Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (best short books to read TXT) 📗

Rowan sauntered in, his brow twitched upward when he saw me catching his file. I was caught red-handed this time, doing some serious snooping. I was in for some trouble. Maybe I should change my last name to trouble. Alana Trouble sounded just right.

"I..I..was just..." I strutted.

"Never mind." He sounded like he was already in a bad mood and I made sure it became worse; he trotted towards me, snatched the file out of my grasp and dumped it in the closet, shutting the door with a loud bang, "Invading privacy has become your second favorite hobby anyway."

"And may I ask, what's first?" I folded my arms.

"Talking back to me. Doing exactly contrary to my word."

I wasn't going to talk right now, because if I did—I'd just keep talking without a pause and this guy would obviously start playing the 'bring-my-house-down' show again and situations told me, I'd be the cleaning lady. I wanted to go back to the dorms.

I nodded. That was the best response I could offer Rowan at the moment.

"Have you packed your stuff already?"

"Yeah." I pointed at the bag lying on the floor, "there's some stuff left in the bathroom."

"Make it fast. We are leaving in an hour and no touching any drawers or closets while I'm gone. Have I made myself absolutely crystal?" The controlling Rowan was back in action. Guess he was still under the impression that he was my teacher and I was his student.

I nodded again which is when he bolted out the door without a word.

***

Rowan had already carried the load of baggage downstairs with a 'what kind of rocks did you pack?' comment hanging in the air. His bad mood was surely going to erupt some really bad lava from me if he didn't stop the snappy comments soon. The entire Masters family gathered around to see us off; Mr Masters sat on the patio reading the daily newspaper. Mrs Masters was kind enough to ask us to stay a few more days but I had my university exams coming up and Rowan wasn't ready to compromise when it came to cutting class or losing a mark. He still took the role of my ex-professor damn seriously.

"You promised me to lend me your car for a week." Claire pulled out her palm to Rowan and he reluctantly handed his car keys eyeing it one last time.

"So..where's my replacement car of the week?" Claire pulled out a pink heart shaped key chain, dangling it in front of Rowan which he snatched, opened one of the automatic parking shutters, made a disgusted face as he walked towards the parking area, a quick scan later he roared, "I'd rather walk home than drive this shit. I want my car keys back."

"That's your old Mustang. Look closely."

"Well, apparently it was, it looks more like a cotton candy now." I peeked into the garage, and it sure looked like a Mustang a Barbie would love to take on vacation.

"Why do you care? It's not like you drive it anymore. You told me specifically that it was mine when you left."

Rowan hovered over her, obviously pissed, "Don't put your words in my mouth, Missy, I let you borrow the car and I never gave you permission to turn it into a damn cotton candy. SHIT! It's pink. I can't believe it!" another look at the car and Rowan seemed ready to pound the next guy in his near vicinity.

"Okay. Fine. I'll re-paint it into your badass black. Sucky depressive colour. It looked like I was riding with the demon."

"Drew and I worked on the car with Dad, Claire; it was the last token of remembrance we shared. Just..never mind. You can have my car for a week. I repeat, ONLY for a week and you're not turning that into cotton candy either. Drill it into your pea sized brain if you want or tattoo it across your damn forehead."

Wow! I was kinda impressed with Rowan's insults. He seemed like a pro at it. I was glad for not being the only victim to Rowan's bad mood anymore. Claire had done something major to piss him off.

"Take my car." Dwight offered.

"Thanks, but No thanks."

Gary Masters who had been watching the sibling show from the sidelines, put back the newspaper, climbed to his feet, disappeared into the house, returning a minute later with another pair of keys; he threw it at Rowan who caught it in mid-air, "Take mine."

Rowan studied the keys for a minute, nodded, turned to Claire and said, "One dent or a scratch on the seats and you're..."

"I'll make sure we get that fixed if in case she does." Gary Masters said.

Gary Masters drove a silver Rang Rover, The car responded as soon as Rowan pressed the key. He put my luggage in the back, making sure Minnie took her seat. Mrs Masters approached me, holding onto a tissue, "Come visit us again."

"Sure, ma'am." I smiled at her, "Thank you so much."

I realized I was still having the bottle of champagne in my hand bag, I pulled out the thing—I'd even tied a ribbon to it and thrust the bottle in her hand, "This isn't much but it's for you."

Mrs Masters took it from me, "How lovely, thank you dear."

She looked up towards Rowan, who was busy checking out his father's car—quite oblivious to the mother bidding him farewell. It was a given that the entire Masters family would choose their cars over their wives any day. She pulled Rowan into an affectionate hug and pecked Minnie on the cheek. The poor woman didn't see the child rubbing her cheek to remove any traces of a kiss. That brat! She never did that to me.

"Call me whenever you need me. I'll answer it day or night." Dwight winked at me, throwing that sexy grin.

Crap!

Rowan glared at him, back at me and said acidly, "You guys are, what? BFF's now?"

I could smash Dwight in the face if the entire family wasn't waving goodbye kerchiefs at us. The Jackass did it on purpose.

"I'll let you drive today." Rowan tossed the keys at me.