Jude tips his head down to remove his hat, raking his hair back, then flips it backward with the banded arm, causing me to suck in the most obvious breath when he leans a little closer to the screen. I pinch the bridge of my nose and scrunch my eyes closed.
That was completely unnecessary. When I open my eyes, he’s doing the smoldering stare thing, and our dance begins. I give him a squinty glare and the tiniest hint of a headshake to let him know he can’t play me with a hat flip. It’s … it’s likeextortionor something.
And it’s totally working.
His hazel eyes swirl with fire, and a savage smirk hides just behind them.
Words?Goodness.I used to know some.
My lips twitch to suppress a smile as I slowly twirl a piece of my hair and glide my fingers down a strand, pulling it across my cheek to remind him I know his weakness. I can play this game too.
He nods almost imperceptibly, shifting his eyes away to take a breath before returning my gaze with a subtle grin as if to concede the point.
Sam reaches an arm around me and leans in. “Ya okay there?” he whispers in my ear with obvious amusement. “Huh?” I jump when I realize he’s inches from my face, knowing he can read it like a billboard, so I elbow him in the ribs.
“Ahem.” Jude clears his throat, directing a murderous expression at Sam.
“What?” Sam laughs at him.
Aunt Judy glances back and smacks Jude’s arm.
“Stop, you two. You’re asking for her day off. What does she get in return?”
“Sam provides your caffeine. You’ll be the passenger princess all the way,” Jude says.
“Are y’all telling my mom that I’ll be ditching her on the one day I’m here? Also, Sammy,ifI do this, you’re going with me to see my dad.”
“Yes! I can do that!” He pumps a fist in the air.
“He thinks he won something. That’s cute,” I say fighting the cynicism my dad brings out in me.
“Wait, is that bad?” he asks.
“How do you feel about dental procedures?” I snark at him and then back to Jude’s concerned expression. He doesn’t know everything, but he knows enough, and he reads my face well. He pulls out his phone, and in seconds my phone vibrates under my leg. I slide it out inconspicuously to see a single koala emoji.
I didn’t know therewasa koala emoji, but that’s exactly what I want right now. I bite my lip, trying not to react too much when my eyes meet his again.
Aunt Judy instructs Sam to listen when he sings so he doesn’t drown me out, which just adds to the absurdity because it’s his gig and this isn’t a choir. I wonder if she knows we sing together all the time, just neverfor real—the two of us on our own.
And how can she see me sitting right up against Sam at my mom’s house and still call meJude’s Lucy. I mean, I guess I allbut confessed to … well, I don’t know exactly what, but she’s not shocked to see us together.
I feel my phone again, and I glance at it.
Jude Daniel (Take a Sad Song and Make it Sexy Crawford:Sorry, Lu. I’ll go with you next time if you want.
If he wants to take a road trip, I’m all in, but surely, we can find somewhere better to go. I’m texting him exactly that when I look up and meet his eyes again. I’m looking for the playful grin, but it’s gone. Only a soft gaze before he looks back at his phone.
I look down to see his reply and hear Sam say, “I don’t know what’s taking them so long. Lock it down or stop holding up the line.” I grimace slightly as his arm around me squeezes tighter.
Aunt Judy is laughing and, Heaven help me, I think she said something like, “shirt off and she’ll agree to anything.” They’re cackling when I look up and realize they’re watching Jude and I text each other.
Jude casually scratches an eyebrow with his middle finger. My sentiments exactly,Sam.
“Huh?” I ask again in a very classy sort of way.
Jude straightens up behind Aunt Judy, her eyes brimming with laughter.
“All right, I need to get home.” Jude says, rolling his shoulders and stretching his back after leaning forward for several minutes. “Someoneneeds a smoke detector battery changed. Love you, Aunt J. You two, be careful tomorrow. Sam, I mean you. If you drop Skittles while you’re driving, leave them.”
