“Okay,” he agreed.
“We could...”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Shiloh pushed her chin forward, and Cary kissed her again. It was still so good.
“Did you drive?” she asked.
“No. I came with—”
“I’ll drive. Where are you staying?”
“Oh,” he said. “With my mom.”
“Oh,” Shiloh said. “Of course.” She’d been imagining a hotel room. Should theygeta hotel room? Going back to an existing hotel room felt different from obtaining a room at midnight for a one-night stand.
“Do you have to get home?” Cary asked. “Your kids?”
“They’re not there,” she said, making up her mind. “Come home with me? I mean—” She cringed. “I know how that sounds—”
“It sounds great, Shiloh.”
Shiloh laughed. It was awkward. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said.
She pulled her keys out of her jacket and waved at her car. “I’m just here.”
Cary nodded.
She unlocked the doors with the button. Then they both stood there. She felt like maybe she should open the door for him—maybe he was waiting to open the door for her?
She jerked toward the driver’s side, opening her door. Cary went for the other side.
As soon as she sat down, she apologized. He was picking up papers from the passenger seat. Shiloh took them from him. Her work bag was on the floor; she grabbed that, too. “Sorry. No one else ever sits up here.” She threw everything in the back, between the booster seats. Jesus Christ, reality was already making a harsh reappearance, wasn’t it?
Cary sat down and reached for his seat belt. “Don’t worry about it.” He glanced over at her and smiled. “I’ve never been in the car with you before.”
He meant with her in the driver’s seat. “My mom wouldn’t let me get my license in high school,” she said.
“I know.”
“She said it would affect her insurance.”
“I remember.”
She smiled at him. “Remember you tried to teach me?”
He smiled back. “Yeah.”
Shiloh turned to the steering wheel, self-conscious now. Fortunatelyher house was only a mile or two away—and once they were on the road, Cary didn’t actually watch her drive. He paid attention to the streets and houses.
“My mom says the neighborhood has gotten worse,” he said.
“Everything has gotten worse. Everybody has a gun.”
He hummed. “I wish she’d move.” He looked over at Shiloh. “Sorry. That was insensitive.”
