“I’m fine. If you get tired, let me know.” I watched the countdown clock until the page let me move on. My phone, which had been sitting in one of the cup holders of the truck’s console, lit up with a text message, and when I saw Lauren’s name I immediately picked it up.
Lauren: Having fun?
Clay: Just tell me what you’re fishing for, Harwood.
There was no way she’d texted me without a motive. The Harwoods were wired for scheming, Lauren included.
Lauren: Play nice. Thanks to me, you’re sitting there and I’m not.
Clay: So you’re to blame? I’m hour 9 into a 10 hour certification class.
Lauren: Aw, that’s so sad. Tell me more.
Clay: Seriously, Harwood. What gives?
Lauren: I was just checking on you guys. I know Parker insisted on driving so I thought I’d text you.
I was smiling too much, and Parker noticed. “Who’s that?” he asked, nodding at my phone.
I froze, not sure whether to lie or not. There wasn’t anything inherently flirty in our exchange, but the fact that it existed made me hesitant to share it. I finally scrolled up to just show the last bit and read it to him, holding it out so he could see.
Parker shook his head. “She knows me well. Tell her not to worry so much.”
Clay: We’re fine. We’ll be home about midnight.
I went back to my certification and forced myself not to check my phone, though it lit up again.
The second Parker was out of the truck at the next gas station, I picked up my phone and dialed her. She answered on the second ring.
“Hi, Clay.”
“Lauren, you have about ten seconds to tell me what’s up. Parker’s pumping gas, and I do not want to have a conversation with him about why you keep texting me. Mainly because I don’t know why you keep texting me.”
She was quiet for about nine of those seconds, and then she blurted it all out. “Parker begged me to find a way to not have to go with him on the Idaho trip. And my dad, being my dad, said I was off the hook if I brought Denver to lunch this Sunday.”
Wired for scheming. All of them.
Lauren sighed. “Bringing him to my parents’ house is going to be hard enough as it is. Promise me you won’t be there with your judging eyes and snide comments. All I’m asking is for you to skip this one.”
“What if I just promise to leave the judgments at home?”
“Clay Olsen, I will end you right now.”
Her bluster had always made me laugh, and even though I felt terrible about it, I couldn’t help finding it funny now. “Oh, yeah? You’re going to kill me through the phone, darling?”
“No, I’ll wait outside your house tonight and jump you when you walk up to your door.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” I could barely get the words out, I was laughing so hard. “And just a heads up, if you’re planning a surprise attack, it’s best to keep it a surprise. You’ll get better results that way.”
She growled and hung up on me, not that I could blame her. Making her mad was just too much fun. I jumped out to stretch and go use the bathroom before we hit the road again. This was our last stop before home.
Even with the massive machine we were driving, we made good time. I hadn’t decided whether or not I was listening to Lauren’s ultimatum or John’s about Sunday, but I have to say I was more than a little disappointed Lauren wasn’t lurking in the bushes when Parker dropped me off at my house just past midnight.
8
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Lauren
