"I know you are." She smirked.
Coffee in hand, they turned back onto the road.
"Sit back and relax," she said, tapping her phone. "Google says it will take nine and a half hours. I think I can do it in eight, though."
Carter yawned. "I have some music."
Allie stopped him from plugging in his phone.
"I need to study," she said, tapping her music app. The playlist of lectures on auditing and risk management started playing over the car's speakers.
Carter groaned.
"Settle in," she said as the lecturer's voice started to drone. "You might learn something."
6
Carter
Carter spent the ride to his parents' house with his ear buds in. He did not want to listen to Allie's boring lectures. It reminded him of college, and he had hated college.
He fantasized about how his parents were going to react to Allie. She hadn't even showered after her bar shift. She reeked of alcohol.
"I hope we aren't pulled over by the cops," he muttered.
"What?" Allie asked, turning down the radio.
"Nothing," he said. "We might need to stop. I think Margot needs a bathroom break."
They pulled in at a fast food joint. Carter silently handed Allie his credit card while he clipped Margot's leash onto her collar.
It’s weird,he thought as he walked the dog on the grassy patch near the dumpsters.I feel like I've known Allie my whole life.They just seemed to fit so well together.
"Here's your lunch," she said, handing him a paper sack along with his credit card. She wolfed down her own burger as she checked her phone. "We're about three hours out," she said. "Looks like we won't hit any traffic."
"Great. We'll be there in time for dinner."
Ketchup spilled off of her burger, and she swiped it off of her shirt with her fingers, smearing it.
Carter laughed. "My parents are going to hate you."
It was late afternoon when Allie's Audi pulled up in front of the Holbrook estate.
"This is where you live?" she asked.
He could tell she was impressed.
"This is my uncle Walter's house," Carter said. "My parents, Jack and Nancy, their house is being renovated, so they're living here. My cousin Grant and his new wife live here, too, part-time. They're really busy with Holbrook Enterprises, so they haven't set up their own household. They spend a lot of time in my uncle's New York City condo, though."
Allie parked the car off to the side of the drive and popped the trunk. Stefan, the butler, opened the large front door and walked down the steps toward them. Carter saw his mother and father follow behind Stefan a few moments later.
"Carter!" his mother called. He waved and walked over to them while Allie pulled the bags out of the trunk.
"Thank you for driving him," Nancy said to Allie.
He could tell his mother had her detached professional face on. He was so looking forward to wiping that expression off her face. He tried not to laugh.
Jack pulled out his wallet and offered Allie a twenty-dollar bill.
