If You Let Him Take Me From You || Woody McClain ||

Chapter Three

Zora

I jumped for some reason when he slammed the passenger side door shut. Something about the way he had just handled me had me shook. I watched him make his way around to the driver's side through the mirrors. I could tell he was frustrated by the way he softly shook his head. He got in and softly closed his door before buckling his seatbelt and placing his hands on the steering wheel. I didn't look at him. I just stared aimlessly into the street waiting for him to take off. Or to at least say something. Moments passed and he still hadn't. In the passing moments I had went from embarrassed to ashamed. 

And a huge part of me felt like I owed him an apology. "Woody I'm sor ..." 

"Seatbelt." He growled quickly cutting me off. 

"What?" I was still very tipsy and running had done very little to help me. 

In a flash his arm was flying across me and snatching my seatbelt across my chest. He buckled it and quickly refocused his attention on the road before softly pulling away from the curb. We drove in the direction from which we had come. I allowed my head to rest against the seat as I prepared myself to face everyone after what had just transpired. But to my surprise instead of pulling into the venue he kept driving right past it. 

"Where are we going?" I asked as the venue became a shadow in the distance. 

"We? I'm going home." He said stalely. "As soon as I take you home." 

"I can't go home!" I said a bit louder than I originally intended to. He looked at me as if I were speaking gibberish. 

"Ok. Fine. Then where would you like me to take you?" His tone was a bit softer. I looked into the side of his face and noticed the bags that lay beneath them. His eyes were already tight but looking at them now it were as if they weren't even open. I gave him Kirsten and Keith's address. "Are you serious?" 

"Very." I said in all seriousness. 

"That's all the way across town. I'm not about to drive your ass across town." He laughed out loud hysterically. 

"Look! You made me get in your car. I told you I didn't need nor want your help. Remember." I crossed my arms over my shoulder. 

"You threw liquor on my back and busted Nia's face while she was still in my arms. Remember?" I rolled my eyes. "Now you expect me to drive your ass across town smelling like alcohol with blood all over my shirt. You can't be fucking serious." 

I let his words sink in for a moment. A black man driving across town in the middle of the night reeking of alcohol and splattered in blood probably wasn't an ideal situation to place him in. "Siri find Motels near me." I said into my phone gaining his attention. 

****

We arrived at the third motel and just as the others it was full. I cursed under my breath before turning to face him as he tiredly leaned against the wall by the door. Got damn weekends."They're full." I said dryly. It was times like this I wish I had more friends. I spent so much time working that I barely had any time to socialize. The only people I knew well enough to confide in given a situation like this was Kirsten and Keith. I couldn't impose on any of y co-workers. It would not only be inappropriate but if my father caught wind of any of this ... let's just say it wouldn't be pretty.  

"Now what?" He asked before yawning into his palm. I shrugged my shoulders because I truly had no clue what to do now. He made sure to open the door for me before my hand could even touch it as he had been doing the entire night. 

I gave him a weak smile before stepping into the night's breeze. "Beats me." I admitted attempting to be nonchalant.

"I have a guest room." He suggested catching me completely off guard. "You're welcome to stay the night. It'll give you some time to cool off and for me to sleep. I'll take you anywhere in the world you want to go tomorrow. I promise." I turned into him before leaning my back against the passenger side door. And wondered why he was still being so nice to me after all of this. Then I took a moment to wonder if I could trust him. Something about his eyes seemed trust worthy. "So what do you say?" He cocked his head to the side before taking a step closer into me. 

"Under one condition." I whispered noticing how light his brown eyes were for the first time under the street lamp above us. 

"Anything." He threw his hands in the air in surrender causing a smile to creep across my face.

"Promise me it'll be a whole new world." He raised his right brow. 

"I said I'd take you anywhere in the world tomorrow. Not show you a whole new world. I don't own a pet monkey. Nor do I have a magic carpet to get us there. Have you always been this corny?" He asked with a giggle. I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed after he called me corny. I couldn't help it if I enjoyed a good Disney movie or quote. Especially after a couple drinks.  

"It was worth a try." I whispered unable to hide my disappointment, before taking the time to softly laugh at myself. I rose from the door a bit but before I could turn around completely Woody's hand grazed against my back. I froze for some reason and softly fell back against the car door. I gazed into his eyes as he did mine. 

"You give up too easy Princess Jasmine. I may have one wish left. I can't promise you anything just yet. I have to consult with my genie first." He winked. I smiled. Then he popped the car door handle and I suddenly realized that's what he had intended to do all along. I moved aside while attempting to hide my blushing face. He was my boyfriends bestfriend. What was I doing? 

Woody

I opened the car door and grinned as she attempted to hide the fact that she was blushing. I softly closed the door behind her and wondered just what the hell Spank was thinking. Zora was gorgeous. A bit of a hot head at times clearly but that was only because he didn't know how to handle her. 'If she were mine there'd be no time for any misunderstandings.' I thought to myself before entering the driver's side.

She was everything I was looking for. Beautiful, educated, creative and a bit of a cornball. I could appreciate a bit of corniness. It showed me that she was in touch with herself and her own unique sense of humor. A lot of people used to think I was corny. But remaining true to who I was got me this far. I could learn to appreciate her authenticity. 

I pulled my phone from my pocket and connected the aux cord. Searching for one thing in particular. Upon finding it I pressed play and docked my phone to the dashboard before pulling off into traffic. Alladin karaoke filled the speakers as we made our way to my home. Gaining a small smile from her which in return made me blush. 'Woody this is your bestfriends girl. What are you doing? Stop flirting!' The little voice in my head yelled. I chose to ignore it.