“This is your favorite road trip snack?” Troy asks, popping the bag of corn chips. “It’s so…”
“So what?” I ask, reaching in and grabbing a cheesy chip.
“Basic.” His brown eyes are playful.
“Consider me basic, then, Troy.”
Troy grabs my wrist, pulling me close. “You, Angie, are anything but basic.”
He sucks my finger between his lips.
His eyes darken with lust as they study me. His tongue swirls around the pad of my finger, sending desire straight to my core.
It has me wanting to throw our plans to the wind.
“You’re a distraction.” My voice is breathy as Troy pulls my finger out of his mouth.
He leans over and gives me a quick kiss. “Not as much as you.”
“If we don’t leave now, we won’t get there in time.”
It’s midafternoon. With Troy’s practice today, we couldn’t leave any earlier.
“Your fault.”
“Mine?” I’m indignant. “Not a chance.”
“Then let’s get moving, Brooks-Young.”
“If only I didn’t have to wait on you to start this road trip.”
“Does it count as a road trip if we’re only driving to LA?” Troy asks, clicking the music over to a rock station.
“I can always drop you back off at your house if you don’t want to go…” I give him the side eye as I merge onto the I-5.
“And miss spending the afternoon with you? Hell no.”
It shouldn’t give me so much satisfaction, but it does. “Good. Because this will also be a good learning experience.”
“Oh yeah?”
“If I have anything to say about it, yes.”
Which I will.
Because when I planned today around Troy’s practice schedule, I wanted it to work for both of us.
Me getting to spend the day with him and him learning something for astronomy.
For a late Saturday afternoon, the drive is easy. Without much traffic, we make it in good time, chatting about everything and nothing. If there’s a silence, it’s easy. Everything is with Troy. Not like with any other guy I’ve dated.
With the end of the semester fast approaching, I’m trying to squeeze in every minute I can with him. His practice schedule doesn’t make it easy.
I don’t know what’s going to happen come spring. It has a ball of worry in my belly every time I think about it.
Griffith Observatory comes into sight as I guide us into the parking lot nearby.
“What are we doing here?” Troy asks as he steps out of the car. He’s casual today, in gray sweats and an SDU long-sleeved hockey shirt. The backward cap on his head hides his unruly hair. I didn’t really give him much time after practice.
