Page 56 of To Belong Together
“You have a theory?”
“You like going incognito, not driving something that screams rock star. I’m guessing you’ll end up back in the same model.”
“Why’s that?”
“All-wheel drive. You have too much fun in the snow to give it up.” She slid him an uncertain glance that belied the confidence in her voice, but she’d guessed correctly.
They’d had their share of misunderstandings, but perhaps they had turned a corner.
“Other sedans have all-wheel drive.”
“Then I guess those are the ones we’ll have to try out.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as he merged onto the southbound freeway. His headache had dissipated and the sun had disappeared behind clouds, so he removed his sunglasses and dropped them in a cupholder.
“You’re probably wondering what happened before you stopped by the shop the other day.”
He glanced over. He hadn’t known how to ask about that or what prompted her frown when he’d picked her up. The offer of information felt like a gift.
“My dad has Alzheimer’s. He’s a big part of who I am. I got my love of cars from him, and he just … Do you have anyone you really belong with? Like, you can be who you are, and it won’t scare them off?”
Gannon, no question. But John didn’t say the name. Though he wanted to be himself with Erin, reminders of fame and fortune could corrupt anything real between them.
She scoffed, seemingly at herself. “Silly question, I guess. I’m sure everybody accepts you for who you are.”
No, everybody did not accept him for who he was. They accepted him because he paid their salaries, signed their T-shirts, and contributed to their favorite songs, but most people didn’t know him, let alone accept him. He might have ventured into explaining that, but Erin continued.
“I’m a bit of a … Well, I’m a ‘girl mechanic,’ right? I never felt like a walking contradiction when I was with Dad.”
“Past tense? When youwerewith your dad?”
“A couple of weeks ago, he forgot I’m a technician. The day you came to invite me here, I’d just gotten back from taking him home. He’d driven to the shop and missed the driveway. He’s not supposed to be behind the wheel. He could’ve killed himself.”
“I’m sorry.” He couldn’t imagine watching Mom or Hank lose themselves like that. “Witnessing his decline has to be torture.”
“Yeah, but if it’s unavoidable, I’d rather be involved than not, and that’s another problem. I was always closer to Dad than Mom. With him going downhill, Mom hides his bad days from me and doesn’t tell me when they need help. Until it’s too late. I can’t fix it, but I could help, you know? I’m afraid of missing the little time we have, but this might go on for years yet. Or not. I don’t know. I don’t understand how they can call this the middle stages still. It’s pretty awful already.”
“I’m sorry.” The words felt inadequate, especially because he’d already said them moments before. He glanced from the road to the hands she twisted in her lap. He’d hugged her the other day, but taking her hand would be more personal, too personal for their present relationship. No matter how much he wished he could offer comfort.
She released a breath, straightening her shoulders. “Anyway. Sorry about the info dump.” Her smile was less than convincing, and she lifted a hand to run her fingers over her earrings in what he’d guess was a self-conscious tick. “Tell me something about you. Doesn’t have to be your life story.”
Maybe not, but he also didn’t want to leave her feeling as if she’d overshared. “My sister’s fiancé had a stripper at his bachelor party. After my accident, I mentioned it in front of our parents and lost my place in the wedding party.”
“What?” She gaped at him, her own discomfort clearly forgotten.
Exactly what he’d meant to accomplish, but what had he gotten himself into?
“What will you do?”
He shrugged, though a weight settled on his shoulders. “It’s her choice, her wedding.”
“You had a head injury. Gannon said you were extra talkative.”
It was nice of her to defend him so blindly. “Out of the abundance of the heart …”
Erin laughed. “Your heart must be pretty sparse most of the time.”
His broken arm suddenly ached. He rested his elbow on the windowsill and angled to elevate the break, as the doctor had recommended.
