MARIA POV
“Hell yeah,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat of the sleek black car, grateful to be away from the party and all the overwhelming tension that came with it. As I buckled in, I glanced over at the driver.
James.
I let out a breath of relief. He wasn’t just some random guy; he was the manager at the café I worked at, the one who always had a cool, laid-back vibe about him. And, well, there was no denying he was good-looking. But after the night I’d just had, that was the last thing on my mind.
“So,” he started, shooting me a sideways glance, his lips curving into that playful smirk he always had. “What’s a girl like you doing out here, looking that hot, all alone?”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. “Really? You’re gonna start with that?”
“What? I’m jus
