He would and he did.
At least there was that.
I rubbed my chest where I still felt the ghost of his touch as he poked me there in anger.
Charleigh caught it and narrowed her eyes.
I stopped and turned back to Nicole, answering all of the questions.
By the time five o’clock rolled around, we were well versed in everything Great Dane Pet Food had to offer. We knew where the assembly lines were. We knew how all of the food was packaged. I’d been shown my lab. Charleigh had been shown her office.
We were both in fairly good moods as we walked out the door. Charleigh with her keys to her car in her hand, and me with the new keys to mine.
“Have a good night, y’all!” Nicole breezed to her car. “See you in the morning, bright and early.”
Nicole roared out of there like her hair was on fire.
Charleigh and I both watched her go for long seconds before turning to each other and having a good laugh.
“I like her,” Charleigh admitted.
“Same,” I concurred as I turned to look at the brand-new Escalade I was expected to drive. “This is insane, right?”
“Insanely cool.” Charleigh walked up to peer into the windows with me by her side. “Are you excited?”
“Nervous,” I admitted. “What if I hurt the car?”
“You won’t,” she promised me. “Unlock this bad boy.”
I did, and we both inhaled deeply. “I love new car smell. Too bad I’ll never know what it feels like.”
I bumped her with my shoulder. “You can ride with me anytime you want to.”
She winked at me before taking a step back. “See you tomorrow at work?”
I stared with a knot of growing nervousness growing like a weed in my belly.
“Of course,” I promised. “Be careful.”
“Always am.” She buffed her nails on her shirt before saying, “Precious cargo.”
I snickered as she blew me a kiss and walked to her car.
I waited for her to get inside and drive off before I got into the Escalade and started it up.
It roared to life with a purring growl, then idled quietly as eight thousand prompts popped up on the screen.
“No seat belt detected.”
I cleared that only for the next one to pop up. “Ice on road.”
I skipped that one, too.
There was always ice on the road.
“Low tire pressure.” It dinged.
I cleared everything, then put my seat belt on and put it into Drive.
