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“Mr. Jackson. I’m not convinced that he didn’t set this whole automotive class up just to get you two in the same room together. Man is a grade A meddler.” She nudges me with her foot and tilts her head toward Miles. “Just go. If you do, I’ll take you out on Friday. Margaritas on me.”

I open my mouth to tell her no, but just as I do, another woman makes her way over to Miles. This time, it’s Petra Kinsley, the school volleyball coach and ex-best friend of my arch nemesis, Mercedes Wynn. Something about the sight of her lean figure approaching him has me grinding my teeth together. My feet immediately begin closing the distance between Miles and me.

Miles’ scowl at Petra turns into a smirk as I approach. She must think the smile is for her because her hand comes up, pink manicured nails coming to rest on his bicep just as I stop in front of them.

“Petra! It’s so good to see you! How’s the husband?”

Her hand releases Miles at the sound of my voice, and she turns around with a sickening sweet smile. “Sonny! He’s great! How’s the cat?”

I don’t have one, but I know what she’s hinting at. Hell, anyone could see what she’s hinting at. I haven’t spoken to Petra much over the years, so she isn’t aware that I’m not the same girl I was back in sophomore year when she accidentally spilled her juice all over me during lunch. She’s about to learn, though.

“It’s great that you asked! I actually have a few I’m fostering, and I thought, since you love to take in strays, that you may be interested in keeping one. There’s this calico one that reminds me of you. She’s a bit of a bitch, though.”

Petra’s face turns red, and she shoves past me, hitting my shoulder and sending me stumbling straight into Miles’ arms. My head knocks onto his chest, and he wraps an arm around me, stabilizing us both. His heartbeat thuds in my ear, the sound comforting until I realize I’m only hearing it because I’m still in his arms.

I pull away and brush a few stray pieces of purple hair away from my face. “Sorry about that. I’m sure you remember Petra.”

Miles shrugs as he once again crosses his arms over his chest. “Not really.”

I raise my eyebrows and scoff. Unlikely but okay.

I let the silence fill the air until Miles finally breaks and points at the door Petra disappeared through. “I didn’t know you foster cats.”

I laugh and reach out to pat his arm directly over where Petra gripped him a few moments ago. “Oh, Miles. I don’t.”

CHAPTER 5

I don’t know what surprises me the most, Sonnet’s new backbone when it comes to dealing with bullies, or how much I liked teaching today.

The woman - Petra, apparently - looked familiar, but I wouldn’t have recognized her if Sonnet didn’t say her name. That, combined with the overeagerness to get in my face and the air of entitlement, had memories flashing through my mind of a younger version of the woman taunting Sonnet in the middle of the cafeteria. I was about to tell her to get lost, but Sonnet waltzed up with a sweet smile and sharp words that had Petra running for the door before I could get a single word in.

I loved every second of it.

Sonnet left not long after, reminding me that I needed to keep a watch on the kids and not her. Unfortunately for her and the kids, I did both.

Most of the students here seem to be intimidated by me. There’s no telling if it’s due to my size or the scowl I keep permanently etched on my face, but either way, it’s a little funny watching teenagers dare each other to approach me. That was another highlight of my day.

My class as a whole did fairly well for their first day in a garage. Jackson let me know this morning that the school didn’t have any textbooks for the class, but I quickly dismissed his worry. Textbooks don’t teach you how to fix cars. Fixing cars teaches you how to fix cars. Auto body and mechanic work is all about experience, and you can never quit learning. New cars are put out every year, each one more difficult than the last, with new technology you have to relearn.

I started simple with my classes today, making sure everyone knew what the tools were before we dived into diagnosing the problems on the trucks Jackson had dropped off. Thankfully, the only questions that were asked had real merit behind them. Who knows if I would have survived the day if they didn’t.

Teaching was more fun than I thought it would be, and seeing Sonnet in between class periods was a perk all on its own. Now it’s the end of the day, and I’m standing by my truck, waiting for her to show up with the keys and take us home. The last bell of the day rang twenty minutes ago, but Sonnet wasn’t in her classroom when I passed by. I figured she would be out by the truck already. Now I’m waiting in the cold while storm clouds roll in above me.

Just as I feel the first raindrop, Sonnet comes rushing out the front doors of the school. Her canvas bag is tossed over her shoulder, and there are a few spots of paint on her sweater. The long skirt she’s wearing hugs her hips while somehow maintaining its flowy nature around her legs. She’s wonderfully chaotic and rebelliously beautiful.

It almost hurts.

“Sorry! I was in the studio and completely lost track of time!” Sonnet rushes to unlock the door and jumps in, hitting the unlock button on the door for me to get in the passenger side. The rain must have been waiting to see her, too, because as soon as the door shuts, the sky opens in a downpour.

“Shit.” Sonnet starts the truck and lets it idle, the engine a quiet hum as she looks at the rain through the windshield.

“Still don’t like to drive in the rain?”

I figured out after Sonnet first got Betsy in junior year that she didn’t like to drive in the rain. She said that it’s hard enough for her to see when it’s sunny outside and that the rain messed with her depth perception.

Her head shakes as she exhales a long breath. “Would you mind driving?”

I shake my head and get out, the truck door slamming as I make my way to the driver’s side. I open the driver’s door and jump into the seat, Sonnet having already slid over to the passenger side. I’m soaked and shivering from the rain, something she must see as she quickly turns up the heat.