The warmth of his touch lingered, curling deep in my stomach. He’d never touched me without asking before, but I didn’t mind. Somewhere along the way, Graham had become…familiar. That realization was both terrifying and strangely comforting.
He led me toward the bus, him taking the steps first as I lingered behind him. The moment he was visible to the other passengers, a loud cheer erupted inside, making me jump.
The narrow space was overstimulating. Music and chatter bounced off metal walls, and the smell of coffee, cinnamon, and exhaust were thick in the air.
“Morning, Ramsey!” a man called in a deep voice from where he was perched in the driver’s seat.
“Hey, Earl,” Graham replied with a grin before stepping aside to let me climb up.
The second my foot hit the top step, the noise dulled, as if everyone suddenly realized who was behind him. My pulse fluttered.
Earl studied me before turning back to Graham. “You brought a lawyer on the Bird Bus, Ramsey?”
Before Graham could answer, a woman slapped him on the shoulder. She was in the seat directly behind him, her hair perfectly styled in a short bob streaked with gray. Her jacket was cardinal red and studded in rhinestones that sparkled in the flashing lights tacked along the perimeter of the bus.
“Oh hush, sweetheart,” she snapped. “At least she’s wearing the right colors.”
Earl pursed his lips at the woman, who I assumed was his wife by the matching wedding bands and the way they interacted with each other. Earl looked me over again; his face softened and he nodded approvingly. “Nice jersey,” he said. “That’s almost vintage now. I remember those years at the beginning of Coach Williams’s career. Good times.”
He smiled.
The woman behind him smiled too as she turned to me. “Come on aboard, honey. We don’t bite—” She paused, thinking better of it. “Well, most of us don’t. I’m Dottie. If you need anything, just let me know.”
I nodded, suddenly overwhelmed.
Graham stepped closer. “Thanks, Dottie,” he said.
The woman looked at him like he had a literal halo hovering over his head. “I’m so glad you’re coming this year,” she said, her smile pulling wide enough to show all her teeth.
Earl jerked his chin toward the back of the bus. “Go grab a seat. You’re the last and we need to get on the road.”
Graham placed a hand on my shoulder, gently guiding me forward, but Dottie stopped us.
“Wait, you both need a sandwich!” She disappeared behind her seat; there was a rustling of a plastic bag before she popped back up with four foil-wrapped sandwiches in her arms. “I made them myself—bacon, egg, and cheese.” She beamed as she gave two to Graham and then held two out toward me.
She gave me a wink, and I decided not to argue with her, even though I wasn’t that hungry.
“Thanks,” I said, and she glowed with happiness.
“Enjoy!” she crooned as Graham guided us toward the back of the bus.
We made our way down the aisle as the bus jolted. Someone adjusted the radio, switching from the OCU fight song to an old rock playlist. A group of college kids near the back were painting red streaks on their cheeks, and a man in a heavy team jacket was bragging loudly about how his brother-in-law once worked for the Cardinals.
The only person I recognized was a girl with long, dark hair and round, brown eyes. She sat at the back by the only open seats and a huge cooler that almost spanned the width of the bus.
She gazed up at us as we approached and gave a shy smile.
“Hey, Mara.” Graham waved. “Can we sit by you?”
Mara, the librarian, nodded. “Of course! Please do.” She had a soft, melodic voice that was instantly calming.
I gave her a smile, my cheeks already feeling a little sore from the repeated movement. I apparently didn’t smile enough.
I took the seat beside her. Graham sat at my other side, his body so close it pressed against mine, warm and…more comforting than I wanted to admit.
I wasn’t the best at talking to people I didn’t know well, but Mara was nice.
She leaned toward Graham and me. “Can I get you guys some cinnamon coffee?” She picked up a large red thermos sitting in her lap. “Grandma insists it’s good luck.” She glanced at the older woman with a long white braid plated over her shoulder, sitting alone across from us. Two knitting needles flashed in her hands as she worked on what looked like a red and white scarf.
