She checked the weather before showering and dressing, decided to wear a pair of jeans with a dusty pink t-shirt and a lightweight mauve sweater she could easily take on or off as the temperature changed throughout the day. On her way out the door, she slipped into her favorite canvas shoes, comfortable for walking but not bulky and heavy.
Stifling a yawn as she parked beside Jack’s truck in his driveway, she wished she would have drunk more coffee. An entire gallon wouldn’t be enough to keep her alert with as little sleep as she’d had. She was running on adrenaline alone, and she prayed that would be enough.
Jack appeared at his door, came outside, then locked the door behind him. “Do you mind if we run through a drive-thru for coffee and breakfast?”
“I was thinking when I pulled in that I needed more coffee.”
“How much sleep did you get?” he asked, opening the passenger door of his truck for her.
“Two hours. Once I found the information, I was too excited to sleep long.” She laughed and looked at circles under his eyes. “I could ask you the same question.”
“Three hours. We all stopped at a diner after the concert and cut up for a while.”
“Are you safe to drive four hours on that little sleep?”
“I wouldn’t attempt if I didn’t know so. Once I’m up and moving, I’m fine.” He shot her a grin. “Now, if I only had three hours again tonight, tomorrow would be a different story. I’m not in college anymore.”
“Did Kelly ever tell you about the time we drove to Niagara Falls and back in a weekend? Not our brightest idea.”
“No, she did not.” He tilted his head and looked at her with interest. “I need to hear this story.”
She laughed. “We’ll have plenty of time on the way.”
“Right. We need to get moving.” Jack closed her door, circled the front of his truck and took his spot behind the driver’s seat. “The wind is going strong today.”
“Coastal living at its best.”
“What would you like?” he asked a few minutes later when he pulled into the restaurant’s drive-thru line.
“Sausage, egg, and cheese muffin with a coffee please.”
“No hashbrowns?”
“I’m good, but thanks.” She withdrew a few dollars from her purse, but he wouldn’t accept it.
When they came to the window, Jack gave their order.
“Can you repeat that, please?” the cashier asked.
“One sausage, egg, and cheese muffin, one bacon, egg, and cheese bagel, one hashbrown, and two large coffees with sugar and creamer on the side.”
“Speak louder, please. I still can’t hear you,” the associate said.
Jack repeated the order a second time. When the worker read back the order, she’d added two hashbrowns instead of one. Instead of making a scene like Anna had seen many customers do, Jack told her the order was correct and moved forward.
“That was nice of you,” Anna told him.
“It will get eaten. She’s obviously having issues with the speaker, so there’s no point causing a fuss over it.” He paid at the window, and calmly parked in a spot as directed to wait.
Anna thought of Bryan, a guy she briefly dated two years ago. They’d been in similar situation, and his reaction had been vastly different from Jack’s. He’d been snooty with the cashier, then demanded a refund after deciding halfway through heating his burger that the food was too cold. She’d been incredibly embarrassed, and that incident had been the beginning of the end for their short relationship.
Once they hit Highway 17 and were finished eating, Jack shot a quick glance her way with a smirk. “I still want the Niagara Falls story.”
“Sophomore year of college was rough for me. I had a terrible roommate situation and also went through an awkward breakup. By spring semester, I’d moved home and commuted. Kelly knew I was struggling, and she suggested in lieu of a bachelorette party for her that we take a road trip.”
“Why Niagara Falls?”
“Promise you won’t say a word to anyone if I tell you?”
