Page 104 of Ice Darling
“And you said yes?” I keep my voice low, so Mills can’t hear and report to Mom later. “Personal errands are not under the purview of a financial director.”
“I’m more than just an employee for the Davenports, Delia. I’m also a friend. Sasha is like a mother to me.”
Great. Seems like Mom was more of a mother to Brennon than she ever was to me.
“Seatbelt,” Mills says, looking pointedly at me in the rearview mirror.
“Oh, sorry.” I strap myself in.
“Hold on, Mills, let me scoot on over.” Brennon, who was seated in the middle row, slides a seat away from me. I would have thought nothing of it, but he adds, “And can you wind the windows down, please. There’s a really strong scent in here.”
“Of course,” Mills obliges. The whirr of a window sliding down fills the car.
Brennon looks me over, his nose scrunching at the sight of my work over-alls. “Is that motor oil? Or something else?”
“I don’t know.” I lift my arm to sniff myself. “Could be the oil. Or coolant. Or transmission fluid. I was in the middle of a job when you came.”
He checks his watch. “We’re not in a rush, so you can take a quick shower and change before we start the tour.”
“I’m not changing.”
He smooths a hand over his tie. “You’re…not?”
“It’s Lucky Falls. No one bats an eye when people dress like this.” I gesture to my tank top beneath the over-alls.
Brennon’s left eye starts twitching, but his voice remains calm. “You do realize we’ll be meeting a realtor and touring expensive properties.”
“I’m aware of what I’m here for, yes.”
“And you won’t change?”
“This is taking time out of my work. When I’m done here, I’m going back to the garage and putting a truck back together.”
“Yes, I saw thattentand the cars—is it even legal to call that place a garage?”
Wow. Has Brennon always been so judgmental? He’d always been kind to me. Smart, too. There was no sport, class, or competition he didn’t win. Everything seemed to come easily to him.
On the other hand, I was awkward, quiet around strangers, and didn’t like being in the spotlight. Back then, being Brennon’s friend felt like the greatest gift in the world. I thought he hung the moon.
So why does he seem so ugly now? Hashechanged, or have I?
“Don’t look at me like that, Dee-Dee. I’m not trying to insult you. It’s fine if you want to meet the realtor looking like that.”
Brennon turns away, and I notice him clipping his nose.
My jaw tightens, and I turn in the other direction, giving him my back.
No wonder Mom is trying to set me up with Brennon. She doesn’t understand me at all.
I wish I was with Renthrow and Gordie instead.
I shake the thought away and lean my forehead on the cool, glass window.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Renthrow
“So we’ve got your agreement?” I look at Theilan and Watson across the table. “You’re coming to the scrimmage on Sunday?”
