“Because the manual transmission gives you torque.”
“Whatever that is.”
He sighed. “Yeah, just trust me. You want torque. Especially now that the snow is behind us.”
“Hopefully.”
“Yeah.”
But it had been a low snowfall winter for us, and it had never deterred me, though the first time I’d driven Yvette in the snow Stick had given me pointers about how to handle her.
Now I raced Yvette up and down the road a few times, reveling in the feel of her. How she knew me, and I knew her. It was like Stick had first said—I got so I knew what she needed.
And she needed to go fast.
“See? That’s torque,” he said as I peeled out of first and took the deserted road once more.
“I like torque,” I said. Stick laughed, and I couldn’t hide my smile. “Soon we’ll be able to put the top down.”
“That’ll give the students walking from Lot H quite a show,” he said.
I didn’t bother saying that wasn’t going to happen again—we’d both know I was lying.
When we pulled through the gates to Caro’s house, I immediately saw two vehicles parked in her circular drive.
“Oh, shit,” I said.
“Why? Whose cars are those?”
“Well, one looks just like the Caddy that Grayson Spaulding was driving when he picked up Lily at Christmas.”
“Oh.”
“And the other is definitely my father’s.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. Should we just keep going? Not stop?”
“No. I don’t want them giving Caro a hard time about the campaign or anything.”
“Do you think that’s why they’re here?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know she shouldn’t be alone with them in her current state.”
He’d gotten very protective of Caro, and I had to admit I admired it in him. And, in a sick way, was kind of jealous of it. Pathetic to be jealous of a dying woman, I know.
I parked the car, and reluctantly followed Stick into the house. I could hear voices coming from the dining room, a room I’d never even been in.
When we entered, we saw it was indeed Grayson Spaulding and my father. They were seated at the table with Caro, Grayson at the head. Laptops were open in front of all three of them, mugs and empty plates were at each place and papers were strewn all over the massive table. There was even a big whiteboard placed on a portable easel with a bunch of diagrams and a calendar on it.
“Ah, just the person we need,” Grayson said as we entered the room. I looked to Stick, who shrugged.
“Jane, it’s time to get you involved,” my father said, flashing me his best politician smile.
My hands began to tingle with dread as I stepped into the dining room and took my seat at the table.
Chapter21
