Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) by Anna Davis

things to say about
him."
"Well I don't know him."
"I know," he nodded.
    "Why don't we get out of here? I can see
I've made you uncomfortable. This isn't really your
kind of date is it?" he grinned.
Blushing I looked away how could I tell
him I hated it?
    "How about I take you somewhere more
special? Somewhere exciting? I saw the other night
you like excitement and adrenaline. Perhaps you
are not what I thought you were Everlyn Fox."
    I stared blankly at him. Had I told him my
full name? How did he know? Maybe through
Oliver?
    After he paid the bill, he dropped two
hundred dollars on the table and wrapped his arm
around my waist.
"I'm sorry you wasted so much on me
Harper. I-"
"No, it's ok. Beautiful women deserve the
world."
I didn't know whether to be flattered or
annoyed.
“Do you like racing Ever?” Harper
questioned as we settled into the car.
    “What kind of racing?” I questioned. He’s
not going to take me to some ridiculous horse races
or something I hope.
“The illegal kind,” he laughed.
“Like street racing? What Oliver and his
gang do at tournaments?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t know,” I told him honestly. I don’t
know what I like anymore.
“How would you like to learn?”
I stared at him blankly, “You want to teach
me to race?”
He smirked saying nothing as he pulled out
onto the main road.
“I don’t have a license.”
Harper’s smirk fell away, “You don’t?” he
pulled his eyebrows together, “Why not?”
“My mom never taught me.”
“Did Oliver never show you either?”
    “I don’t think so. I think Kimmy would
have mentioned it. I mostly walk to where I need to
go.”
“Then no only am I go to teach you to
drive. I’ll teach you to race.”
~Give Me A Sign~
Harper cringed as the car shook violently
and came to a jerking stop.
“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed hiding my face.
This is the third time I have stalled out the
car in under a minute.
“Just try it again. Ease off clutch and press
gas.”
    I did as he said, it jerked but didn’t die. We
were creeping down the road slowly. Harper had
taken me out to an old abandoned airstrip. He said
that it was now used for many of the racing
tournaments for this area.
    “Ok now you hear that noise?” he
questioned. The car was groaning, “It’s letting you
know you need to shift. Press down on the clutch
and pull the shifter straight down.”
I did as he said and the car stopped
groaning.
    “Good job,” he approved laughing as I did a
mini fist pump letting go of the stirring wheel then
in terror clutched it again.
    Harper and I spend a couple of hours
practicing my driving. Once I got the hang of it, it
wasn’t half bad.
“You’re really good at this,” he told me as
we got out and were switching spots.
“Thanks for teaching me,” I told him his
gaze held my eyes and I turned away embarrassed.
    Cupping my cheek, he turned my face to
look up at him. Slowly he lowered his mouth to
mine. I quickly turned my face away and he kissed
my cheek. His lips lingered there and I blushed
feverishly. It was wrong, so very wrong. I couldn’t
like Harper. I felt as if I was betraying Oliver by
even letting his lips touch my cheek.
    The ride home was quiet and awkward,
even more so that he didn't try to make inane
conversation. I didn't see myself going on another
date with him for the simple fact that he had made
things so awkward with his attempt to kiss me.
    He pulled into the parking lot of my
apartment, then got out, and came around opening
my car door for me.
"I'll walk you up to your door."
    "Thanks," I mumbled heading to the
elevator with him in tow. He encircled his hand in
mine. I looked down at our interlocked fingers
annoyed, but didn't say anything. A few more
seconds and I wouldn't talk to him ever again.
Once we got to my door, I unlocked it and
turned to him.
"Well...umm thank you for tonight."
    "Next time I'll take you somewhere more
interesting. I can tell you’re not the fancy dinner