“You mean to tell me that you’ve never driven a truck before?” I ask, in total disbelief. Her face is bright. Her mouth is wide open, as she looks at my candy apple red, brand new Ford pickup truck. I bought it after my hand-me-down pickup died right before school started. Mama wouldn’t let me drive to Houston without a decent vehicle, so I picked this one up right quick.
“No!” she hisses, looking at my truck. “This is unbelievable, Gunner! I love it!” She’s so impressed I feel a tingle of excitement in my belly.
“Well, that smile’s worth it all, darlin’. Here’s the keys. Knock yourself out.” I say, handing her the keys. It’s like she doesn’t even realize that I’ve given them to her. Her eyes are so wide I have to stop myself from chuckling. She’s adorable.
“Gosh, Gunner, are you sure?”
“Sure, I’m sure. Y’all know how to drive stick, right?”
Her face falls. “Oh…no.”
Here’s where I get a chance to teach her something for a change. “Well, hop in. I’ll give you a crash course.”
“Are you sure? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll bang it up? This looks brand new.”
“It is. But it’s okay. You won’t bang it up. I trust you.”
“Either you’re a fool or you’ve got really big…” she trails off, gesturing to my jeans.
“Balls?” I guess, lifting my brows.
“Yeah.”
I snort a laugh. “Get in, silly.”
…and for the next few hours we both have the time of our lives.
Chapter 3
Ava
“Oh my goodness!” I gush. “I’m actually driving this!”
“Okay, calm down, darlin’. You gotta focus here.” He chuckles softly, placing his hand on mine on the gear shift.
“Oh, sorry. Yes, I’m sure you don’t want your brand new truck all beat up.” I snuffle shyly.
“No, it’s not that, sugar. It’s just that I don’t want your pretty face smeared across the road here.”
“That, too.” I agree with a nod.
“Okay, now put her in third, and we’re good to go for now. Do it just like I showed you there.” He encourages as I do it precisely.
“Oh my gosh!” I chuckle. “I love this!”
“I can see that. Your mama and daddy ought to buy you a truck, since you seem to enjoy this so much.”
I give him a look. “Any vehicle I get I have to save up for, I’m afraid. My daddy’s a used car salesman and my mama’s a nurse.”
“How are they gonna afford to pay for your education if y’all want to be a psychologist?”
“Well, I almost got a scholarship, and I’m going to try again, but, at this point, it’s part-time work for me, a small RESP that my folks been contributing to for the last five years, and any extra money they’ve got goes into my schooling.”
“So, how come they didn’t make you go somewhere local, then? It would have been much less expensive.”
“Daddy and mama took me to some of them other colleges in Dallas, but I really wanted to go somewhere far away, see. And I promised them that I’d behave, which is why they were so upset when they found you in my dorm room. If I’d have known that they were paying me a visit, I would never have invited you.”
“So, now, y’all have to really be careful, huh.”
