Page 16 of A Longtime (and at one point Illegal) Crush

Pinterest made the whole thing look easy, but Elsie didn’t finish with them until midnight. Staying up so late shouldn’t have been a problem. Her brothers and father were going over to the church early to bring over the new centerpieces and make sure everything else was set up, but they didn’t need her for that. In fact, her father had specifically told Elsie she could sleep in if she took on the all-important centerpiece project.

So when her mother began calling her name from downstairs at seven-thirty in the morning, Elsie pulled herself out of bed with irritation. Had her brothers run into some problem with the setup and they’d come back for her? Elsie glanced out her window. Carson’s truck was gone, as was the family’s van. Some other problem then. Perhaps a chocolate fountain emergency. She tromped downstairs to see what her mother wanted.

Elsie had forgotten to pack her pajamas for her trip home so she wore one of Carson’s oversized Bronco’s T-shirts. She should’ve known she was tempting fate by not changing into something else first, but her mother sounded insistent and no one else was home but the two of them.

Or at least no one else should’ve been in the house. When she rounded the corner into the kitchen, Kye was standing there talking to her mother.

Elsie gasped and had flashbacks of the bikini day.

Her mother’s mouth dropped open. “Elsie!” She made swooshing motions with her hands. “Put some clothes on!”

Elsie had already retreated into the hallway, but not before catching sight of Kye’s amused expression. Why had her mother done this to her—again?

“Why didn’t you tell me Kye was here?” Elsie demanded.

“I did,” her mother said.

Great. Wonderful. Elsie must have still been asleep for that part and now Kye would think…well, she wasn’t sure what he’d think, but from now on she was going to wear sweats and a parka at all times while in her house. She didn’t reply because she was taking the steps two at a time to go back to her room.

Once there, she dressed in jeans and a sweater. She also brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and wiped off traces of yesterday’s mascara that ringed her eyes, making her look like she had emo-girl tendencies. And she might have put on some new mascara and lip gloss. Damage control, and all of that.

When she entered the kitchen for the second time, she looked presentable. And she tried not to be flustered. The t-shirt, after all, still covered more than her bikini had, and she wore that to the pool. She shouldn’t have been flustered about any of it.

“What’s the problem?” she asked her mother calmly.

“Kye needs you to go to Bozeman with him,” her mother said.

“To pick up Olivia’s father,” he added.

Perhaps her mind was still muddled from lack of sleep. “Her father needs a ride?” Bozeman was two hours away.

“He needs some persuasion,” Kye said dryly. “I don’t really plan on giving him a choice.”

So Mr. Travers wasn’t planning on coming to the wedding. Elsie rubbed her forehead. “How am I supposed to persuade him?” She’d never talked to Mr. Travers before, only heard hushed disapproving stories about him.“Isn’t it so sad”sort of things.

“I called him last night,” Kye said, “and offered to pick him up. He refused. If I show up on my own, the guy will still refuse. If one of Olivia’s friends shows up to ask him to come, he’s more likely to listen.” Kye shrugged. “And if he doesn’t listen, well, you can still act as a distraction while I grab him and throw him into the truck.”

Elsie’s mother bustled around the kitchen, putting food into a paper bag on the counter. “I packed some things for your trip since you didn’t have time to eat breakfast.”

It was already decided. They weren’t giving her a choice. “Why doesn’t Mr. Travers want to come?” He might have a legitimate excuse, after all, like a hospital stay.

A scowl flickered across Kye’s lips. “He said he didn’t have a suit coat and nobody really wanted him there anyway. He was drunk when he said it though, so he wouldn’t listen to reason.”

Elsie’s mother handed her the bag, all cheerful determination. “Olivia will love the two of you for this. But you need to go now so you’re back in plenty of time to get ready for the wedding.” The ceremony started at four o’clock. They could be to Bozeman and back by twelve if Mr. Travers agreed to come with them without a lot of deliberation.

Still, Elsie hesitated. She hadn’t emotionally prepared for this. “Does Olivia know we’re getting her father?”

Kye shook his head. “I didn’t tell her in case he still refuses to come. But she wants him to come. I’ve talked to her about that.”

Olivia wanted him to come and it was her wedding day. That outweighed the hours Elsie would be forced to spend with Kye. “Okay.” She grabbed her phone, purse, and coat, then the two of them went outside and climbed into Kye’s truck.

They drove away from her house silently, remnants of street ice crunching under Kye’s tires. Elsie peeked into the bag of food her mother had packed. Two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, two apples, two bags of crackers, and two water bottles. Clearly, Elsie was supposed to share this with Kye, although she imagined he’d already had breakfast. He was showered and shaved. He was also smiling. That same amused smile she’d seen in the kitchen.

He glanced at her and laughed.

“What?” she asked.

“You have an interesting wardrobe. I should drop by your house unexpectedly more often.”

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