Might be fun.
“He’s a little grumpy today, so…don’t let him get to you…” I hear my mom say under her breath. She thinks I can’t hear her. She doesn’t know how to keep secrets, even when she tries. It’s not in her nature.
Brad’s eyes flicker over to mine, again. This time, when I pull a long drag, I let the smoke pillow in front of me, blocking his view.
“Dammit, Noah. Get down here.” My mom trudges over to me. “And what did I say about smoking?” she snaps, yanking the cigarette from my lips and tossing it to the ground.
“Nasty habit. You better not do that around Brad this weekend,” she says, stomping it under her open-toed shoe. As expected, her nails are hot pink, a clear sign she’s about to get herself into trouble on her girls’ weekend. All of this will be for nothing once he discovers who she really is.
Whatever. Not my problem.
She looks over at Brad, who’s observing us, and waves her hand over at him.
His sharp eyes don’t leave mine as he makes his way over.
“Noah,” he says, calmly. Way too calmly. His gaze drops to my feet and back up again. Suddenly, I feel exposed. Judged. My teeth sting.
He puts out his hand, waiting for a handshake.
“Hey.” I shift my sunglasses back over my eyes, jaw tightening.
He glances at my mother. They exchange a look—one of her classic‘told you so’brow raises—as he takes a deep breath and shoves his idle hands into his jean pockets.
Silence stretches between us making my skin itch.
Refusing to sit in it any longer, I push past them both toward the truck. “Whatever. Are we doing this thing?” I swing open the door and toss my bag onto the back seat.
I pull out my phone and scroll, killing time while I wait for us to leave.
The faster we get there, the faster this weekend can be over.
***
Brad hops into the front seat not long after my exit. Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything else as he hits the road. I read on the GPS that our drive is about four hours away.Joy.
Hehasn’t made a move to throw on any music yet, so we’re stuck listening to the radio music playing its top forty. This is already torture. I feel like I’ve been kidnapped…willingly. I should’ve made a run for it back at the house.
“So…” he clears his throat. He shifts in his seat, likehe’sthe uncomfortable one. He has no reason to be nervous. I’m the one in an awkward position here. I don’t even know him. “I’m really thankful that you’re joining me this weekend. When your mother told me you’d love to—”
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “I never said that. She basically blackmailed me.”
Brad glances over to me and then back at the road. His eyebrows pinch together. “She told me youwantedto do this.”
I laugh again. “She lied to you. She likes to do that. Better get used to it now,” I mutter, looking out the window. I admit, it’s a beautiful drive up the old country roads. Nothing but tall trees, salted rocks, mountains peaks, and glistening water. I love driving up north.
“That’s…not very nice, Noah,” he says simply.
I turn to look at him and catch the subtle clench of his jaw and the tense grip he has on the steering wheel.Oh, did I hit a nerve?
“Don’t tell me you can’t handle a little brutal honesty. I bet you call yourself a nice guy too.”
“Iama nice guy.”
I bite back a smile, leaning into my seat. “Yeah? Well, I hope it’s an act. For your sake, I mean.”
If he’s willing to be with my mom, he’s either just as bad as she is or he’s going to get eaten alive.
Either way, he’s a poor bastard.
