“We’re gonna pretend all the time,” he corrected softly. “The club’s puttin’ their asses on the line for you, Teddy, and we’re happy to do that. Owed your dad. But you gotta make this seem real, or we’re fucked. Granger or his people get even a whiff of the fact that we got you outta Sacramento to get you away from his organization, it’s our asses that’re gonna be swingin’ in the wind.”
I opened my mouth to reply, even though I wasn’t sure what the hell to say, when I heard the squeak of Jesse’s headphones as they pulled them off their head. “I need to pee.”
“Can you wait until the next rest stop?” Curtis asked.
“Yes,” Jesse replied. “I learned to hold my bladder about twelve years ago.”
Curtis grinned and looked at them over his shoulder. “Just askin’ if it was an emergency situation or if I had some time.”
“You’ve got time.”
“Got it.”
“But not too much.”
I watched Curtis while he drove, and he pretended not to notice. He was unbelievably attractive, and I knew that it wouldn’t be hard to fake a relationship with him if the kiss earlier was any indication. But what, if anything, was I supposed to tell my kids? Finn took almost everything at face value, but even he would be shocked. I hadn’t dated anyone since Mike, and he’d never seen me with a partner. Jesse would never believe it. They were already wondering what the hell was going on.
My mind was still racing when Curtis pulled off the freeway and into a rest stop. He’d barely parked the car when Jesse hopped out and went jogging to the bathroom. I hurried to follow them, glancing back at Finn, still sleeping in the back seat.
“I’ve got him,” Curtis said. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and handed them to me. “Go with her. We’ll be here when you get back.”
“Them,” I corrected automatically.
“What?”
“Them.Jesse is nonbinary.”
Curtis raised his eyebrows as he nodded. “Understood.”
I jogged to the restroom and called out to Jess when I stepped inside. Only one stall was occupied. “You good?”
“Yeah,” they groaned. “That burrito went right through me.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Literally,” they complained. “I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.” They paused and then groaned again. “You may not want to stay for this.”
I chuckled as I walked back out of the bathroom.
Curtis was standing outside the truck, checking on the boxes in the back, when I reached him.
“I told you they’re secure,” I pointed out.
“Just wanted to be sure,” he replied, turning toward me. Easily, as if he’d done it a hundred times before, he reached for my hand and used it to tug me closer. His other hand went to the side of my neck, his fingers tangling in the hair at my nape.
“What are you doing?” I asked softly, allowing him to tip my head back.
“Four cars pulled in after we did,” he said, leaning down to run his nose alongside mine. “All men. No families.”
“You think one of them is David’s?”
“No clue,” he said, brushing his lips over my jaw. “Could be.”
“You’re way too good at this,” I muttered, inwardly cursing as my heart began to pound.
Curtis chuckled. “I’m just actin’ how I would if we met at the bar last night,” he said with a grin. “It’s not a chore to be affectionate.”
“You don’t even know me.”
