Page 13 of To Belong Together
He nodded.
“Everything’s quiet—we rocked it in the shop, and I drove it around for a while.”
Though John didn’t look angry as he started the car, he also didn’t look convinced. “It makes the noise on a street by my house.”
“Do you live in town?”
“Twenty minutes out.”
“I can’t be gone that long.” Hartley had plenty of bumpy streets, and she’d driven them for half an hour to ensure the job was done. If it’d even needed doing in the first place.
“Okay, but if the sound comes back, I’m bringing the car in again.”
“If that happens, I’ll gladly drive out to hear for myself.” Because if she took the car, John wouldn’t have to be along.
The fallingsnow had covered the older accumulation, and all was white as John pulled out of the parking lot. Civil but not fawning over him, Erin still hadn’t recognized him. It might not be too late to start over.
After all, how many gigs had Awestruck played before they’d made it?
Two hundred? More?
Sometimes persistence led to the best things.
He stole a glance under the guise of checking for traffic. A smear of black marked Erin’s forehead.
He fought a smile at the thought of her discovering the grime later. Would she get self-conscious, wondering if he’d seen? “How’d you get interested in cars?”
“They’re the family business.”
“My dad’s an electrician. None of us got into it.”
Her eyebrows blipped upward. She motioned toward the dash. The creases inside her knuckles were lined black from her work, but her fingers were narrow and long. Not delicate, but feminine. “I won’t hear the squeak if we’re talking.”
So the white world didn’t mean he’d get a clean slate too. For perhaps the first time in his life, the command to shut his mouth frustrated him. Why couldn’t he let go of this interest in connecting with her?
“You’re quite the drummer.”
His hands stilled. He hadn’t realized he’d been beating a rhythm into the steering wheel.
“I can’t keep a beat to save my life.”
Now she wanted to make small talk?
Doubtful. She was straining to be friendly. He steered onto the road she’d suggested on their initial drive.
The snow hid the potholes from sight but didn’t cushion them. Still, the car managed without a squeak. He stayed the course for four bumpy blocks before a car on a crossroad approached a stop sign too fast.
As the coupe skidded into the intersection in front of them, Erin gasped.
He cranked the wheel, pressed the throttle, and steered right. His car drifted through a controlled turn around the corner, slipping safely between the cars parked at the curb and those in traffic.
He blew out a quick breath as he straightened the wheel. Safe and sound with not a foot to spare. He tossed Erin a smile. She’d have to admit, that stunt had taken skill.
“Let me guess.” She gave a wry laugh. “You take this drifting every time it snows.”
“Noteverytime.”
She chuckled reluctantly. “At least you can drive.”
