Page 55 of Something Tattered
"Mine."
"Really?" I gave it a closer look. It wasn't just expensive. It was exotic. I didn't know what to make of it. I looked back to Joel. "It's a lot different from the Camaro."
"Yeah," Joel said. "It's got plates."
License plates?Was that a joke? If so, I was too distracted to appreciate it. "But about the Camaro," I said. "Why didn't you return it? I mean, if you have a car of your own–"
"That's not why I took it."
I felt my brow wrinkle. "So why did you?"
Joel's gaze darkened. "Payback."
"Oh." The Camaro had been a total heap. Obviously, his brother didn't have a lot of money. It seemed almost cruel to take his car, regardless of the circumstances. Unless I was missing something?
"Payback?" I said. "So like your brother owed you money?"
"No. But he owed mesomething."
I bit my lip. "But isn't your brother missing it?"
"The Camaro?" Joel gave a low laugh. "Oh yeah. He's missing it."
I didn't get the joke. "What's so funny?"
"If you knew my brother, you wouldn’t ask."
"But Idon'tknow him," I said. "Does he know you have it?"
"Oh yeah. He called."
"When?" I asked.
Joel gave it some thought. "A few weeks ago."
My jaw dropped. "You stole it – I mean,borrowedit, or whatever – a fewweeksago? Doesn't he need it back?"
"No." Joel smiled. "But hewantsit."
I stiffened. "I'm sure he does. Are youeverplanning to return it?"
Joel considered the question. "I dunno. Maybe. Maybe not."
I almost didn't know what to say. It was like Joel had two personalities. One was a total sweetheart, and the other was a cold-hearted bastard.
At something in my expression, he said, "Trust me. He can do without it."
I looked at the car Joel was driving today. It was beyond nice. I considered the car he'd swiped from his brother. It was a hunk of junk – something you'd only drive if you were destitute.
I crossed my arms. "If you say so."
His jaw tightened. "So, you're taking his side?"
Was I? Probably. I couldn’t help it. I felt bad for him. It was true that I lived in a mansion, but I knew what it was like to worry about money – and now, cars too.
The thing with the Camaro was hitting too close to home. Aside from towing my mom's car on Friday night, Derek had sent someone over on Saturday to pick up the Porsche.
Supposedly, both cars were being looked at. In reality, I wasn't so sure. Either way, I'd be riding my bicycle to work.
