Amelia’s shoulders slump, and I feel for her. Zac has the memories of time spent with their Pop, and she’s looking for a connection.
An idea forms. It’s below the belt, and guilt swirls in my stomach, but I did promise Milly, and I feel bad reneging on that promise.
I lean in until my lips are only millimetres from Zac’s ear. “If you let her drive your car, I’ll figure out a way to get Jasper and Dane out of the house so we can have some time alone together before I go away next weekend.”
He groans, and I smirk, knowing I have him. “You play dirty.”
I press a kiss to the sensitive spot beneath his ear. “You love it.”
“You guys are disgustingly adorable,” Milly complains, but her soft smile takes the heat out of her words. Her hopeful gaze meets her brother’s. “Are you going to let me drive it?”
“Fine,” he signs. “But only this once.”
Her face breaks out into a massive grin, and she flies off her perch on the stairs, launching her arms around me. I laugh as I catch her, warmth spreading through me as I lock eyes with Zac.
His expression softens as he watches us, but he still looks like he’s going to be sick over the thought of someone else driving his car.
Amelia pulls away from me and sticks her hand out to her brother.
He shakes his head, signing, “Not in town. I’ll take you out to one of the quiet back roads.”
She moves towards the front door, but when I go to follow, he grips my waist and spins me to face him. “You better make this worth it.”
I pull my phone out and hold it up. “On it.”
After climbing into the backseat of the car, I send a message to Hannah enlisting her help. She replies almost immediately, telling me she’ll see what she can do, and I settle into the back seat as Zac drives towards Eagle Peak.
When he pulls over and turns off the engine, he makes no move to get out of the driver’s seat.
“This is a bad idea,” he grumbles, signing to his sister. “I don’t like this.”
“I’ll be careful,” she promises, unbuckling her seat belt and opening her door.
“If she scratches it?—”
“She won’t,” I interrupt.
“She’s going to stall it.”
“Probably.”
He meets my gaze in the rearview mirror as she pulls open his door. “I’m doing this for a night alone with you.”
“Noted.” I say, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips. “I’m working on it. For what it’s worth, you’re earning major brother brownie points. She appreciates you doing this for her.”
With a final glance at me, he grumbles under his breath and moves out of the way for his sister. She settles herself in, adjusting the seat and then the mirror. I shoot her a wink when she catches my eye.
Zac’s stiff as a board when he climbs into the passenger seat. He gets her attention, and his tone is serious when he signs the first lot of instructions, speaking aloud for my benefit. “Her clutch is heavy, and you need to release it slowly, pressing down on the accelerator as you go. Be careful to ease off when you change gears.”
She nods, then starts the engine. It takes her a second to put the car into first, and Zac cringes when she grinds the gears.
“Breathe,” I say, resting my hand on his shoulder. “She’s got this.”
His jaw tightens, and I know this is hard for him, but he nods.
The engine revs as she presses down on the accelerator. We lurch forward before the car stalls.
Zac mutters a curse.
