“Do you have feelings for him?”
“Duh.” I roll my eyes, but she can’t see me. She’s paying attention to the road, hopefully. “Who wouldn’t?”
“Lots of people. Alec is an acquired taste. Sure, he’s good looking, but he’s not for everyone.”
“I think you’ve got it backward.I’mnot for him.” Apparently.
“What are you talking about? He likes you.”
“As a friend.”
“No.” She’s shaking her head. “He has feelings for you.”
“Uh, no, he doesn’t. He kissed me last night, then couldn’t get away from me fast enough, claiming ‘it was a mistake.’” I say that last part in my deepest voice.
“He did?”
I keep going. “Then he wakes me up at the ass crack of dawn to get me out of his house as fast as possible.”
“He said he had to work and you needed to get to the airport.”
I look over at her. “My flight leaves at five.”
“Five?” She glances at me. “At night?”
“Yeah.”
“So, I’m taking you to the airport eight hours early?”
“Mm-hm.” Oh boy, here they come. The tears.
“That makes no sense. He was excited about your visit. Hell, he had his apartment redone because he wanted to impress you.”
“He did? He said the management company did it.”
“They did, but he paid them. He bought all new furniture and appliances. The works.”
“He did?”
“He told Ben all about your letters, how much he looked forward to them. How pretty you are, about your hair, and your tennis shoes.”
I’m sniffling now. “I’ve had no indication from him that he feels anything for me. I don’t understand. I really don’t.” I start to sob.
As I’m searching my purse for a napkin or a tissue, one appears before me. “Start at the beginning.” She glances at me again. “Please?”
I start at the very beginning.
By the time I’ve told the story up to and including today, Becky tells me she needs to stop for gas and to use the restroom. The next place to stop happens to be another Buc-ee’s.
“You been to one of these before?” she asks, taking the exit ramp.
I nod.
“Crazy big, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“They have everything.” Turning off the engine at the gas pump, she asks, “Will you do me a favor while I fill up?”
