Page 64 of The Pretender

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“Stay on the road!”

I ease back to the middle of the road and cut Vee a pained look. “I’m sorry. It was like my hands knew the only way to peace was to run us into a ditch.”

I smother a laugh when her eyes narrow. “I swear to all that is holy I will cut your pillow to shreds and use it as dog bedding if you make one more joke about my singing.”

I shrug, not promising I won’t make another joke about her horrific singing. “I’m kind of used to sleeping without it now. Do with it what you wish.”

I focus back on the road but then tell her, “I’m still not giving your chair back though.”

She scoffs. “You think that concerns me? I’ll just continue to come watch my movies at your house. All your future girlfriends will have to learn to adapt to your nightly houseguest.”

The words, ‘future girlfriends,’ send a chill through the warm air. It reminds me that whatever this is with Vee isn’t real nor will it last until ‘future girlfriends.’ Once we win, I’m leaving. I don’t plan to stay and finish school. Instead of Vee watching her stupid movies on my patio while I pretend to watch something else, she’ll be watching them back onherpatio like before. Alone.

Vee’s chuckle dies when she notices that I didn’t contribute to the laughter. I could have faked one, but I don’t see the point. The contest will be over soon, and I think it’s best we both remember that. It’ll make things easier.

“So…” She clears her throat, turning the radio off. “I was looking on the map and there’s a town coming up.”

“Do you need a bathroom break again?” I roll my eyes. I swear she needs to stop to pee every fifteen miles.

“No, jerk face. I don’t have to pee, but I know there’s a Red Cross there.” She looks down at her hands. “It’s not out of the way and since you were sick on the week you normally go, I thought you might want to make up for it.”

I sigh. I hate that I took her with me that one time. “Are you going to faint this time when they stick me?”

She grins. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” I repeat, my lips tipping up at the corners into a grin. “Maybe you should wait in the Jeep?”

She waves me off. “I’ll be fine. Second time’s a charm.”

I scoff. I highly doubt it, but I guess we’ll see.

“Alright, you can come in, but if you faint, you can't sing for the rest of the ride.”

I don’t mean it, but it feels good changing the subject.

“You’re a dick.” She side-eyes me, but she’s smiling.

“And?”

She turns the radio up, the wind blowing in her hair. She doesn’t care that it’s tangled. I like that she’s not a diva about her appearance. “And you have a deal. If I faint, you can sing the rest of the trip."

About fifteen minutes later, we pull up to the donation center. The parking lot is sparse and almost looks abandoned.

“Do you want to put the top up on the Jeep?” Vee asks.

I shake my head. “Nah. It’ll be fine. We’ll just take the camera bags in. If someone steals our clothes and food, it’ll just make for a more entertaining video.”

I don’t really hope someone steals our shit for the sake of likes; I’m just too lazy to put the top up and then back down an hour later when we leave.

Vee shrugs one shoulder. “Whatever you want.”

Grabbing the bags, we head into the blood donation center, and I sign all the paperwork. Vee follows behind me and the tech without a word.

“Sure you’re not going to faint again?” I toss behind me, which Vee responds with a middle finger salute.

“Have a seat right here, Mr. Carrington.” The tech pats the recliner. “And your girlfriend can sit in this empty one next to you.”

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