Page 25 of Hank

It had to be.

Now, how to make both of them believe it.

"Collin, we’ve got to get going."

Jo grabbed her purse and rushed out through the door from her kitchen leading to the garage, then got in her car and pushed the button that started the grinding racket of the door lifting behind her while she buckled up.

Friday.

She grabbed tight to the steering wheel with both hands and let out a relieved sigh. It was the first truly easy breath she’d managed since her encounter with Hank. Between almost closet sex, having to deal withmean girlsafterward, and worry about Collin quizzing her, she’d been on edge.

Thankfully, Hank hadn’t tried to contact her—not that he had her number. But he did have her email.

Why am I even thinking about this?

The whole not contacting her situation was a good thing. The other good thing was Collin hadn’t brought up the subject ofcalculus, or school—except for basketball, of course—and most importantlyDr.Lawton. So, maybe he hadn’t given it another thought.

If hehadbrought it up or asked questions, she would have had no idea how to answer without out and out lying to him. That wasn’t an option. She’d never lied to her son and had no plan on starting now.

No matter how tempting it might be.

The door she’d just gone through banged shut, bringing her attention to Collin rounding the hood of her car, then getting in and buckling up.

"You remembered your homework."

It wasn’t a question. Of course he would have. But she had to say it. It was a mom thing she felt compelled to do every morning. Even when he rolled his eyes hard enough she could hear it.

"Yes, Mom." He patted his backpack. "All tucked in and ready to give to my teachers."

"All right," she said, putting the car in reverse and looking over her shoulder as she backed out.

"So," Collin said, just as she’d cleared the garage. "You like Dr. Lawton."

"What?" She might have shrieked that as the car jerked to a hard stop, sending them both lurching forward, then back against their seats. Of course, slamming on the brake usually had that effect. At least it was nice to know the seatbelts worked.

"Was there an animal or something in the driveway?"

She jerked her head toward Collin twisted around in his seat, sending a little twinge zinging through her neck. Hopefully she hadn’t compounded the whiplash she’d probably already given herself.

Do I like Dr. Lawton…

All right. It was just a question. And, again, lying wasn’t an option. She supposed she’d just have toskatearound the truth and hope he didn’t pursue this any farther. She took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

"No, no, nothing was in the driveway." There, nice and calm.

"Then why’d you do that?" His confused hazel eyes met hers.

"It was just your question surprised me," she said, her gaze leaving his while unbuckling her seatbelt so she could search out her purse that had been beside her on the console. But now wasn’t.

"It’s in the floorboard," Collin provided. He followed that with averyinnocent-sounding, "Why’d my question make you hit the brake like that?"

Oh, he wasn’t fooling her. She recognized that tone. She should. She’d heard it often enough coming out of her own mouth when calling her friends on their crap.

Hmm… Did they not like it as much as she wasn’t liking it right now?

That was something she’d have to consider later. For now, she’d use the time spent contorting her body under her steering wheel to grab her purse and shove the few things that had fallen out of it back inside to compose herself.

"Why…" she grunted, while reaching toward her foot for her lipstick. "Why wouldyouask if I liked Dr. Lawton?"

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