Page 16 of Last Minute

McDonald’s

Movie theater movie—not a private showing

Bowling—renting shoes included

College football?

“Well, we’ve already checked off two of the three. I can’t promise we can find a college football game, but the rest of your list should be feasible.”

Ellie's smile is small as she pulls her phone toward her and erases the first two lines of her note. She types a few more words.

“And now Attend an American wedding is on there, too.” Her smile gets braver and less embarrassed. “I can make a better plan if I have a notebook, and mine’s back at the hotel.”

I gesture to the movie theater we’re at. “Do you still want to see a movie?”

Ellie shakes her head. “I know it’s on the list, but now I’m excited to plan our road trip. Planning makes me happy.” She shoots me a sideways glance. “I know it sounds really lame, but I’m actually really good at making plans.”

“I’m sure it’s part of what makes you such an excellent princess.” I turn on the car and back out of the parking lot, not missing the smile she tries to hide behind her hand. I haven’t called her a princess since yesterday when she first told me, and this is the first time I’ve complimented her. It felt so natural that I didn’t even think about it. But if this is how she reacts to a genuine compliment, I make a mental note to do it more often.

CHAPTER 13

Ellie

After a quick planning session and taking a minute to pack our bags, we waste no more time in beginning our road trip. My first road trip. I should have added it to the list. We drive for twenty minutes before either one of us speaks.

“Want to play Twenty Questions?” I ask.

“You want me to guess what you’re thinking?”

“No,” I snort. “Why would you say that?”

“Because that’s what Twenty Questions is.”

I cock my head to the side, observing Erik’s profile. “How about Twenty Questions to Get to Know Each Other?”

“Why?” is Erik’s short reply.

“Because riding in silence is boring? Because we’re headed to your mother’s wedding, and it might be a good idea to get to know each other a little bit.”

Erik cuts me a reluctant glance. I still feel bad that I pressured him into going when he obviously doesn’t want to go. But then it was his idea to pull a fast one on his mom, so I guess we’re both in it now.

“So is that a yes to Twenty Questions?”

Erik sighs. “Sure.”

I smile and prop my head on my hand, turning my upper body to look at Erik in the driver’s seat.

“Okay then, here are the rules. We both answer the same question. We each have one pass. If you pass, then you ask the next question. Sound good?” He nods. “Let’s start with an easy one: What’s your favorite color?”

“Purple.” Erik looks at me, his eyebrows raising expectantly. “Yours?”

“Sky blue.” I don’t want to jump directly into the deeper questions I’m dying to ask, so I need to ease into them. “Do you speak any other languages?”

“Yes. German and French.”

“Wo haben Sie Deutsch gelernt?”

The corner of Erik’s mouth kicks up, and he responds flawlessly, “Während einer Aufgabe.”

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