Chapter 5

JUNE

The distant hum of the traffic matched June's restless thoughts. Should she run? hide? If she did, Ollie wouldn't find her for sure. Quite frankly, she couldn't understand why she was here, waiting for him. She'd only agreed to the ride to get him off his back, not that she meant it, right? So why was her feet somehow rooted here and ummoving?

Getting into his car was probably a wrong move. What if he misread this? Or worse, what if he expected something in return for a ride?

As the thought churned her mind, June decided leaving was the best option. It was better to be gone before he showed up.

She started walking away when she noticed a sleek sport car pulled up beside her. She didn’t have to look to know it was him, but she didn’t stop walking either.

The car window rolled down, and that smooth, velvety voice she hated how good it sounded drifted her way. "Didn’t take you for a promise-breaker."

She rolled her eyes. Damn his voice. "You were taking too long." she muttered, though he hadn’t been. He was early, if anything.

Ollie pulled over, and blocked her path, before stepping out. He rounded the car with this confident stride that only annoyed her more, opened the passenger door, and looked down at her. Even much more annoying, she had to tilt her head up to hold his gaze. Why did he have to be so damn tall?

June hesitated. "This ride's free, right?"

A beat passed before he answered with an unreadable face. "Yes?"

"Why the hesitation?" Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm perplexed." He scratched his jaw. "Why would i charge you after I offered you a ride?"

"Oh." June visibly relaxed. She clearly didn't want to misunderstand anything here. "Right"

June climbed in and murmured a reluctant "thank you."

Few minutes into the drive, June found herself giving in to sleep. The car's warmth enveloped her in a cozy way that she hated to admit. She was tired from working long shifts since early morning and his car looked like the perfect place to relax.

The inside of his car was polished, clean and looked well taken care of. His, clean, woodsy, sophisticated scent filled the space around her.

She was surprised that his car was in a good condition. Men like him didn't always care about what they own because they could just buy another one in a blink. This didn't mean he was any different from them, though. They were all still the same, cocky, very wealthy and entitled. Also annoying. Very annoying. Particularly him.

As they drove, the gentle purr of the engine and the warmth made it impossible to keep her eyes open. She fought it at first, blinking rapidly, but the exhaustion deep in her bones won.

Ollie's voice cut through the haze. "Long day?"

She jolted awake, her heart jumping. "What?" Her voice was sharp, too sharp, but he didn’t flinch. "What?" She said in a less agitated manner.

"I asked if you’ve had a long day." His tone was calm.

"You have no idea." She sighed and reclined further into the seat, finally letting her body give in to the comfort. It wasn’t like she’d had much choice today. It was all Ollie's fault. He wouldn't leave her if she didn't agree. So it was also his fault that she was enjoying herself.

"If you’d like, I could offer you a ride regularly." he said lazily, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

June was quick to say a "no." She allowed him to give her a ride because he was persistent and relentless. This was never happening again. The next time she saw him, she was ignoring him. "This is a one time thing."

"Sure it is."

She ignored him and look out of the window.

Even she knew there was never a one time thing with Ollie. He was too thick headed. To be frank, he was the only decent person she'd talked to today. Their conversation almost put a smile on her face. Almost because June would never smile to a man's face.

As they stopped at a red light, the billboard for Queen Burger caught her eye. Her stomach growled, loud enough that she glanced at Ollie, hoping he hadn't heard. She’d barely eaten since morning, and the thought of sinking her teeth into a burger made her mouth water.

Ollie asked, like he’d read her mind. "Want one?"

"Yes." The word slipped out without a single thought. "No." She sat up and reverted her answer immediately. "No." She shook her head.

A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips, but he said nothing as the light turned green and he steered the car into the Queen Burger parking lot. June frowned. "I said no."

"I’m getting one for myself." He shrugged, already parking the car.

"Oh," she sank back into her seat.

When he returned with two burgers and extended one towards her, she eyed him.

"Go ahead, it's for you," he said.

The delicious aroma made her want to snatch it out of his hand, but she looked away. "I don't want it." A blatant lie. She wanted it more than anything.

"It’s rude to eat mine and not offer you one,"

She shot him a side glance. The sight of the wrapped burger almost made her go back on her words. Almost. "I said no."

"Would you have gotten yours alone?" Ollie said. "I didn't take you for a selfish person, June."

"I wouldn't have." She shot back, telling on herself.

"Then take it"

With a reluctant sigh, June took it from his hand. "Because you begged me to."

"If it makes you breath better." He leaned back and she rolled her eyes.

The moment she bit into the burger, a satisfied groan escaped her. God, she missed this so much. She had to slow herself to avoid devouring the whole thing in seconds. When she was finished, her stomach was full and her mind was quieter. She was even in a relatively better mood than minutes ago. God, the wonders eating a satisfying junk do.

Ollie handed her a milkshake from the console.

"Chocolate peanut butter?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She eyed him suspiciously. "It’s my favorite."

"I'm not a psychic, June. I just asked what milkshake's perfect after a long day."

"Thanks." She took a sip, the creamy, salty-sweet taste drawing another contented sigh from her.

When she was done draining it, she reached for her bag. "I should probably pay you back." She fumbled for her phone.

"Ah, because when you offer people things, you always make them pay you back." He said, teasingly.

"I don't." She bit out.

"I don't either." He says as if he was unfazed by how defensive she got.

Comforting silence enveloped them throughout the ride. When she opened her eyes back, the car had stopped moving. For some reason, her heart didn't skip a fearful beat when her eyes began to make sense of her unfamiliar interior.

“We’ve arrived at the address you gave me, but I don’t see a house around,”

When she turned to Ollie he was glancing around.

June undid her seatbelt and sat up. "Where I live isn't far from here." When his eyebrows furrowed, she added. "You didn’t think I’d let a stranger know where I live."

His face lit up with grin. "Love it when you put me in my place, baby."

"I'm not your baby." She snapped, but he just shrugged it off, unfazed. She shook his head at him and turned toward the door, pushing it open. "Bye."

When she was out, she knocked at the window.

As the window rolled down, June leaned in slightly. "Thanks." She said while avoiding his gaze. "For the ride and the burger." She grumbled before quickly walking away without another glance back.