Road Trip with a Nerd - Stephanie Street Page 0,35

like that?

“It’s Matt. He responded. And he’s at my house right now.”

Chapter Fourteen

Mallory

Matt responded now? After all the texts and phone calls? He texted me back now?

I read the text. He didn’t even address the issue of the picture. Just typed four little words.

I’m at your house.

I didn’t want him at my house. I honestly never wanted to see him again. Or Livvy, either, for that matter. Where was she? Would she be waiting for me, too, when Grant dropped me off?

My stomach rolled. How could I face either of them like this? My hair hung in clumpy strands down my back and around my shoulders, tangled from the wind and rain. I didn’t have a brush of makeup on my face, not even lip gloss! My clothes were damp and wrinkled. I was sure I smelled a little like wet dog. Gosh, I hoped that was because of Grant’s gross upholstery and not because of me.

“I can’t do it,” I muttered to myself, but Grant spoke up anyway...after ignoring me for hours.

“Can’t do what?” he kept glancing at me nervously as though he thought I might lose it any second.

I just might.

“He’s at my house!” I threw my hands in the air. “I don’t want to see him like this! I thought I’d have time to shower. Sleep. At least brush my hair!”

“Mal, the dude cheated on you. What do you care what he thinks? He’s a freaking jerk who doesn’t deserve you.”

I turned to him with my mouth gaping open.

“What?” he asked, his brows dipping low.

“What? What!” That was it. I’d had enough. Boys were stupid. That’s right! Grant had been demoted from man to boy! “Stop the truck.”

His foot stuttered on the gas. The truck jerked with his indecision. “What? No!”

I unbuckled my seatbelt. We were only a few blocks from my house, anyway. The walk would do me good. I needed to clear my head of dumb guys.

“What are you doing?” Grant slowed the truck despite himself, I was sure. Idiot.

“I’m getting out.” I reached for the handle. His eyes widened with alarm. Good. Maybe he wouldn’t make me jump from a moving vehicle. Even if he had slowed to a crawl by then.

“Mallory. Stop! You’re acting crazy.” Still, he pulled to the side of the road and put the truck into park.

Thank goodness!

Yanking on the handle, I got out of the truck from the passenger’s side for the first time since the rest area then slammed the stupid, broken door shut with a resounding bang!

Grant’s door slammed just after mine. His footsteps followed me on the sidewalk. “Mallory. Get back in the truck. I have all your stuff. I’ll have to go to your house anyway. I’m sorry you’re mad at me. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It was probably horrible, anyway, since it was my first time—” he cut himself off before saying anything more.

That brought me up short.

I whirled to face him. For the first time since I’d seen him yesterday morning in the hotel lobby, Grant seemed unsure.

“That was your first kiss?” Was he joking? Lying? Why would he do that?

He blushed and reached a hand to the back of his neck.

It was true, and he hadn’t meant to admit it to me.

But why? How?

How was it possible that had been his first kiss?

A delicious warmth spread through my entire body. He was a natural. It was the only explanation. I’d never been kissed so thoroughly, so perfectly.

Grant ran a hand through his hair.

“I—” but that was it. He closed his mouth and didn’t say another word.

I took a step toward him. “What is going on here? I don’t understand.”

“You didn’t let me explain, Mallory. Earlier. In the truck.” His ears turned red.

“You mean when you pushed me away after the most amazing kisses of my life? Is that what you’re talking about?” I shouted at him.

Grant froze, and I realized what I’d just said. What I admitted.

Spinning on my heel, I left him standing there, gaping. It didn’t take him long to pull himself together and come after me.

“Mallory, wait!” His footsteps pounded behind me. His hand closed around my arm, pulling me to a stop. But I refused to face him.

Grant stepped in front of me, holding my arms in his hands. “I didn’t push you away—”

“Yes, you did!”

“No, I promise, I didn’t. I pulled back, yes. But not because I didn’t want to keep kissing you for the next forever because I did,” his voice softened. His hands moved