Page 66 of In the Long Run
Driving in a convoy isn’t something I expected to be doing during my time off.
‘Are you sure you have enough room?’Gen asks from the passenger seat.With Violet in the back and all our gear crammed into the Getz, it’s close quarters.
But after my altercation with Brand this morning, I’m not mad about being nice and close to Gen.I flick on the lights even though it’s bright and sunny.‘Force of habit,’ I say when Gen opens her mouth.She and Violet listen as I explain about how the Army teaches that everyone in a convoy should drive with their lights on to maintain visibility and easy identification of other military vehicles.
‘Does that include the croissant on the roof?’Gen asks, failing at keeping her expression neutral.Her nose wrinkles and she bites her lip.It’s very distracting, which is another thing that can be added to the list of things I’m not mad about.Eugene’s advice felt like a plea this morning, but now, as Gen teases me, a pleased little smile lighting up her whole face, I recognise it for what it really was: a promise.
I can have nice things.
‘Do you want it to, Halliday?’I reply and that’s it.That’s the nickname she’s been waiting for me to find.‘Because you know I can’t say no to you.’
Gen’s surprised laugh sets all my nerves alight.Her eyes widen and that flush of hers that I’m addicted to is back.
What is happening here?Am I flirting?
And, back the truck up, am I good at it?
She ducks her head towards her chest and fusses with her hair before shaking her head and looking out the window.Coy is an excellent look on Gen.Mischief simmers between us like the almost spring sunshine, and the air sweetens with the scent of whatever chemical reaction best describes what happens when you mix lust and mirth and pure fucking joy together.I swear, five minutes with Gen and I’ve forgotten what a shitshow this morning was.Who am I kidding?The soft kiss she greeted me with has already destroyed any bad feelings I’ve had today.
I flick on the switch for the croissant light.‘You want to get out and check, Halliday?’
‘I trust you,’ she manages before letting out a soft, embarrassed giggle.
God.I want to kiss her again.
Violet heaves a sigh from the backseat and I blink.Remember we’re not alone.Shit.
‘I’m going to put my headphones in so you two can pretend I’m not here.Sorry for ruining your romantic weekend.’
I cough.‘Not sure how romantic running thirty-five kilometres is.And what was our deal?’I ask Violet, our gazes meeting in the rearview mirror.
She rolls her eyes at me.‘To stop apologising for everything.’
She’d called Gen last night and said that she was going to pull out because Steven – who’s an anaesthetist, apparently – got called into the hospital and she didn’t want to drive all the way to Bright on her own.Naturally, Gen offered her a lift.
That was back when we were supposed to be driving up with Yeti in his monster truck.His Ford F-150 Ranger would’ve been big enough for all of us without any dramas.But Yeti fell victim to the same curse as Steven, in his case an unexpected duty shift.And Bernie bowed out this morning because Meredith wasn’t feeling well.Gen offered to cancel, but Meredith insisted we still go.
‘It was really nice of you to do this for me,’ Violet says.She pulls out a pair of Beats headphones, the kind that covers the whole ear, and loops them around her neck.
‘Of course.’Gen twists in her seat.‘We’re so happy you decided to run.You’ve worked way too hard to let a few small-minded people ruin everything.’
‘It should be illegal, you know,’ Violet says.
‘It should be,’ Gen agrees emphatically.‘People think being behind a keyboard means there are no rules.This kind of behaviour—’
‘Oh, no,’ Violet interjects.‘I meant you two.’
My gaze flicks to the rearview mirror again.She’s grinning at us.
‘Excuse me?’Gen says, head swivelling as she looks between us.I shrug and resist the urge to grab her hand, rest it on my leg.Now that we’ve kissed a couple of times, I’m not sure what the rules are, which is ridiculous.How can getting closer put more distance between us?
‘You two.You’re so perfect together.So sporty and pretty and nice.Does it ever get exhausting being so wonderful?I bet no one’s said anything nasty about either of you online.’
‘I know someone has,’ I say, flicking on the indicator and merging onto the main road.
‘I stopped looking at the comments ages ago.’Gen shrugs.
‘That’s what I should’ve done,’ Violet muses.‘What made you finally stop?’
