“Like what?”
“Really want me to say it out loud?”
He gave me a long, patient look. “Get in the car, baby.”
Ten minutes later, I was behind the wheel of a luxury coupe that probably cost more than my life, hands gripping the steering wheel like it might suddenly bite me. Theo leaned back in the passenger seat, far too relaxed for someone who’d just handed the keys to a lifelong pedestrian.
“Okay,” he said, voice low and even, “now gently tap the gas. We’re just pulling out, nothing crazy.”
I did as he said, jerking forward so fast, Theo’s hand flew to the dash.
“Gently, Carmen. Jesus.”
I snorted. “You said tap. I tapped.”
“You punched it.”
“Whatever. Do I reverse this, or—why are you grinning at me like that?”
He looked so damn smug. “‘Cause you’re so cute when you’re confused.”
I shot him a look. “Don’t patronize me.”
He held his hands up.
“I’m not! Look—” He reached for my camcorder, which I had resting in the cupholder after dinner, and turned it on. “I’ll record your reactions to things and we’ll watch it back later, so you can see how adorable you are for yourself.”
“Hm,” I turned my attention back to the road. “Make sure you get my good side.”
He chuckled and pointed the lens at me. “Yes ma’am.”
We wobbled through a quiet side street while he gave me pointers in that irritatingly calm voice of his, and to my surprise, I didn’t hate it. Something about the way he talked me through every turn made me feel…safe. Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t laugh when I panicked about parallel parking or that he didn’t lose patience when I stalled the car at a stop sign.
Or maybe it was because when I finally stopped the car and sat in silence for a moment, heart racing, I could feel how proud he was.
I glanced over at him. “Teddy?”
“Yeah?”
“This car is just for when I visit, right?” I asked it casually.
He didn’t look at me. “Yes. Just for when you visit.”
I exhaled slowly. “Okay.”
He was quiet for another second, then smiled. “Next time, we’re hitting theAutostrada.”
“Don’t push it.”
“Come on,Amore mio. I believe in you.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Take this damn car before I kill us.”
We switched seats which honestly was for the best because my palms were sweating like I’d just walked out of a courtroom.
He glanced at me as he adjusted the seat. “You okay?”
“I’m amazing,” I deadpanned, wiping my hands on my dress. “This car’s gonna need therapy, though.”
