Page 78 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

As he pulls up, I joke, “Wow, twice in one day. I bet the old women are jealous.”

He pushes the brake and it clicks. Wait, do all the golf carts...?

Parking brake.

I’m trying to pay better attention to things that will come in handy later.

“They’ll get over it.” He smiles. “Where are you headed?”

I shrug my shoulders and breathe in a content breath. “To the theatre. I just want to be there and hang out, to, you know, get used to the place. Before tomorrow.”

“Ah. Preparing for the first rehearsal?”

“Yep. That’s when the madnessreallybegins.”

He chuckles. “Need a ride? I’m headed that way. I don’t mind.”

“Are we friends now? Do we hang out together?”

He plays it cool. “Or not, you weirdo. You can walk.”

I scrunch up my nose and pretend to think about it.

He releases the parking brake and presses the accelerator, slowly inching the cart away from me—making a face at me the whole time.

I pretend to capitulate. “Oh, okay. Fine, if you’re going that way, I suppose...” I hop into the passenger side and put my phone on my lap.

As he hits the accelerator, a thought hits me. “Oh! Sorry—I didn’t even thank you. For saving me from the demon chipmunk.”

“Hey.” He leans toward me, his shoulder brushing mine. “I’m here for ya.”

As he grips the steering wheel, I notice how his polo pullstighter, showing all the parts of his chest and biceps that he seems to pay attention to at the gym. There are always people who will be attracted to that, and I’ve never been one of them.

But it certainly doesn’t hurt.

“I told you to call when you need anything.” He smirks. “Though I thought maybe you’d use a phone and not, you know, scream.”

“It worked, so I regret nothing.”

He doesn’t drive as fast as Daisy, who drives as though at ten thirty the pizza is free and it’s ten twenty-nine.

I try to relax in the soft hum of the cart—to just take in the beautiful day and the beautiful driver next to me, but my brain keeps defaulting to the impulse to share with him.

I want to know him, but that means him getting to know me.

Ugh. What is happening to me?

I shut my eyes tight for a moment, then decide just to go for it.

“So... questions.”

He glances my way. “Uh, what?”

I realize that I started talking in the middle of the conversation I’ve already been having in my head.

“I think I want to try the practicing thing. You know, questions, being honest... That. Whole. Thing,” I admit without looking at him.

“The practicing thing,” he repeats.

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