“Pfft. Three days with no one asking me where their laundry is or what's for dinner? I think I’ll manage,” she smiles, then winks at Cull.
He chuckles and gives her one more hug. “Love you. I’ll text when we get there.”
She gives me a hug next. “Don’t let Hadley ruin the week,” she whispers in my ear.
“I won’t.” Everyone knows how Hadley can be. Keeping her and Cullen apart will be the only way to survive this trip.
We walk out to my SUV and see that Hadley has moved to the backseat with Ella. They’re animatedly chatting, but the second Hadley spots Cullen through the window, the chatter dies. She throws him a death glare, her lips rolling inward.
After getting Cullen’s duffel loaded, we climb into the car. As I buckle up, Ella leans forward and presses a hand to my forehead.
“What are you doing?”
“You look flushed. Are you getting sick?”
“No.” I jerk my head away. Cullen’s wearing that smug grin, and I want to throw him Hadley’s death glare. It’s his fault I’m overheated and flustered.Not that I’m really that mad about it.
“Well, if you’re not sick—”
“The A/C went out last night,” Cull cuts in. “It’s pretty warm in there. Mom’s waiting on the repair guy.”
Ella nods and sits back, accepting the excuse.
“Hey, Hads—” Cull starts, but Hadley holds up a hand.
“Don’t speak to me. Don’t look at me. Don’t breathe near me. Got it, asshole?” she snaps, crossing her arms and turning to stare out the window.
Cullen sighs and sinks back in his seat.
The rest of the ten-minute drive is filled only with the sound of the radio, no one brave enough to speak and risk starting a full-blown yelling match.
We pull into the diner where Cullen and I had breakfast on Tuesday and spot the whole gang already gathered. There are about fifteen of us total. The house technically only sleeps twelve, but the extra tagalongs volunteered to bring air mattresses. Doesn’t bother me as long as everyone respects my grandparents' place. And more importantly, that Cullen and I share a room.Alone.
We grab a quick breakfast, then gather back in the parking lot. Everyone’s buzzing with energy, excited to get to the lake and shake off school. I hand out the address and remind them to watch for the hidden driveway, tucked behind a thick wall of shrubs.
“Alright, y’all ready to roll out?”
A chorus of “yes” rises from the group, and everyone heads to their cars.
“I’m riding with Maggie. I refuse to sit in the same space as him for the next three hours,” Hadley announces, nodding toward Cullen.
“Fine by me. I don’t need the attitude in my car.”
Hadley rolls her eyes, then turns her attention to Ella. “Ride with us. There’s room,” she adds, grabbing Ella’s arm before she can object.
Ella tosses me a pleading look over her shoulder, but I pretend not to see it. Dick move? Absolutely. But the idea of three uninterrupted hours alone with Cull is too good to pass up.
Once we’re loaded, I start the engine, Cullen settling into the passenger seat beside me. “This drive just got better,” he says with a grin.
I glance at his hand resting on his thigh and lace my fingers through his. “Nowthe drive just got better.”
With the windows down, the warm spring breeze blowing, and good music blaring, we hit the interstate.
This is already turning into the best spring break ever.
Twenty
Cullen
