She narrows her eyes at me as if studying me or inspecting my attempt to sound cool. “It was dope,” she replies with a raised brow. “Kind of radical if you know what I mean.”
Wow. Okay.
“Oh, fun, you speak eighties?”
“Can we go?” she asks.
“Go use the bathroom.” Brody gives Hannah a fatherly look as he points to the bathroom door.
“I’m fine,” she says.
“Go now.”
An elongated groan rumbles from her throat as she stomps her way into the bathroom.
“I was pleasant like that at her age,” I say, grinning.
“Great,” he responds. “Just what I wanted to hear.” He laughs, but I don’t think he’s joking. “It’s fine. I need my girl to have control of the world. I’ll sleep better at night, or so I tell myself.”
“It’s true.” Although, Mom does not sleep well, knowing I’m not under her roof. I’m not sure that will ever change, but for a good reason. I did run away and all that.
Hannah steps out of the bathroom, smelling like my perfume. I find it cute. “Did you just spray yourself with something?” Brody asks her.
“No,” Hannah lies.
“It’s just air freshener. It’s on a timer and sprays every ten minutes,” I tell Brody, defending his lying daughter.
“That’s smart,” he says.
Yeah, and I just earned a point with the ice queen.
“Your bathroom is pretty, Journey. I love that shade of purple.”
“Thank you. Most people don’t appreciate the different variations purple has to offer.” Too much. I should have just said thank you.
“Right,” Hannah responds.
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Brody announces, clapping his hands together. I had wondered what could make this man uncomfortable. I didn’t realize the answer was right in front of me all along. Hannah can dump his world upside down in a matter of seconds. Amazing.
“We can take the Jeep if it’s more comfortable for three people,” I offer.
Brody glances at Hannah for a reaction, but she surprisingly shrugs. “I’d prefer the Jeep,” she says.
“Will you let me drive your car?” Brody asks. Those words—this question. It should be a simple response. Who cares? It’s just a car. But it’s my car. My pride and joy. “Are you thinking about it or do you have an issue with—”
“It’s fine,” I tell him. “You can—” I clear my throat. “You can drive my Jeep.” I hand Brody my keys, wondering if he can drive a standard. I noticed his truck is an automatic, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
Just as we settle ourselves into the seats, Brody turns on the ignition and kicks it into reverse as if he’s driven my vehicle a million times before. I didn’t mean to stare at him as he drove out of the lot, but I’m taken aback by his skill of driving a different car without needing to adjust anything. “What, did you think I couldn’t drive a standard?” He glances over and gives me a quick wink.
“It is more complicated than necessary, so—you know,” I respond, quickly forgetting my intention of being kind to Hannah’s father tonight.
“So are you,” he replies.
That’s a fair play.
“Now that you’ve gotten me to tag along with little information, what is this restaurant we’re going to?’
Brody glances in the rearview mirror, but not out the back window, just the back seat. I twist around, spotting Hannah with earbuds plugged into a device. “It’s an iPod, but she’s been bugging me for a phone for the last few months. I’m not ready to give in to that yet.”
