Page 24 of Recklessly, Wildly Yours

“How many bumps before a friendship has to be declared impossible?” Her smile is infectious, or maybe it’s just her presence that inspires so much enjoyment in me.

“I’m the guy who was almost the father of an eight-year-old, remember?”

“Right. You’re also the guy who probably would have given up his entire fortune if asked. You don’t let bumps deter you.”

“The bumps make the ride interesting.” As she thinks about that, I ask, “What’s your real surname?”

“Miller.”

“So much better than Montana.”

She smiles and I think she likes that I asked for her real name. “It really is.”

I reach for the door handle. “What snacks do you want?” We were nowhere near prepared for this road trip. It’s time to load up.

To my great fucking delight, Maddie rattles off a list of junk food she’d like. I know far too many women with hang ups over their diet. It’s refreshing to meet someone who’ll eat what she wants.

I fill up with gas and food. Maddie starts eating a chocolate bar before we leave the gas station.

She eyes me as I start the car, holding up the Snickers bar I got myself. “How are you not already halfway through this?”

“Some of us have restraint.”

She rolls her eyes. “Seriously. If you don’t hurry up and eat it, I’ll steal it.”

“It’s all yours, but I’m ready for some more duetting, so eat fast.”

My phone buzzes with a text, then another, and another. When Maddie tries to pass it to me, I say, “Can you check it for me?” Another car has pulled in behind us, so I need to drive.

“Oh, you have a group chat with your brothers,” Maddie says, reading my messages. “That’s cute.”

I steer the car back onto the highway. “It’s practical.”

She looks at me. “It’s also cute. It’s nice to see brothers getting along. I’ve just spent years with a guy who hated his brothers.”

“We don’t chat much through that group. It’s usually just for making plans. What are they arranging?”

“Nothing. Gage texted first to ask where you’re going. He says your father told him you were going on a road trip. Hayden and Bradford texted that they’d heard the same and are also wondering where you’re going.”

I messaged Mom and Dad earlier to let them know I was unable to come to the family dinner next week that they’d planned. Mom had texted back to have a good time. Dad hadn’t been as kind. He texted his disappointment in me for canceling on my family. I should have expected that. I’ve been disappointing him my entire life.

“Ethan,” Maddie prompts when I get lost in my thoughts.

I turn to her. “Can you text them back and let them know where we’re going?”

“Sure.” She taps out a text and then reads it out to me to confirm it’s okay. She appears highly concerned about getting the text exactly right.

“Whatever you send will be good.”

“No, I want to make sure it’s what you would send. Maybe just tell me word for word what to send.”

I reach over and hit send on what she’d already typed. “It was good.”

She blinks at me like she can’t believe I just did that. “I’d started deleting what I’d typed.” She glances down at the phone. “And your big finger added some extra random letters before you hit send. That message won’t make any sense to your brothers.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

---