Page 102 of The Fast Lane

“I’m reading a book.”

“About pirates?”

“Yeah. About pirates on the high seas and all that.”

“Sounds interesting. What’s it called?”

“It’s called…um…” I couldn’t say the real title, of course. Too many questions from Mack and too much teasing from Abe when he discovered it was a romance novel. I scrambled to make something up. “Um, Swashbucklers: The Historical Significance of Pirates From 1775 to 1850. It’s, ah, riveting.”

“That does sound good.”

“Theo recommended it,” I blurted out. “He knows all about pirates. Practically a pirate expert.”

Even from the back in the cheap seats, I saw Theo’s ear grow red.

“Is that so?” Mack asked.

Theo cleared his throat. “Thanks for sharing that with everyone, Ali.”

“You’re welcome.”

While Theo answered the bazillion questions Mack sent his way, I drew my phone back out and soon lost myself in the story again. We’d just pulled into the parking lot of a burger joint when I hit chapter fourteen.

My jaw dropped. “No. In the crow’s nest?”

Theo began to cough.

“I got to read this book,” Mack said. “I hope my library has a copy of it.”

But I’ll admit it, I wasn’t listening; I was reading that scene again. For historical research purposes, of course.

FORTY-THREE

Note to self:

Put a tracking device on Mack.

Reno

The sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping with it when we checked into a hotel in Reno. We ate at a small diner, all crowded around a corner booth. At dinner, I made Mack swear he wouldn’t meet some crazy woman and follow her all over the city.

“Mimi wasn’t crazy.” He held up his phone. “She gave me her number.”

“Way to go, Gramps.” Abe held up his fist and Mack bumped it with his. “I liked her.”

“I liked her, too.” I pointed with my fork. “What I didn’t like was spending the wee hours of the morning traipsing around Vegas looking for you.”

“And trying to wrangle both of you was not fun,” Theo said. “That woman was very handsy.”

“I know,” Mack said like it was his favorite thing about her.

“Mack. Promise.”

“Alright. I promise. I’ll be a good boy tonight.” He chuckled. “Have to say, I haven’t felt that young in a long time. It felt good to get out and do something different. But all that dancing got to my knees.”

“And I’m sure all that alcohol got to your liver.”

“Daddy, what does handsy mean?” Hallie looked up from the coloring sheet the server had given her.

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