Brody spots my clean cup and grins. “Okay then.”
“Spill it,” I tell him.
“I thought you weren’t participating in the game?”
“Did I say that?”
“Kind of,” he says, taking one of his final bites before his bowl is clean too.
He is determined to finish eating before speaking another word, which is fine because I won’t beg for his story. It’s what he probably wants.
We dispose of our bowls, spoons, and napkins, then make our way back out to the truck without a discussion of where we’re going next. Though, I’m going to suggest he take me back to Mom’s so I can get my car and go home.
When the ignition roars to life, Brody releases a groan. “So, I was twenty-two, tending a bar a few towns over, and fell for one of the waitresses. It was one of those situations where I fell before knowing a whole lot about her. As it turns out, I should have asked a few questions along the way, but we got married, had a kid, and got divorced. It’s not much to brag about.”
As Brody has been talking, I’ve noticed he’s driving in a different direction than Mom’s house.
“We can’t learn until we make mistakes, right?” I respond to his short life story before preparing to tell him to turn around.
“I’m thankful for Hannah. I got her out of the deal.”
Another moment of sweetness from Brody Pearson—it’s almost shocking. “That’s a nice thing to say,” I tell him.
“She’s my world, honestly. I can’t imagine life without her. I fought for a year for sole custody before her mother gave up the battle to move out of state with her new husband.”
A mother gave up trying to keep her child? “She’s lucky to have you.”
“Yeah, I mean, I like to torture her and whatnot, but I don’t see another way of surviving the tween and teen years, ya know?”
A smile pokes at my dimples and I release a quiet laugh. “Holy shit. Did you just—” Brody looks over at me quickly before returning his focus to the road. “Did you just almost, sort of smile?”
“No,” I tell him. “It was a twitch.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
“To your apartment.”
“My Jeep is still at my mom’s house.”
“I know.”
“Brody ...”
“Journey. I was hoping to watch an episode of the Kardashians with you. I don’t have E-TV anymore and I’m dying to know what’s happening.”
“Worst pick up line ever,” I tell him.
“It’s not a pick-up line. I’m not planning to touch you if that’s what you were hoping.”
“No. I’m pretty sure I asked you to bring me back to my mom’s house.”
“No, you didn’t. You reminded me where your Jeep is. I didn’t forget.”
“You think you're smooth, don’t you?”
“Actually, I prefer the beard which is why there will be no touching tonight. I know the rules.”
