My eyes blaze open with more excitement to give him his answer.
“Are you going to be this hyper on our road trip?” he adds.
Reaching across the table, I poke his arm. “You’ll love it. It was going to be a boring drive and now it won’t be.”
His eyes travel from my hand, following the path straight up to my face. I hope he doesn’t realize the dazzle in my eyes is for him.
“You’re right,” he rasps. “It won’t be anything like I planned.”
The air stills, and that flutter in my chest returns.
We’re going to be together on a road trip. And it doesn’t feel like anything average.
A sort of adventure that we’re going to embark on together.
His lips twitch, and it feels as though my thoughts just flew straight into his mind.
I think I’m already lost, and it’s not even because of an outdated map.
I throwmy pajamas in my suitcase while I trap my cell phone between my ear and shoulder. Even though I already packed for the trip, I need to switch up my outfit choices since my trip itinerary has changed.
“Will you stop laughing?” I plead to Esme on the other end.
“Sorry.” I can hear that she is trying to calm her hysterics. “But this is the best news.”
“Why? Oliver and I are going to be in tight quarters. We could drive each other nuts.” I open my drawer to search for underwear.
“You two flirt like crazy. Just do it at a roadside stop. I’ll never tell anyone. You might find that it finally relieves that tension around one another.”
“We don’t have tension,” I protest with the lie of the century.
“True. You’re like friends, but it’s obvious that you both want to upgrade that label.”
I give up and lean against my dresser. “It won’t happen. Oliver is too loyal to Liam.”
“But you want to, you know you do,” she goads me.
“I’m not sure why I called you. You should just go back to your romance fest. Like what the hell? Two weeks ago, you went away for a night together and now you love birds have added a few extra days on your trip.”
“Someone is a little icy today.”
Sighing, I realize she’s right. Maybe a pang of jealousy is the cause. “Anyhow, I just finished my epic playlist creation and stocked up on snacks. Maybe I should take a first-aid kit just in case or a flashlight.”
“What the hell? Are you planning on a natural disaster or something?”
“I mean, we are going through tornado alley. You never know,” I justify.
“I’ll make it easy for you. Pack something lacy,” she deadpans.
I laugh her off but then eye my bra choices and consider if I need to spice it up a bit.
No, Hailey. No X-rated detours on this trip.
“You’re hilarious,” I counter.
Esme lets out an exhale. “Okay, well, you will figure it out. Just don’t always do what you think everyone expects.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
