Brooks smirks. "Stargazing and…otherthings." He winks.
Ew.
I grumble in disgust as I slide into the backseat.
He pushes the seat back, and itthunksmy knees. I let out a strangledargghas I try to reposition myself, and that’s when the woman finally turns to look at me.
"Hey!" she says, leaning over the seat with a grin. "Mitsy. We actually went to that camp together in middle school, the one with the big waterfall. Same cabin, bottom bunk. I always wondered if you’d remember." She laughs softly, shrugging. "Small towns, right? You never really lose people."
"That’s enough, Mitsy," Brooks interrupts, his patience thinning. "We’ll drop you off first."
Mitsy pouts, tilting her head toward him. "You aren’t staying the night?"
I furrow my brow.
Does Brooks usually stay the night with her? Is she his girlfriend?
"Not tonight," Brooks says smoothly.
Mitsy coos in response. "Well, another time then."
I shift uncomfortably.
I can’t tell whether I’m disturbed or disgusted. Maybe a little of both.
Brooks pulls back onto the road, taking a winding, twisting back route I’ve been down a thousand times before. My stomach lurches with every bend.
I press a hand against my gut. "Can you open a window?"
Brooks doesn’t hesitate. "Elowen gets carsick real easy in the back seat," he announces.
"Oh, you poor thing," Mitsy sings in sympathy.
I glare at Brooks’ smug reflection in the rearview mirror. "Window," I repeat through gritted teeth. "Or I’ll puke all over the back seat of this truck."
He finally rolls it down. But he doesn’t slow his speed.
I groan, swallowing against the nausea.
The ride feels endless, but eventually, we pull up to Mitsy’s quaint little cabin tucked between the trees.
Before I can even attempt to crawl out of the backseat, Brooks is already out of the truck, walking her to the front door.
I sigh heavily, then make the absolutely terrible decision to climb over the center console.
The process is anything but graceful.
I grumble, groan, and nearly face-plant before finally landing in the now-empty front passenger seat.
Then, I make the mistake of looking out the window.
Brooks is standing beneath the porch light, his head tilted down, Mitsy’s face tipped up toward his.
Then, she leans in.
And Brooks?
He kisses her goodnight.
