Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“Crap, I forgot to start my car,” I said as we got outside. Thankfully, the sun was shining, and the temperature felt halfway decent.
“Can I drive?”
My automatic response to his asking before had been no, but he needed to learn, and I was going to be the one to teach him.
“Have you driven your mom’s car at all?”
Cutter nodded. “Around town. Mostly to and from school.”
“All right.” I unlocked the doors, and Cutter got in, tossing his basketball into the back seat. I sat in the passenger seat and mentally ran through the basics.
“Press the brake and push the start button.”
He did as instructed after he’d put his seat belt on and then kindly reminded me to put mine on. Then he surprised me by checking and adjusting the mirrors and seat to accommodate his height.
I may not have taught him that, but I was proud and couldn’t hold back a smile.
Cutter backed out of the driveway slowly, using the rear reverse camera.
“Do you know if you’ll be allowed to have the camera on during your test?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I think Coach will know. I’ll ask him.”
“Okay.” At the mention of his coach, I thought about last night and how he’d brought a very distraught Cutter home. He was so protective of him, being his ally, which was exactly what I wanted Cutter to have. He needed to have someone, besides me, fighting for him.
At the end of the driveway, he pulled out onto the quiet road, put the car into drive, and slowly pressed the gas pedal. By the time the stop sign came into view, he was going over fifty in a posted thirty-five.
“Cutter, please slow down.”
“Oh crap,” he said as he looked at the speedometer. “I’m sorry, it didn’t feel like I was going that fast.”
“Yeah, this car has some go to it.”
He slowed and came to a full stop, then looked right and left. “I think I need to lighten up on the gas pedal.” Cutter looked a bit scared, and I welcomed it. It’d be best for him to put the fear of God in himself versus me being the bad guy.
“I think that would be a good idea.” I laughed, hoping to lighten the mood.
He moved forward until he had to turn to get to the main road. He stayed there longer than normal. I placed my hand on his forearm and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
“Is this your first time on the main road?”
“No, just lost in thought,” he said as he pulled onto the road.
“I do that often.”
“It’s easy to do these days.”
He wasn’t lying. My thoughts moved so fast I had a hard time keeping up.
There was minimal traffic on the road this early, which made a driving lesson a bit less stressful. Still, my anxiety spiked as we drove. I kept my head on a swivel, looking for potential issues he might not see.
“Do you know how to get to the school?”
He thought for a moment. “Uh . . .” A look of horror masked his face.
“Are you being serious with me?”
Cutter laughed. “Yes, I know how to get to school.”
A laugh bellowed from me. “When Grandpa taught me how to drive, I couldn’t even find my way home. I could give anyone directions to my house, school, or wherever, but when I was driving, I had no idea how to get anywhere.”
At the stoplight, Cutter scratched his head. “I think I turn at the next light?”
“The second light,” I told him, and then I realized he was pulling my leg again. I rolled my eyes and nudged his shoulder.
Cutter groaned. “Oh boy.”
Cutter managed to make it to the school and parked easily. I didn’t understand why Miri wasn’t letting him drive more. We got out and walked toward the court.
“We should talk about yesterday,” I said when we reached the court.
“I said I’m sorry.”
“It’s not about being sorry. It’s about what you heard.”
Cutter took a shot, and I sent the ball back to him after it had gone through the net.
“I was thinking about that, and Flinn said something about me living with him until we graduate. I don’t want to leave Nova, but I also don’t want to go to boarding school.”
He shot and made another basket.
“I like Brendan, or I did, but now I’m not so sure. I just wish . . .” Cutter bent over and caught his breath. I went to him and put my hand on his back and waited for him to cope with his emotions. He stood and wiped at his eyes. “My mom’s not going to be here anymore, and then you want to send me away.” His words came out in hiccups.
“Come here.” I wrapped my arms around him. He rested his head on my shoulder and sobbed. This was the second time this morning he’d let his emotions flow. I was grateful for it. I didn’t want him holding things in and letting them fester.