“Yep.” Not enough. I’m starting to hallucinate. “Thanks for the shirt by the way, I’ll have to find a way to repay you.”
She bites her bottom lip. “I’d like to see you try.”
Chapter 20
Karli
“Areyousureyou’refine to drive?” Trent asks as we walk to the van.
“I am. But,” I grab his arm and stop walking. “I never said thank you for everything you did for me. The hotel room, the drinks, the blanket,” which I’m keeping in the front seat with me because I now love this thing. “I’ve never been taken care of like that by anyone and I feel wholly inadequate to repay you for your kindness.”
“Then it’s a good thing kindness doesn’t ask for a reward.” He smiles down at me. I should have kissed those lips. I spent every moment of my lukewarm shower regretting not kissing him. Would that have counted as a proper thank you?
I turn away, unsure what to say without implicating my thoughts.
The driver’s seat beckons to me and when I settle into the torn leather seat a feeling of warmth washes over me.
I pull the visor down to glance at the other picture of my grandmother and me that I keep in my van. This one was when I was only six. She’d let me try on her fanciest jewelry and wear it out to ice cream. Little did I know all the “fancy” jewelry was all fake. All except the bracelet I still wear today. It didn’t matter, it was the best day pretending with her. And this has been the best holiday I’ve had in years. I’d like to believe my grandma orchestrated it for me. The good parts anyway.
I flip up the visor as Trent hops in, then put the van in reverse and pull out of the parking lot.
What if I accidentally take the scenic route instead? That gives me another forty minutes with Trent.
No. I speed up and follow the road out of town. Back in the hotel room, I promised myself I wouldn’t be my mother. Trent wants to go home. I’ll take him home and we will both enjoy the holiday. Then I’ll put some necessary distance between us. Right after the turkey and potatoes.
“What are you thinking about?” Trent asks.
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Huh?”
“You had a crease down the middle of your forehead. You looked like you were deep in thought there.”
I swallow. “Oh, you know, thinking about getting you home.”
He arches a brow. “Tell me more.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop reading into the things that come out of my mouth.”
He rubs his jaw and mumbles something that sounds like, “Believe me, it’s really hard not to focus on your mouth.”
My face burns.
I’ve read books before—fine, I’ve watched movies before—where people are thrown together for a period, and they fall in love because it’s practically forced upon them.
But this isn’t some romantic comedy, and that’s not going to happen. People don’t fall in love in a day. Pulling back is in everyone’s best interest.
The sun is fully gone now. It’s only four, but the sun has begun its descent in the sky. Everything is calm and quiet.
“Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?” Trent asks.
“Surprisingly, no.” It would be so easy to stop, but I never do.
“You’ll have to add it to your next road trip itinerary.”
I laugh. “It’s cute you think I’d ever follow any kind of itinerary. Let me guess, you make plans for everything?”
“Not everything.” He shrugs. “But I do like havingaplan.”
“My van is my plan,” I whisper. My backup plan.
