“Really?” he said drily. “Because I didn’t dare hope!”
Deadpan didn’t mean dimples, but I poked his cheek anyway. A spark of something crackled against my fingertip, and I pressed it to my lips. With their masks, no one could see me.
Although Ev smiled, like maybe he knew.
I followed Waze’s directions for a few more minutes beforetaking a hand off the wheel to close the app, not wanting my British navigator to announce our final destination. We’d reached the general area, so there were now street signs to guide me. “Score!” I shouted after turning onto ChestnutStreet.
“What?” Isa asked. “What is it?”
“I found a great parking spot,” I said. “It’s on the same street as—”
Isa cut me off, aghast. “The street? We’re parking on thestreet? Why not in a garage? The car will be safer in a garage.”She sighed. “No damage, Grace. No scratches, bruises, or dents. Remember?”
“Yes, every word,” I told her. “But this is a safe street, Isa. Trust me.” The car behind me honked its horn, telling us to move it or lose it. “This spot is perfect.”
Provided I can parallel park this spacecraft,I didn’t add, half hoping I’d imminently learn that the Tesla could self–parallel park. Because parallel parking under pressure? Not one of my strengths.
Isa hesitated.
The car honked again.
“Fine,” she conceded. “Go ahead. It’s…fine.”
Her soft voice certainly didn’tsoundfine, but we had neither the time nor space to go back and forth. I needed to park the Tesla—or let the Tesla park itself—before I lost my nerve.
“I can do it,” Ev said, correctly guessing the conundrum. “Provided I’m allowed to take off the mask?”
“Never,” I told him, even though he’d learned to drive in his mom’s SUV. He could probably do thiswhilemasked. But no—for the sake of the surprise, this was my responsibility.
Five minutes later, I let out a deep breath. “Well done, Madam President,” Ev said, politely applauding me as Isa released a long sigh to match mine. The Tesla had beeped at me more than once. “Well done indeed.”
I laughed. They couldn’t see a damn thing.
“Check the glove compartment, Everett,” Isa said. “My parents always keep change on hand for meters.”
“Oh, we don’t need any,” I told them before Ev could blindly fumble for the latch. “It’s all electronic.” James had mentioned the meterUP parking app the last time he’d come into the city for a concert. Basically all you did was create an account, type in the meter’s zone number, set a time frame, and boom! You were good to go. “We can even add time remotely,” I said after confirming our spot. “So we won’t get ticketed or towed or anything.”
“Damn,” Ev said. “Why couldn’t we have invented this?”
Isa frowned, excitement evaporated. “The car could get keyed.”
I turned and gave her a look, even though she was still masked. “It won’t get keyed.”
“But—”
“Grace, I think we’ll need your help to get out,” Ev swiftly cut in, unbuckling his seat belt. “Considering you sort of have us in a hostage situation.”
“You paintsucha pretty picture,” I replied, but Isa made no moves to do anything. Even after I had opened Ev’s door and steered him onto the sidewalk, her belt stayed buckled.
Ugh. I’d monumentally underestimated her dedication to protecting the Tesla.
“All right, listen,” I said at last, “I know this car is important, Isa. I know how important it is to your parents, and I’m so grateful that you’re letting me drive it today.” I eyed the surrounding parking spots. “I’m also very confident that nothing will happen to it, because it is in good company here. There’s a minivan with aProud Parent of an 8th Grade Honor Studentbumper sticker, and a big Dodge Ram that just screams ‘Don’t fuck with me!’ ”
Off to the side, Ev chuckled.
“They will be the best of friends,” I continued. “They will love and look out for one another, in both peacetime and in times of peril, in both sickness and in health—”
“Okay, okay, shut up.” Isa unclicked her seat belt with exasperation. “I’m coming.” Together we maneuvered her out of the car, and then I watched her smooth her skirt, straighten her cardigan, and tighten her ponytail for luck. She even readjusted herOUT OF OFFICEmask.
