Page 46 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
“I’m sorry,” I said, wincing.
“You just had a sock revelation—it’s perfectly understandable.” She chuckled. “Maybe you can try crew socks with shorts sometime.”
She had to be kidding. “No.”
“Such a millennial.” Shaking her head, she hauled a bag onto her shoulder.
I reached for it only to pause, remembering what she’d told me before. “Can I get that for you?”
“What’s with you and my bags?”
“It’s called chivalry.”
“Hmm.” She tipped her head to the left. “I should insist on carrying it myself, but honestly? If you want to do it, knock yourself out. I think it’s sweet.”
I grunted. “It’s not sweet. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Would you do the same with a guy?”
“If he needed help, yes,” I answered. “Nice shirt, by the way.”
She beamed at me. “Thanks. This random guy gave it to me.”
“Whoever he is, he has good taste.”
Her laughter sent a jolt of electricity through me, waking me up more effectively than the espresso I had before leaving home.
I convinced myself it was simply the shock of having amused Luna. I’d never put much stock in humor before because it seemed to serve as nothing more than filler. An ice breaker. But maybe there was something to be said for making someone laugh.
“Good morning, bythe way,” Luna sang out as we buckled up inside the car.
I glanced over at her. “Good morning.”
Her skirt rose to the middle of her thighs, highlighting her tan skin. It suited the weather outside, but it might be too thin in the air conditioning. Reaching into the backseat, I grabbed the blanket I’d stashed there and handed it to her. “In case you get cold. Or you need a pillow.”
She smiled at me with drowsy eyes as she wrapped the blanket around herself. “Thanks, Gabe.”
I programmed the GPS for our hotel in Atlanta. According to it, the drive would take nearly five and a half hours. “Sleep,” I told Luna.
“I should argue because you’re being bossy and I love road trips. But I’m too tired,” she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. “I promise I’ll wake up in a bit. Just need a power nap . . .” Her voice trailed off.
I took a moment to observe her. She was leaning against the window with part of the blanket clumped beneath her head. I should have brought an actual pillow too.
As I drove along the highway, the sky lightened in muted washes, the sun obscured by tufts of clouds. It created a melancholic atmosphere, which wasn’t helped by my music choice.
Folk rock poured softly through the speakers, clearing my mind of other thoughts. With one hand on the steering wheel, I finished my coffee. Driving wasn’t something I found particularly enjoyable. It was a means to an end, and I spent it planning for my day or thinking through a problem. But I found this drive relaxing.
“I love this song.”
I jolted and looked at Luna, who had angled her position to face me and was studying me with a small smile. “How long have you been awake?” I asked her.
“A couple minutes.”
That meant she’d only gotten a little over an hour of rest. “You should sleep some more.”
“I’m good. Told you I just needed a power nap.” She stretched out, and I kept my eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Thanks for the blanket, by the way. I didn’t know you were a blanket in the car type of guy.”
Was there such a thing? “I brought it for you,” I admitted without thinking.
