Page 164 of Boys Who Hunt

I close the door and snort. “Please. Me? Apologizing?” I laugh. “Don’t be delusional.”

She rolls her eyes. “Figured.”

“I’m not opposed to begging for forgiveness, though,” I add while on the way to the shop.

She stops abruptly like she just couldn’t believe her ears.

But I meant every word.

“Are you coming?”

She clears her throat but doesn’t ask me anything. Instead, she follows me inside the shop, where it smells like expensive leather and untouchable metal. Like, for real, if anyone touches these cars, they’re dead. At least, if my dad catches them in the act.

“Heath, that’s a surprise, seeing you here.”

My dad walks out from behind his desk in his fancy suit. He doesn’t have to work here because he’s got a ton of companies under his name, but he still prefers to be hands-on at his favorite job, which is working directly with the cars.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Dad asks.

“Save it. I just want my old license plate back. Do you still have it?”

He frowns. “Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes,” he replies, leaning on the desk as he casually swoops his dirty blond hair aside. “If you’re going to do stupid shit, I’d like to know about it.”

With a smug smile, I reply, “Too late.”

His face drops. “Tell me what you did.”

“I’d rather eat shit,” I reply.

“Heath …” He groans, rubbing his forehead. “Listen, you can’t just come here and rope me into whatever.”

“You’re the last one to lecture me, Dad,” I grit. “It’s not like you and your friends were such Goody Two-shoes in school.”

His pierced brow rises. “That was different.”

“You were young,” I retort. “Now you’re not.”

“Wow.” He makes a fist and stomps his own heart. “Right in the chest.”

Ivy snorts behind me but quickly uses her hand to hide her laughter.

“Who’s this fine young lady?”

“No one you have to know about,” I reply.

“Well, you’re here in my car dealership, trying to get your old license plate back. I think you’re not in a great position to bargain,” he quips, with a nasty grin that reminds me way too much of what I look like in the mirror.

Dammit.

“So, who’s this lovely lady?” my dad asks, looking at Ivy.

Ivy steps forward. “Hi. My name’s Ivy.”

He shakes her hand. “Caleb Preston. Nice to meet you. Are you his girlfriend?”