Barbie Btch (Rejects Paradise #3) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,102
is how you really want to do it then you have options, a few actually.”
I raise my brow and lean in, paying close attention while equally shocked that he’s actually entertaining the idea of me doing this on my own. “Like?” I question, ready to hang off his every word.
“There are all sorts of things,” he says. “Student loans, financial aid, grants. You could apply for a scholarship and if you really want to be independent about it, I could loan you the money.”
I shake my head at his last suggestion but feel my mind whirling with possibilities. “I doubt I’ll be accepted for student loans or any of the financial aid.”
“Don’t write it off too soon,” he tells me. “You work and your mom works, you shouldn’t have any problems getting financial aid. Not to mention, my dad was good friends with the dean of UBS. So, if all else fails, I could put in a good word and see if he’ll consider you for a payment plan.”
“Really?” I question, my eyes going wide as my hope slowly begins to resurface.
“Yeah, Jade. I can see how much you want this. You’ve set your boundaries and as much as I hate that I can’t help you with this, I respect that. So, I’m going to do everything else in my power to make this happen for you.”
His words send my heart racing with warmth and as my blood circulates throughout my body, that warmth spreads until I’m completely overwhelmed by his love.
I reach across the table and find his hand already waiting. He gives it a gentle squeeze and just like that, I fall a little bit harder. Maybe Drix was onto something. Maybe I’m already there. The thought of completely giving myself to someone again scares the shit out of me but more and more, I'm starting to trust that he’s not going to break me.
We finish our dinner and before we know it, we’re standing out the front of the restaurant, waiting for the valet to return his Veneno.
“Let me get this straight,” I say, folding into his side. “You’ll let random valets drive your car, but you won’t let me even breathe near the steering wheel?”
Colton presses his lips into a tight line and I see the string of responses flying through his mind while he tries to decipher the right thing to say. “Well, umm … fuck,” he cringes. “I guess you’re right.”
“Damn straight I am.”
“Do you want to drive home?”
My eyes bug out of my head. I was expecting a lot of things out of this conversation but certainly not that. “Are you insane?” I shriek, stepping away from him only so I can stare at him properly. “I can’t drive that. What if I … I don’t know, what if I break it?”
“Are you planning on breaking it?”
“No,” I scoff. “I’m an incredible driver.”
His Veneno appears from around the corner and as it inches toward us, Colton raises a brow as his lips lift into a wicked grin, the challenge clear in his eyes. “Then what are you so scared about?”
My mouth drops. “Scared? I’m not scared.”
“Good,” he says as the Veneno stops right in front of us. The valet pours out of it with a satisfied smile on his face while Colton walks around and holds the driver’s door open for me. “What are you waiting for?”
Fuck yes.
I fly toward him, making sure to brush a kiss over his unsuspecting lips as I pass. I drop down into the Veneno and instantly adjust the seat while feeling the purring rumble of the smooth engine beneath me.
This is going to be good.
“Hurry up and get your ass in or I’m taking off without you,” I warn, watching him step back only to start salivating over the way the automatic suicide doors begin to close.
Colton makes his way around to the passenger side and I find myself smirking at the sight. He isn’t the kind of guy to sit shotgun. He likes to be in control so not sitting behind the steering wheel is a big gesture and I appreciate it more than he could possibly know.
Once he’s in, I prepare to get myself going when my phone chimes from my bag. I start digging through and laugh as I find a text from Mom.
Mom - I know what you two did. Ask Hendrix to come over in the morning. I need to have a little chat with the two of you.