Page 46 of Sticking Around

At that thought my heart thumps against my chest and Melanie’s gaze moves over my face, her eyes narrowing in on me, like she can see more than I want. “I was only joking about you being a scaredy cat.”

“I know,” I say, even though I think she could be right. I’m in my twenties, and haven’t been living because I’m too afraid of dying and letting down those I love. As I mull that over, I can’t help but think how fucked up that is.

“This is fun, Lanie,” I say and lean in and give her a kiss. She chuckles, and snuggles against me. We continue the tour and since we’ve been at this for hours, and it’s time to head back home, we stay seated as the bus stops numerous times for pick up and drop offs.

It’s nearing dinner time when we finally get off at the location where we were first picked up and I take Melanie’s hand in mine as we walk back to our car. Clouds move in overhead and she glances at the sky.

I click the fob and my doors unlock as we approach the car. “I hope the rain holds off if the guys are coming over tonight,” she says before she slides in.

I give her a wink. “Yeah, but if it rains, the night will be cut short and I can help you study, and maybe even put that rain check to use.”

“You are a pretty good study partner and I’ve been wondering when we were going to use that rain check.” She exhales, her smile fading. “I’ll just be glad when this exam is over.”

“You’re going to do great.” I bend and kiss her before shutting her door and circling the vehicle. Her eyes are on me as I walk, and I kind of like being the center of her attention. I climb in and as we head back to the resort, unease hits my stomach. Is she going to be pissed that I had her car fixed? Probably. But I guess I’ll have to find a way to put a smile back on her face, and I’m pretty sure I know how.

“Why are you grinning?” she asks, breaking the quiet around us, and that’s when it hits me. We can sit quietly together, zero conversation, yet we’re completely comfortable. Normally when it’s too quiet, I’ll do or say something ridiculous to break it, uncomfortable with my own thoughts most of the time, but with her it’s different.

I’m different.

“Thinking about chapter four,” I tell her and she laughs.

“You young boys. That’s all you ever have on your mind.”

I wag a finger. “Hockey, don’t forget hockey, and hey, I’m not that young.”

“Younger than me.”

“Does that bother you?” I ask, seriously.

“Last week in the coffee shop, that elderly lady you signed an autograph for asked me if I was your older sister.”

“What, no way? You didn’t tell me that.”

“That’s because it was embarrassing.”

“I wouldn’t have signed an autograph had I known she embarrassed you.”

She shrugs. “She didn’t mean it. She just saw you with those fourteen-year-old girls, and well, I’m no fourteen-year-old.”

“First, let me say you’re a gorgeous woman, and second, the fact that you have your life together and go after what you want, is pretty damn attractive.”

There’s genuine curiosity in her eyes when she asks, “That’s why you like me?”

“I like you for many reasons. Not just because you’re my…cougar,” I tease.

She whacks me. “Ass, and really, Brady, when it comes right down to it, I don’t have my life together. Not yet anyway.”

“Not yet? You have a place to live lined up, you’re getting the education you want. You have a job, and are making great tips to help with tuition, and…wait, what else do you want, Lanie?”

Her phone pings and she reaches for it, leaving my question hanging in the air. I grip the steering wheel tighter and curse at the emotions squeezing my throat—because yeah, maybe I wanted to hear that it was me she wanted.

She sends a message off and puts her phone down. “All good?” I ask.

“Yeah, just a classmate, asking about our exam.”

I wait for a second, to see if she’s going to answer my question, but the moment has passed. “Do you want to grab some take-out?”

“No, I think I’ll cook, if that’s okay with you.” She’s been doing a lot of cooking for me, cleaning too, and she’s not my maid, but she does seem pretty insistent on it. “Healthier,” she adds, as if to convince me.

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