“I asked if she knew of a place nearby, or at least not too far away.”
Tilting her head, she peered at him.
“What?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Not nothing. Something. I can tell.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Really.”
She sighed. “I was just wondering if this is Sir Stick Up His Assish.”
He laughed. “Sir Stick Up His Assish? Is that some sort of malady? Is it contagious?”
“If it were, I’d have caught the bug by now. I’m just trying to determine whether or not this is in keeping with that part of your character.”
“Part? So, you admit there’s more to me than an uptight knight with a rod up his backside.”
She laughed. “I didn’t say that.”
He grinned. “You did, but I won’t press you on it. Are you thirsty?”
She nodded.
The place had concession stands in addition to the track. He got two bottles of water from the one lone employee, and they sat down.
“Why did you quit driving?” he asked.
He watched her.
She doesn’t want to tell me.
“I just asked because I know you miss it.”
“How do you know that?”
“By watching you and seeing your face riding around this track.”
She scoffed. “We’re just driving karts.”
“Even so.” He paused. “You don’t want to tell me?”
She huffed. “Okay, Sir Stick, I’ll answer your question if you answer mine.”
“Which is?”
“Why did you come today?”
“I already told you. You asked me.”
“And if I asked you to forfeit the next race, would you?”
“Of course not.”
“Exactly. So I’ll ask you again, why did you come? If you want an answer to your question, you’ll have to answer mine first.”
