~Joan~ “Where are we going?” I asked as Aaron took a different route, one that didn’t lead to either of our houses. “It’ll ruin the surprise,” he said curtly. I raised a brow as he pressed harder on the accelerator, the hum of the car filling the silence. “I don’t like surprises,” I stated. He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, before speeding up again. The wind whipped my hair, tangling it into a mess. I should have tied it up. “Are you k********g me, Thompson?” I asked, a hint of humor in my voice. He smirked but said nothing. Resigned, I leaned back in my seat, watching the streets blur past. Matthew wasn’t thrilled when I told him I had to leave suddenly, claiming an emergency. He’d offered to come along, but I declined, knowing the last thing I needed was him cros

