Page 23 of The Fast Lane

“We’re pulling into a rest stop right now so you can relax.”

“A rest stop? Oh, sweet Jesus. Be careful. People get murdered at rest stops.”

“We are not going to get murdered.”

Theo parked and waited, the car still running. I felt rather than saw his eyes on me. He was probably smiling that little crooked grin and I forced myself not to look.

“You could be kidnapped,” Mom said, her voice jumping an octave.

“I am not going to get kidnapped.”

Theo snickered. I raised an eyebrow in his direction.

“What if you’re attacked by a wild animal? I hope you’re wearing clean underwear because the last thing I need is for someone to discover your mangled body and find out you?—”

“Yes, I’m wearing clean underwear.” Theo choked on a laugh, and I sent him my meanest glare. “Do I need to talk to Dad about cutting you off from the true crime documentaries again?”

“Those shows are educational. I’m your mother. I am allowed to be worried.”

“There’s worried and then there’s up-in-my-business-and-asking-weird-questions worried. Boundaries, remember?”

A dimple peeked out high on Theo’s right cheek—the result of an injury when he and my brothers decided to teach themselves the art of stick fighting—and that only happened when he was highly amused.

I loved that stupid dimple.

Mom sniffled. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter. “Fine. Sorry. I’m overstepping.”

“Thank you.” Next to me, Theo’s laughter bubbled over, and he pressed his forehead on the steering wheel. I smacked him on the shoulder but that only set him off more.

Another sniffle on the phone. “You are okay, though, right?”

“Yes, we’re fine. Although Theo had a question for you.” Theo’s head came up, his mouth clamped tight, but those blue eyes were sparkling with humor. “About curtains. He was telling me how much he needed new ones.”

“Tell him not to buy any.” Mom’s voice shifted out of the danger zone. “I’ll make them for him.”

“Oh, I’m sure he would love that. I think he mentioned something about fabric with dancing teddy bears?”

His eyes narrowed in response; I grinned widely. With lots of teeth.

“Dancing teddy bears. Hmm, I’m not sure I have any fabric like that. Oh, but I do have some leftover baseball fabric. It’s darling. I used it to make a baby shower gi?—”

“You know, he’s right here, and we are just sitting at a rest stop. He’d love to tell you what he’s thinking. Let me pass him the phone.”

With a snicker, I held the phone out to Theo. He grabbed it, and my hand in the process. He mouthed, I’ll get you for this.

I batted my lashes at him innocently. Little old me?

Yes, you. The glint in his eye was playful. But there was something else there, something I couldn’t put a name to, nor could I look away from it. For a suspended moment, the two of us stared at each other. I’d never realized how little space there was between the front seats of a car.

If we both moved an inch or two, we’d be close. Very close. Maybe he’d lean forward and press his lips to mine, and I’d reach for him. I’d knock his hat off and run my fingers through his hair and then?—

“Hello? Theo? Alicia?” Mom’s voice called from the phone. “Is everything okay? Eli, I told you we should have put that tracking device on his car. He never would have known. What if they’re being kidnapped this very minute and…”

I untangled my hand from his. “You better get that before she calls in the National Guard.”

“Hi, Stephanie.” He said into the phone, his voice respectful, but still holding my gaze with a look that was a little less respectful. It was only a second, that look, but that didn’t stop my pulse from stampeding.

With a quick smile, I got myself out of that car as fast as possible.

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