Page 21 of Stardusted
And then he completely rocked my world.
“Do you want my number?” he asked. “In case you can’t find anyone to get you to your car tomorrow. I’ve got jumper cables at home, and I don’t clock in until seven for the late shift. I can help.”
Did I want hiswhat?
His number? Like…the one to hisphone?Thatnumber?
Fiery blood rushed from my chest to the tips of my ears. My brain lagged behind my mouth, which was moving and betraying me?—
“No. No, it’s fine. I’m fine. I don’t want your number.”
The silence that followed was nothing short of catastrophic.
I went rigid, wide-eyed.
Too late. It was too late to take the words back. I’d just saidno.
Maybe if I stayed perfectly still, the moment would glitch and reset. Maybe if I focused hard enough, the universe would rewind.
But today, on the shittiest of all days, I wasn’t that lucky.
Sky blinked, clearly thrown. His mouth opened, then closed, as if he didn’t quite believe what he’d heard. But after a beat, he shook his head and gave me a crooked half-smile. Bemused. Maybe even a little impressed. “Right. Sure. Okay,” he said lightly. “Well…I’ll see you around then, Rae.”
Oh my God.
I’d just turned down his number.
I wanted to throw myself across the center console and scream,“I meant yes! My alter ego Rachel said no!”But it was too late to backpedal without making it worse.
My skin burned, and my heartbeat did a tap-dance of doom.
“Thanks again,” I managed to choke out before scrambling from the car like it was on fire right along with the rest of my life. I nearly dropped my pile of things, but I managed to hang on as Ishouldered the door shut. I practically sprinted across the street, tripping a little on the curb.
Sky’s SUV idled behind me, purring like a patient cat. He hadn’t pulled away yet, and I was hyper-aware of him watching me.
Staring, probably. Wondering what thehellwas wrong with me. I wished I had that answer.
I fumbled with my keys as I reached the stairwell door, my hand shaking as I jammed the correct one into the deadbolt. I slipped inside without a backward glance.
Only when the door shut behind me did I hear the low rumble of his SUV rolling away. He’d waited until I got inside.
Like a gentleman.
I leaned back against the door and shut my eyes, groaning.
I’d seen a UFO.
I’d wrecked my car.
And for some reason, for some unknown andcompletelyidiotic reason, I’d told Sky Acosta I didn’t want his phone number.
What a freaking day.
But…he’d called me Rae. There was that. I snorted a breathless laugh.
At least he’d remembered my name.
Chapter 7
