“It’s like riding a bike. I think I remember how to do it.”
“Legally,” Lauren clarified.
“I never said it would be legal. I just asked if you wanted me to.”
Rolling her eyes, Lauren started the van. “No, thanks. I’ll continue to obey the rules of the road today.”
Zach shrugged and rested against the seat. “Suit yourself.”
4
Zach
Getting picked up by Lauren was either the best thing that could ever happen or his worst nightmare. When she started the car, grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, and flashed him a peppy smile, he knew it was the latter. He didn’t believe for one second that grin was sincere.
“Ready to break free?” she asked, bobbing her shoulders up and down.
Zach grabbed the door handle. “I’m not ready for this. I’m taking the bus.”
Lauren must have been a ninja in another life because she pressed the lock button before he had a chance to jump out. “Please keep all hands, arms, feet and, legs inside at all times, and remain seated until the ride has completely stopped.”
“What are we doing here? Is this payback? Listen, how many more times do I have to apologize for kidnapping you?”
“You didn’t kidnap me. I’m not a kid. You abducted me.”
“Semantics.”
Getting to know Lauren over the last few years had been his own personal form of hell. Having to face the perfect innocence he’d shattered was a constant reminder of why he hated himself.
Watching her try to befriend him was enough to make him go mad. He couldn’t understand her, and that was the most terrifying part. He could read people, but not Lauren. How could she smile after all he’d put her through?
“Then you held me prisoner—you’re lucky I didn’t suffocate under that disgusting gag—while your brother devised how you would dispose of my body.” The sing-song lilt of her voice didn’t match the morbid topic.
Zach rubbed a hand over his face. She’d heard way too much that night. “Can we not talk about that?”
Lauren turned back to the boring stretch of road that led out of the compound. “It’s fine. I’m over it.”
“That means we don’t have to talk about it. Right?”
“Right.”
Somethingwasn’t right. Lauren was the nicest person he’d ever met in his life, but she was laying it on thick today. People didn’t get over things like that. She could tell him she’d forgiven him until she was blue in the face, but he wouldn’t be believing that story.
Distractions were necessary if he was going to keep his sanity in close quarters with Lauren. “What’s the horsepower on this baby?”
“That’s a good question. Why don’t you google it?”
Zach patted his pockets and chest. “Sorry. I don’t have one of those portable computers.”
Lauren waved at the final guard and turned to face Zach. “You don’t have a phone?”
“I have an old phone, but I stopped paying the bill.”
Her smile was going to snap if she kept forcing it. “That’s fine. Just check the manual.” She pointed at the glove compartment.
Cool. At least he’d have something to read. He popped it open and found the manual. Plenty of material for the long trip.
To his surprise, she actually let him read in silence for a while. The grocery-getter sported a horsepower of a whopping 280 and a 10-speed automatic transmission. On the plus side, the mileage per gallon was reasonable for a V6 minivan.
