Page 18 of Drive To Survive

“You made it.”

Rhett’s head came up as his mother spoke, and he grinned. I held up my hand for a high five, and he obliged, his grin broadening.

“This place is crazy,” I said, sliding onto the red plastic seating, thankful I had jeans on instead of shorts. I didn’t fancy having to peel myself off the faux leather at the end of the meal.

Everly nodded. “It’s always like this. We were lucky to get a table. Sometimes the line goes around the block.”

I lifted a menu from the stand and skimmed it. “What are you having, Rhett?”

“Cheeseburger,” he responded immediately, which led me to believe that was his staple choice. “With extra ketchup.”

“Sounds good. I’ll have the same.”

“And a milkshake,” Rhett added. “You gotta have a milkshake.”

“Got to,” Everly corrected. “Not ‘gotta.’”

A server stopped by our table and took our order, then ducked behind the counter and handed it to the kitchen. My gaze flicked around the place, conversation drying up now that the formalities were out of the way.

“You didn’t have to come,” Everly said. “It’s awkward, I know.”

I gave Everly my attention, running my eyes over her face, settling on her mouth. I wanted to kiss her. God, how I wanted to kiss her. “I was happy to come along.”

“Is that so?” Her brow lifted in question.

“I’m not in the habit of allowing myself to be coerced.” Realizing how snippy that sounded, I scraped a hand down my face. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”

The server returned with our shakes, and Everly removed the paper from Rhett’s straw, then pushed it in front of him. He slurped noisily, brightening as the sugary treat hit his taste buds.

“Good?” Everly asked, affectionately running a hand over the back of his head.

He nodded. “Sooo good.”

“How about yours?” Her eyes flicked to me, and she pointed her chin. “I hear the peanut butter shake is good. I haven’t tried it myself.”

I reached for a second straw and stuck it through the hole in the plastic lid. “Be my guest.”

Everly smiled and pulled my shake over to her side of the table. She bent her head and sucked, her cheeks hollowing as she tried to force the thick milkshake up the narrow tube. My dick jumped inside my jeans, and I only just managed to stop a groan escaping my lips. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I found her looking at me, a faint blush of pink dusting her cheeks.

“It’s good.” She pushed it back across the table and lowered her chin, looking up at me through luscious lashes. I couldn’t help but notice that she wasn’t wearing the normal thick mascara most women favored. “Want to try mine?”

I rubbed my fingers over my lips. “Sure.”

She followed my lead and popped in a spare straw, then slid her shake over to me. Our fingertips touched. Instead of withdrawing hers, she left them there, lingering against mine, her skin soft and warm.

I bent my head and sucked, the strong taste of strawberry exploding on my tongue. “It’s good,” I said, moving my hand away from hers. If the broken contact disappointed her, she didn’t show it.

What the fuck are you doing?

I cleared my throat and focused on Rhett instead. “How’s the vanilla, bud?”

Rhett stopped drinking his shake and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “The best, which is why I’m not sharing.”

I laughed while Everly turned her horrified gaze onto her son. “Rhett Lawson, that is not a very nice thing to say.”

I reached out a hand and touched her arm. She jerked as if I’d burned her. “Let him be,” I murmured. “It’s all good.”

Her expression told me she disagreed, but rather than make a scene, she let it slide. I got it. She wanted to teach her son manners and make sure he grew up well-adjusted and polite. But at the same time, she didn’t want to steal a moment of joy in his life or risk causing a tantrum by coming down on him too harshly.

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