Page 39 of Even Ground

I slide on my seat belt and start the car.

This could be a long but enjoyable day.

* * *

“Where are we going?” she asks about two minutes into the trip.

“Do you know where you are now?” I ask.

“Sherman Oaks.” She covers her face with her hands. “That’s all I know.”

I nudge her arm. “That’s okay. We’re going toward Burbank because I know you’ll want to see the Hollywood sign. Got your camera?”

“I’ve got my phone.”

“That’ll do. It also means we’ll go past Universal Studios, and a few other landmarks. If you see anywhere you want to visit, we can always go later in the week.”

She lowers her hands. “Thank you for this.”

“You’re welcome. I’m not hating spending time with you as much as I thought I would.”

Pania snorts then covers her nose. “I’m glad. You’re not as annoying as you were when we first met.”

I slap the steering well. “That’s good to hear.”

“Maybe Delaney’s right and there’s more to you after all.”

“She said that?” I glance at Pania, and there’s no smile to indicate she’s making fun of me.

“Yes, she did. And I trust her, usually, but I wasn’t sure about you.”

I point to my chest with my index finger. “Me?”

“Yes you. She’s usually pretty cautious with people, but she took to you. I can see why.”

My heart warms at her words. In all fairness, I don’t know much about Delaney’s past beyond that she and Josh dated several years ago before a misunderstanding broke them up. He was obsessed for a while at finding her, but over time it seemed to ease until he went to work on a movie in New Zealand and found her.

We became instant friends, but there’s a lot I don’t know about her. She knows nothing of me—there are things in my past that Josh doesn’t even know about.

But her faith in me is rewarded by Pania adopting the same sentiment.

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

Her satisfied smile makes me smile, and she raises her chin, pointing toward something at the side of the road. “There are so many shops here. Delaney must love it.”

I deliberately drove along Ventura Boulevard so she could see something other than the concrete of the freeway. We have plenty of time.

“I’m not sure she goes out much still other than taking Amelia to school and back. It’s all a bit intimidating.”

Pania looks ahead. “I can see why. And you’re driving on the wrong side of the road.”

I look at the road, then the steering wheel, then back at the road.

She snickers. “Did you just double check what side you were driving on?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll behave now. Promise. Don’t need you having an accident.”

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