instead of that deathtrap is cause for anxiety?”

I fanned myself with my hand. “I need to find something that fits my parent’s criteria or they might retract their offer.”

“What’s the criteria?”

“It needs to be reliable without lagging when it should be moving. It has to be good on gas with low miles. Most important, it needs a thumbs-up by Timothy for under fifteen grand.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard.” He turned into a driveway of a super-sized used car lot. “Any idea what I should keep an eye out for? Sedan? SUV? Something sporty maybe?”

“Uhm.” I blinked. “I don’t know.”

He looked at me like I’d just set fire to a wad of cash. “You drive an ancient car and you haven’t thought about what you’d rather be driving?”

“I...” My tongue twisted up. “Yeah, I’ve thought about it, of course. But I wasn’t expecting my parents to chip in, so I was working with a much smaller budget and researched accordingly.”

Zack jumped out of the car and dove into an ocean of metal and wheels, with me trailing behind.

“Tell me what you
don’t
like so we can rule those out.”