Page 69 of Confessions of a Carpool Captive
I manage to fend off dinner offers all week long, but he doesn’t give up. I claim project overload, exhaustion, laundry— you name it. By New Year’s Eve morning, he’s a bit frustrated with me.
“What are you doing tonight?” Kel asks Emerson on our way to work.
“Nothing. My wife, Julie, went to Sacramento to see her father since we didn’t make it up there for Christmas. I couldn’t deny her that.”
“Why didn’t you just go with her?” he questions.
“Doesworkring a bell?”
“Oh, yeah. Although I think they’ll let us out early tonight. Maybe you could catch a late flight.”
“No. I think next week’s travel is enough for me. I have to say, I’m stoked we’re all going to training together.”
Kel shushes her, motioning to Ernesto. “He’s not.”
“How do we know that?” she responds.
Kel shrugs and turns to gaze out the window. Traffic is moving really well today, probably due to the holiday. I really don’t mind. I’d rather be at work than home alone.
“What about you, Finn? Any plans for tonight?” Emerson asks, slightly nudging my seat.
“Some people from my group asked me to meet them at a bar uptown later. If nothing better comes up, I guess I’ll go.”
He glances over at me and I pretend not to notice. I secretly wonder what people.
“Like who?” Kel asks, right on cue. Sometimes I’m grateful he’s so nosy.
“Tyler, Paul, Lana, and Carly,” he responds.
I snarl when he says Carly’s name. I bet she can’t wait to get her paws on him.
“That sounds cool. Better than sitting home alone, right, Liz?”
I nod my head sheepishly.
“Liz doesn’t have toeversit home alone, but she’s insanely stubborn,” Finn adds.
“Hey, I have a great idea!” Kel says, leaning forward excitedly. “Why don’t we all go out after work tonight? It’ll be fun and then none of us has to go home to an empty house.”
“Dude. That’s brilliant!” Emerson adds. “Finn, what do you say?”
Finn glances over at me. “It’ll only work if weallagree. Liz,” he coughs out my name.
“Come on, Lizard. What do you say?” Kel asks.
Turning in my seat, I give him an evil glare. “Did you just call me Lizard?”
“Yeah, I did. You have a lot in common and the name fits. Liz… Lizard. Get it? Anyway, you have these spikes on the outside that make people afraid to approach you. You’re cold-blooded and prefer to be alone. You don’t move much unless you’re cornered and then you’re ready to attack. There’s something cool about you that draws people in, but also makes them afraid to come too close. So yeah, you’re a lizard.”
I feel my bottom lip tremble. Is that how they see me? Facing right, I gaze out the window and try not to let my emotions get the best of me.
“That was rude,” Emerson says, berating him.
“What? I didn’t mean anything by it. I think lizards are cool.”
Finn takes my hand in his and I welcome the reassurance it represents. He squeezes it gently and although I don’t dare look at him, I know what he’s telling me with his gentle touch. He’s saying he’s not afraid of my spikes and scales. Little does he realize, they run so deep, I may hurt him whether I want to or not.
The day flies by. The company provides a lunch on the fifteenth floor. Gloria brings me a sandwich. I’m not in the mood for being social. Finn texts me at four.
