Page 36 of Worst in Show

I blush at my unfortunate choice of words. “Whatever. Come on.”

Leo drives us out of town and narrates his moves as we go. “It’s a flow—clutch, gear, release, clutch, gear, release. Once you’re on the road and you’re giving it enough gas, you’ll have no issue. It’s harder to start and drive slowly.” He pulls into a pharmacy parking lot so we can switch seats.

“How’d you learn to drive stick anyway?” I warily wrap my fingers around the steering wheel.

He buckles into the passenger seat. “Started driving a tractor at twelve.”

“You did not.”

“We had horses and I helped in the stables when I could. Sometimes that included moving bales of hay from one end of the property to the other.”

Royal Equine, I think. That makes sense. “So, not working the fields, then?”

He laughs, his whole face lighting up. The sound makes something long dormant flutter in my chest. I swallow to make it go away. He’s only doing this for Harvey, I remind myself. It’s an agreement, and no one wants it to be anything else. Not me, not Leo. Okay, maybe Micki, but inside this well-loved automobile, she doesn’t count.

“No. Sorry to disappoint. So, you ready?”

“Yes.” I nod once. “Walk me through it?”

He does, and I start the car.

“Now let up the clutch at the same time you give some gas.”

The engine stalls out.

“Fucking thing.” I’m starting to sweat, and there’s a strand of hair stuck to my cheek. I push it behind my ear and pull the neckline of my sweater out to fan my skin. Ah, that’s better.

“Relax.” Leo’s voice sounds oddly strangled. “You don’t have to grip the knob so hard.” He places his hand on top of mine to demonstrate a softer hold. It’s gone before I can react, but the sensation lingers across my knuckles. “A little more gas this time.”

I do what he asks and voilà! “I’m doing it.” I laugh.

“See. It’s not that difficult. Now stop at the stop sign. Stop!”

The car stalls again as I hit the brake hard. “Sorry, I got too excited.”

“Sweet Jesus, you’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

“Please, it wasn’t that bad.”

“Agree to disagree. Now try again, and let’s obey the rules of the road this time.”

I suppress a childish urge to stick my tongue out at him and instead do what he asks. And while I somehow manage to kill the engine at almost every traffic light, which makes the drive take twice as long as it should, eventually we make it to our destination.

I park in the Dalebrook parking lot and grin at Leo. “I did it.”

He feigns exaggerated relief, which earns him a light slap on the shoulder.

“You know,” he says when we’re walking to the entrance, “I think I’m going to need you to say it out loud.”

“Say what?”

“That I’m a good teacher.”

He’s trailing behind me, so I turn around. “Is that still bothering you? Wow, male egos… Fine. You’re a good teacher.”

Is it just me or does his back actually straighten at my words?

“Thank you.” He slows his steps. “Hey, maybe I should wait in the car. If you two have stuff to chat about.”

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