Page 50 of Dungeons and Drama

Nathan and I look at each other. “Do you want us to help with it?” he asks.

“No, no. You two can take off. I’ve got it.”

“But the store isn’t closed yet,” I say. “We still need to clean up the back room and everything.”

“It’s all right. There’s not much to do—I can take care of it.”

A few of the guys smirk. I don’t know who Dad’s trying to fool. He’s clearly using this as a way to push me and Nathan together and it’s all so embarrassing I want to melt into the floor. But Nathan doesn’t hesitate.

“Thanks, Joel. See you tomorrow.”

“Yep.” Dad points a finger at him. “Drive safely.”

“Of course, sir.”

I’m hesitant to leave Dad if he’s in pain, especially now that I know his doctor is concerned for his health, but he shoos me away. We grab our book bags from the front counter and head out to Nathan’s car. The sun set hours ago, so the only light comes from the store windows and a flickering streetlight.

“Sir?” I ask him with a raised eyebrow.

“It never hurts to be polite.”

“Unless you’re talking to me?”

Nathan walks over to the passenger side, opens the door for me, and bows deeply at the waist.“Madam.”

I groan. “I should have had Dad drive me.” I put my book bag in the backseat, which is covered with sweatshirts, old receipts, and fast-food bags.

He climbs into the driver’s seat, still smirking, and turns on a Madonna parody song. “Okay, where to?”

I give him directions to my house, and he pulls out of the parking lot with a thoughtful expression on his face. His gaze flicks to me and back to the road.

“What?”

“When is your mom expecting you home?”

“Um…” I glance at the clock on his dashboard, which says eight-forty-five. “Not until nine-thirty. Why?”

He smiles but rubs a hand over his mouth to cover it. “I have an idea for a little detour. If you’re up for it.”

A kernel of excitement lodges in my chest, and suddenly there’s nothing I’d rather do than learn what’s making him smile like that.

“Sure. Although I should tell you that Mom is considering this a trial run. If I get home on time, then she might let me ride with you to the store after school. Assuming you don’t mind driving me.”

“Of course I don’t mind, Riley.” His voice is quiet. “I’ll get you home by curfew.”

He makes a right turn when he should make a left and winks at me. A spark of electricity rolls up my spine. I press my back into the seat and focus out the window. I don’tknow this road, but most of the country roads in Ohio look the same. Rolling hills, corn or soybean fields, occasional houses set back from the road. We’re the only car out here.

It makes me realize that I’m alone with Nathan…in close quarters…in the dark. Electricity zips through me again. It feels very different from our other times together. Sure, we’re together a lot, but we’re always surrounded by other people. I don’t think I’ve ever beenalonelike this with him. I run my palms down my legs and take a breath.

He props his left elbow on the driver’s side door, a small smile playing on his lips as he drives. He looks so content it’s hard to pull my eyes from him.

“Why are you looking at me?” he asks without taking his eyes off the road.

I snap my attention to the windshield. “You just seem so…happy.”

“This is one of my favorite things to do—driving at night with my weird eighties parodies. Sometimes, if I can’t sleep, I’ll get in the car and drive for hours.” The corner of his mouth lifts. “It’s why most of my money goes to gas.”

“I bet.”

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