Ms. Lead

Ms. Lead DRIVE ME WILD BOOK THREE AMY BOOKER Copyright © 2022 Amy Booker All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be copied, distributed, or published in any form without express written permission from the publisher. For permissions, contact: [email protected]. This is a work of fiction in which all events and characters in this book are completely imaginary. Any resemblance to actual people is entirely coincidental. eBook ISBN: 979-8-9859875-8-4 Print ISBN: 979-8-9865651-3-2 Published by Renaissan Publishing Limited, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio www.amybookerauthor.com Contents Author’s Note Chapter 1 Oliver Life’s Gonna Kill You (If You Let It) Chapter 2 Bianca Crash Chapter 3 Oliver Santa Cruz Tomorrow Chapter 4 Bianca I Knew I Loved You Chapter 5 Oliver End of Sequence Chapter 6 Bianca Save Yourself Chapter 7 Oliver The Loneliest Chapter 8 Bianca Can’t Break What’s Broken Chapter 9 Oliver Ghost Chapter 10 Bianca I Can’t Breathe Chapter 11 Oliver Dull Knives Chapter 12 Bianca Save Me (I’m Not Crazy) Chapter 13 Oliver How Did You Love Chapter 14 Bianca Everything Is Embarrassing Chapter 15 Oliver Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu Chapter 16 Bianca World Stops Turning Chapter 17 Oliver Cowards Chapter 18 Bianca The Last Man on Earth Chapter 19 Oliver Like A Drug Chapter 20 Bianca The Way Down Chapter 21 Oliver Ready For Something Chapter 22 Bianca Gold Chapter 23 Oliver Never Wanna Leave Chapter 24 Bianca Curious/Furious Chapter 25 Oliver You’ll Be Fine Chapter 26 Bianca Ordinary Chapter 27 Oliver For the Love of God Chapter 28 Bianca Just Say When Chapter 29 Oliver Is It Really You? Chapter 30 Bianca Just Pretend Chapter 31 Oliver Special Chapter 32 Bianca I Am the Fire Chapter 33 Oliver Sans Soleil Chapter 34 Bianca Heartache Melody Chapter 35 Oliver Traveling On Chapter 36 Bianca Need You Now Chapter 37 Oliver It’s Not Over Chapter 38 Bianca Ave Maria Chapter 39 Oliver Whatever It Takes Epilogue Bianca (There Is) No Greater Love Afterword Ms. Lead Playlist Also by Amy Booker Contact Amy Author’s Note If you’ve read my previous books, you’ll know that the chapter names are all song titles. Music has been an integral part of my life, and it always sets the mood. Whether it’s the overall energy of a song, the lyrics, or even just the title, that tone carries through into my written words on the page. The playlist and a link can be found at the back of each book, or you can find them on my website: www.amybookerauthor.com. Chapter One OLIVER LIFE’S GONNA KILL YOU (IF YOU LET IT) Staring at the tiled ceiling of this hospital room, counting the little bubbles in the paint, is really getting old. Especially since the painkiller I was given a little while ago hasn’t started to kick in yet. Activities like counting objects or focusing on one item are supposed to help with this sort of thing. At least, that’s what all the professionals keep telling me. I’ve yet to find a reliable way to distract myself from pain. It’s rather becoming a way of life for me now. “You know, if you ever want to see me, you could just phone. This whole ‘spraining your ankle’ thing is taking it too far. Even for you.” My literary agent and friend, Darcie, appears in the doorway and fills the frame, hands on her hips. She thinks she’s being funny. I’m not amused in the slightest. “They won’t let me leave without a ride. It wasn’t my choice to call you here, believe me.” The disdain in my voice is for the doctors, not her. But she knows that. We’ve been friends since university, and things like this are becoming par for the course lately. “I’m sure I’ll be fine once the drugs start working. Besides, it’s barely even a sprain.” I try to be as nonchalant about the situation as possible, but she knows me too well and sees through it instantly. Nothing gets past Darcie. “Seriously, Oli. What happened this time?” Her brows draw together, and her tone softens. With that one look, my worst fears flash before me. The concern. An expression I never wanted to appear on my friend’s face. Not towards me, anyway. I need to look back up at the ceiling to avoid it. I can’t stand it. I knew it would be coming eventually, but now that it has, it makes my stomach churn. “It’s nothing, really. I just missed a step in the stairwell of my building. I’ve done that a million times. This time I just landed awkwardly. It’s not a big deal. Some decent drugs, ice, rest, and I’ll be good as new.” My words ring hollow in my ears as they’re spoken, but I force myself to smile for her sake. “Well, you really need to find a flat with no stairs. We can’t keep doing this. And, that thing you’re doing with your face? That’s a grimace, just FYI.” She swirls a well-manicured finger in a circle in front of my nose. “Not the confident smile you think it is.” “Well, unsolicited advice regarding my living arrangements is exactly that, unsolicited. And as I said, the painkillers have yet to present themselves to my pain. I’ll be grinning from ear to ear just for you once they do. Better?” That gets a corner of her mouth to twitch, at least, and her scowl relaxes. “Are you able to take regular painkillers with your new prescriptions?” It’s an innocent enough question, but the barbs on the subject matter snag on my vulnerability. Darcie is a great friend, and I can count on her for anything I could possibly need, but sometimes she’s too involved in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without her, but I do like to let myself wonder about that very scenario in times like this. “Darcie…” I warn. She leans away and holds her hands up defensively. “Okay, okay. I just want to make sure your A&E doctors know