A little while later the storm calmed down to the point where we could leave without receiving death by hail. I grabbed my clothes which were still extremely damp, and headed for the tool bag. 

"What are you doing?" Devin asked. 

"I need to get the truck started," I said, stating the obvious. 

"It's still raining. I'm taking you home." He took the tool bag from me and put it back on the counter. 

I opened my mouth in protest but he was already heading over to his Thunderbird. After a little more hesitation, I hopped in the car and he pulled out of the garage, saying something about getting my dad's truck fixed tomorrow. 

"My house isn't this way," I said tentatively after he took a right from the Speedway exit. 

"I know," he replied, "I'm taking you to my apartment."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You're what? Why?" 

"Larissa, I'm not letting you go home without cleaning that cut and having you change clothes."

"I—you don't have to take care of me like this."

He kept his eyes fixed on the road and said nothing. I couldn't just let him do this, but I also couldn't go home with a bloody wrist, wearing soaked mechanic clothes.

By the time I weighed the pros and cons of the situation and didn't come up with a decision, Devin was already pulling into a private parking garage below an apartment complex. There was valet service was waiting for him. The valet looked puzzled when he saw me but didn't say a word. 

Devin tipped the man then pressed the button for the elevator. Stepping in, he turned and pressed 17 as the door closed. 

"17?" I raised my eyebrows. 

He smiled dryly. "You aren't afraid of heights, are you?"

"Only when I'm falling from them," I replied. 

When the elevator reached floor 17, I got out and followed Devin to the end of the hallway. 

"Corner apartment," I observed. "Nice." 

Only as he opened the door, I saw that nice didn't quite suffice. Luxurious was more appropriate. The windows of the apartment reached from the ceiling to the floor, overlooking downtown Indy. There was a kitchen that morphed into a liquor bar at one end of the room and a sitting area with poofy couches at the other end. Separating the wall of windows was a large fireplace surrounded by cobblestone. 

As I took all this in, a furry object came racing towards Devin, but slid to an abrupt stop when it caught sight of me. The furry object was a German Shepherd. 

"This is Zeus," Devin said. "Or...Zuzu."

I immediately bent down and held my uninjured hand out. "Hi there Zuzu."

"Careful," he warned, "he doesn't like strangers."

I must not have seemed too strange to Zuzu because after he looked me up and down for a moment he nuzzled right into my hand and let me rub his ears. 

Devin observed in amazement. "Okay then, I'll leave you to your dog-whispering. I'm going to put these clothes in the dryer." 

While my clothes were in the process of drying, Devin changed his clothes and brought out a first-aid kit. I unraveled the rag which was caked with blood on my wrist. 

"How did this happen again?" he asked, looking at the ugly gash. 

"I shattered my watch against the engine block when I was trying to yank the wrench loose. It was my Michael Kors watch too," I said, thinking of the expensive Christmas present I just smashed to smithereens. 

"Well, we better wash it out to make sure there are no shards of glass left."

After my wrist was cleaned and the blood washed off it didn't look so bad. Devin put a bandaid on with some antibiotic ointment. "That should do it," he said. 

I looked at the bandaid that he'd gently pressed on my wrist. "Thanks for doing all this."

He smiled softly. "Don't mention it. I'll go check on your clothes." 

Once my clothes were dry, he directed me to a bathroom where I could change. It felt good to finally take off the mechanic suit and put on my own clothes again. I looked in the mirror to see my hair had dried too. Miraculously, it dried in that cute, beachy look, instead of the haggled witch's mane I so often woke up to. 

As I was walking back into the main area of Devin's apartment I heard him murmuring. Peeking around the corner, I saw he was sitting down with Zeus. 

"You don't mind Lissa, huh bud? Why don't ya treat Nicole that way?" He ran his hand roughly across the dog's head and jokingly said, "You little rascal." 

I smiled. He talks to his dog. About me. And about Nicole. This is too good.  However, I talk to myself about everything, which is much worse, so who am I to find amusement in the fact that he's more sane than me. 

I tip-toed back to the bathroom and re-entered the main area, making sure that my footsteps were heard on the marbled tile. 

Devin stood up and brushed Zuzu's hair off his shirt. "He's been shedding like crazy." 

"So have I," I remarked as I ran my fingers through my hair. "Just wait for the day when I go bald. I'll have some 'splaining to do to Michael." 

"I don't think you have to worry about that just yet," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." I looked at my watch to find that it wasn't there. Then I reached in my back pocket for my phone to find that that wasn't there either. I left it in the truck and forgot all about it. 

Devin read my mind and said, "It's a quarter after 9. If you left your phone at the Speedway we can drop by and get it."

"I did," I admitted, "and that would be great." 

~~~

There was a bunch of texts on my phone from my mom, dad, and Michael, including five missed calls and three voicemails. 

"Shoot," I muttered. 

Devin took his eyes off the road for a moment and asked what the matter was. 

I told him about the texts and missed calls. 

"Of course they'd be worried about you. I didn't even think about it, I should've had you text them from my phone" he said. 

"It's not your fault. I'm the one who should've remembered!" I said, exasperated with myself. 

"Lis, it's okay. I can explain to your parents. They'll be happy to know you just got stuck at the Speedway. There's nothing you could've done." 

"Besides let them know where I was four hours ago," I mumbled. 

"You were a little busy."

I looked at him. "Yeah, infiltrating the garage complex to get Twizzlers."

He laughed. "Maybe distracted is a better word." 

Nodding my assent, I looked back down at my phone and sent texts to my mom and dad, telling them something happened but I was alright and would be home in a minute. I would text Michael later. 

By now my mom had already left for her Sunday night-shift, so my dad would be the one greeting me. I was relieved; Mom would just make an overdramatic scene and I didn't need that to happen in front of Devin. 

"Where do I need to turn?" Devin asked.

I directed him to the right street and we pulled into my driveway at 9:40. 

My dad met us at the sidewalk and started asking questions before I got out of the car. Right away Devin explained the whole thing for me, leaving out the details that would probably get me grounded. 

"Well, all's well that ends well," my dad said, sounding relieved. "Thank you for taking care of her."

Devin shook his hand. "Anytime. I better get going."

"Right," my dad said, "see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Devin smiled and gave a little wave to me before he turned around and headed to his car. 

My dad wrapped his arm around my shoulder and walked back into the house with me. "Sounds like you had quite the night, kiddo."

"You have no idea."

~~~

Been a while since I updated- hope you enjoyed! Votes, comments, and critisism are appreciated as always. xoxo, Elle Grace