“My mom’s side is the Norwegian one,” he said, then squinted. “Where’s the album? Do you have it?”
“It’s right here.” I grabbed it off the shelf, and as I walked out, I smiled genuinely at Jackie. I recalled the motto my Grandmother had once told me, and it had always stuck with me.
Kill ‘em with kindness.
After Dustin and I said our goodbyes to the rest of the party and left, I wondered whether or not I should tell him about mylittle spat with Jackie. The problem was that if he decided to confront Jackie, she would deny everything.
Dustin seemed especially fumed up on the way back to his apartment, so I decided I would just keep that between Jackie and me. I didn’t need him getting in his own way. Besides, I could handle it.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “I’m not.”
CHAPTER 13
DUSTIN
“I’m not okay,”Cat said. “I’m hungry.”
“I know,” I agreed. “The portion sizes were tiny.”
She sighed. “Are there any like, late night places here?”
“There definitely are. Or I’ve got some snacks at my place.”
As we headed back home, she stared out at Lakeshore Drive, the lights of the big city reflecting off her glassy eyes. Both seemed to magnify each other. She’d put on a jacket over her black dress, but her legs were bare. When she sat, it rode up almost to her mid-thigh.
I was having a hard time imagining her in a white lab coat.
Hell, I was having a hard time imagining hernotnaked.
“Green light,” she said, turning and looking over at me. “You look like you’re thinking pretty hard over there.”
I was also having a hard time concentrating on the road, apparently.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You.”
“Really?”
I reached my hand and put it on the exposed part of her leg that seemed to be calling out to me. “You did good tonight, babe,” I said.
She snorted, then picked up the album at her feet. “I have a Paul McCartney and John Lennon signed album thanks to you.”
“I guess you’re going to have to start appreciating The Beatles.”
She shook her head. “I’m going to get you back for that. I don’t know how. But I will.”
“Free full body massage tonight.”
She laughed. “Free? Do you usually charge?”
“I mean, have you seen these hands?” I said, taking the glove off of my non-steering wheel hand. “These hands do amazing things.”
“Fine, you have hot hands. I admit it.” She laughed and turned her head. “It’s a huge lake,” she said, looking out into the dark water. “I always forget how big it is.”
I smirked, and she put a finger over my lips. “Please. No ‘that’s what she said’ jokes. I know what you’re thinking right now.”
