We climb back into the helicopter and after the twenty-minute ride, we’re back at Dustin’s car. As we drive to Jera’s house, I notice how much Dustin is smiling, like he’s got a secret. I remember what he said about a gift and I nudge him. “Are you going to give me my present now?”
“In a minute.”
“Is it in the glove box?” I reach over and open the compartment, but there’s only a manual and a pair of sunglasses in it.
Dustin chuckles. “Hang on. I’ll give it to you when we get to my house.”
My stomach rumbles, and Dustin shoots me a look. “Hungry?”
I laugh. “I guess so.”
“Me, too. What are you hungry for?”
“I’m fine with anything.”
“I’ve been craving a burger all day. Should we be spontaneous?”
I have no idea what he’s talking about, but the devilish look on his face makes me want to know. “Sure.”
He pulls into the drive-through of an In-N-Out Burger. I look around to try to figure out what he’s doing that is out of the norm. When I realize he isn’t doing anything else, I make a face. “The drive-through is spontaneous?”
“You don’t think so?”
I scoff. “Nope.”
“You do this all the time?” He raises his eyebrows.
“Sure.” Then I realize he’s talking to Jera, famous movie star. Jera probably doesn’t go through the drive-through. I can’t take it back now, though, so I pretend. I flip my hair. “It gives people something to talk about.”
He laughs. “You’re so funny.”
We order at the menu. As we wait in line to get to the window he turns to me. “This will be my last splurge. I’ll have to get in shape for Hit the Beach.”
“Then you should have ordered extra fries.”
“You’re such an enabler.”
I nod. “Yes. I am.”
We pull up to the window and the girl leans out. “That will be ten seventy-five.” She gapes at us. “Holy cow, you’re Dustin Sawyer! And you’re Jera Davenport!”
Dustin smiles at her and hands her his credit card. “Yes, we are.”
The girl fans her face. “Ohmygosh, you guys are like my favorite actors. I can’t believe you’re here.”
Another girl joins her at the window. “Did you say Dustin Sawyer?” When she looks at us, she screams. “I can’t believe it!”
Suddenly there are ten In-N-Out employees smashed to the window, gawking and taking pictures of us. The girl who took Dustin’s credit card pushes her way through the crowd to the window. “Here you go,” she says, handing him back his card.
“Thanks,” Dustin says.
The girl clasps her hands together. “Will you guys sign a napkin for me?”
“Sure,” he says.
She pushes past her co-workers to grab a napkin with a pen. She hands them to Dustin.
I watch him sign his name on the napkin using the center console. It doesn’t occur to me to freak out until he hands it to me and everyone stares at me, waiting for me to sign Jera’s name.