Page 19 of How Jenna Became My Dilemma

“Well, I hate to disappoint you, but”—he points to the black Jeep Wrangler slowing toward us—“that’s the topless bimbo you’re referring to. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

I study the car, slowly registering my misunderstanding. The doors and roof have all been removed, making it topless and naked.

“You can apologize for assuming the worst about me.”

I hate that I judged him so hard. Usually, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but with Cody, I keep creating a narrative around him to convince myself that I’m not attracted to him and definitely shouldn’t fall for him.

“Okay, fine. I judged you. But can you blame me? You wanted me to think you were talking to a woman.”

An average-sized man in his twenties with a pencil mustache hops out of the car. I’ve seen him enough times, trailing behind Cody, to know he’s his assistant.

“The Jeep is full of gas and ready to hit the road.”

I reach my hand out to him. “Hi, I’m Jenna. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”

The guy’s mouth drops in awe, but he takes my hand.

“Shaking hands seems too formal.” I pull him in, air kissing near each of his cheeks. “This is how they do it in Europe, and I love it. It’s more personal.” I step back, looking expectantly at him.

“This is Julio.” Cody chuckles, clapping a hand on his assistant’s shoulder. “I think he’s a little tongue-tied from meeting the famous Jenna Lewis face to face.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be nervous.” I bounce my shoulders up and down. “I’m just a regular person, like everyone else.”

“No, you’re not like everyone else.” Julio’s words come out almost like a whisper.

“Okay. That’s enough of that. Thanks, Julio.” Cody raises his brows at me. “Are you ready to hit the road?”

I give one more smile to his assistant before flipping my gaze to the naked car, imagining what the highway wind will do to my hair, but complaining about it now would just give Cody the upper hand. I’m sure he chose this specific car for our road trip just to see my reaction. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.

“Almost.” I unzip the front pocket of my suitcase and rummage through my bathroom bag until I find a ponytail holder. I gather my long blonde hair, wrap it into a bun on my head, and fasten the elastic around it. “Now, I’m ready.”

Cody gets to my bag first, just as I reach for it. My hand lands on top of his, causing our fingers to fumble with each other’s for a second until I jerk my arm away.

“I got it.” He smirks at me and then easily lifts the luggage into the back of the Jeep.

I glance behind at Winnie, looking for some solace, but instead, she smiles excitedly. Nothing about Cody or this weekend warrants a smile like that.

I reach for the handle inside the car and hoist myself up. Despite being 5’11”, it’s a climb to get my body in this monster truck of a Jeep. But again, I’m not giving Cody the satisfaction of thinking I’m annoyed. He jumps into the driver’s side and puts on his designer sunglasses, elevating his good looks even more.

I let out a breath.

It’ll be a long weekend if he’s going to look that good the whole time.

He nods to our assistants. “Don’t wait up for us.”

I barely catch their waves as we pull away.

CODY

* * *

It’s been twenty years since I played the quiet game. As out of practice as I am, I still went the first fifteen minutes of this car ride without talking to Jenna. Loud music has helped, so has the crosswind. But now we’re pulling up to a stoplight, and there’s no wind to use as a buffer.

From the corner of my eye, I register the gawking teenage girls in the convertible next to us on Jenna’s side, pointing and giggling in my direction. I inwardly smile. I’m used to this kind of attention, but it might not be the worst thing in the world for Jenna to see that people actually like me.

“Hey!” the driver calls to us.

Jenna and I both twist our heads in their direction as the girl says something I can’t hear her over the music.

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