Page 25 of Laugh

“You know exactly what I mean, Harriet.”

Closing my eyes, I press my forehead to the cool window. “I need to go now. I’ll try my best to get to dinner early. Bye.” Without waiting for her to respond, I hang up the call and stay turned away from Beau. I need just a moment to plaster on a fake smile before I face him.How freaking embarrassing.

Beau clears his throat awkwardly. “You, uhh… You okay over there?”

Fake it ‘til you make it, right?

With my grin in place, I turn around to face him. “Just peachy. So, how’s your week been since I saw you last?”

“You’re a terrible liar. If you don’t want to share, that’s perfectly fine. But don’t pretend you’re not upset over your phone call.” Beau sounds impatient with me, and I imagine this type of scolding is what his team likes to avoid. He does disapproval well.

It makes me feel ill.

Swallowing down the feelings of disappointing yet another person, my voice cracks when I answer him. “So-Sorry. My, umm… my stepmom and I don’t exactly see eye to eye. It’s a chore when she calls.”

“Haddie, you don’t have to tell me. I just don’t want you to feel like you need to pretend that you’re alright if you’re not.” He’s frowning at the road ahead of us as he says this.

With a self-deprecating smile, which he doesn’t see, I explain. “I’m not against sharing. I’m an open book if I’m being completely honest. But my family dynamics are a depressing thing, and I didn’t think you’d want me to bring down your good mood.”

“I’d like to circle back to that, but what do you mean my ‘good mood’?”

“You’re in a great mood today! It’d be a shame if that went away. We need to be at the top of our game if we’re about to spend a few hours doing homework.” I smile so he knows I’m teasing when he flicks another glance my way.

Beau considers me as he chews on his cheek. “I’m in the same mood I’m always in, though. What makes you think that today is different?”

My eyebrow lifts.He can’t be serious, right?“Uhh… you’re beingsupernice to me today. I figured your tolerance level was at an all-time high.”

He whips his head toward me with wide eyes, tugging the wheel slightly to the left. My body tilts into the door from the jerky movement.

“Eyes on the road, Captain! Good Lord, you’re going to kill us!” I screech and grab the ‘oh shit’ bar.

“Christ. Sorry.” After his apology, he gets us back into the center of the lane. Although now he’s scowling at it like it was theroad’sfault that he shifted over the line. Thank goodness there wasn’t anyone next to us. “I’m always nice to you! What do you mean I’m beingsupernice today?”

Is he for real right now?I think back over our previously stellar meetings and try to view it from another perspective, but nothing changes. He absolutely didnotenjoy being around me. Beau was tolerant at best.

“Seriously? I know you only tolerate me,whichI’m okay with. But today it’s like you woke up and decided you actually want to be around me. It’s nice. Thank you for that!”There. That wasn’t so hard to explain.

“Fuck,” he mutters, then signals the car to change lanes to take our exit for the library. “Happy, I’m sorry if I made you feel like you need to be tolerated. Idolike you and find that I actually enjoy being around you. You just caught me off guard. That’s all.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I’m not so sure if that’s a compliment or not. Thanks, I guess?”

Beau grumbles out, “It was supposed to be,” as he reaches to cover my hand. “Honestly. I didn’t intend to make you feel that way. Won’t happen again.” He stresses his point with a gentle squeeze before letting me go to grab the wheel again.

Staring down at my hand where it’s resting on my thigh, my brain short circuits with tingles from where I still feel the residual pressure from where he touched me. I’m not even sure if he realized how much he just fucked up my world with that move. I may be 27 years old, but boys don’t touch me. I get hugs from my friends and my dad, but other than that, I think I’ve been starved of touch.

I like it. I definitely want more of it from Captain Kirk over there.

“Happy?”

Jerking my head up to look at him, I realize he’s been waiting for me to answer some unknown question I never heard.

“Uhh… What’d you ask me?” I blink up at him.

Huffing out a laugh, he shakes his head at me. “I circled back to your family and your phone call, but we’re here now. We’ll have to take a raincheck.”

I blow out a breath, unsure if I’m relieved or disappointed that our time has come to an end. “Well, if you’re still interested when we’re done, I’ll fill you in on all the gory details. It’ll be a fun ‘get to know’ you exercise.” Poking him in the side, I add, “You’ll have to divulge too. As payment for the way I’ll tell the story. It’ll have all the flair and I can make it really entertaining.”

Beau chuckles and gives me one of those ‘stare deep into your soul’ looks like he can’t believe I’m being serious.I totally am.“Can’t wait. Let’s get inside. Want me to carry your bag?”

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