Page 14 of Mr. February

Wade risked a glance at the woman in the passenger seat. She was dressed for comfort, and he was thrilled. In her silky T-shirt and leggings, her curves were on display now that her hoodie was in the back seat. She made a little nest on the floorboard with her shoes, tote bag, purse, and even a neck pillow.

“Why is that so surprising? She’s got millions of fans, maybe more. Statistically, at least some of them are gonna be guys like me. I’ve got some of her songs on a few of my own playlists.”

“I didn’t see you liking her, that’s all. It’s not a judgment.”

“I don’t know,” he teased. “It sounds awfully judge-y, but there’s an easy way to prove it. Put on your playlist, and let’s see what happens.”

“All right, I will.”

Wade grinned again, marveling at how much more relaxed they already were in each other’s company. He glanced at her as she connected her phone to the car’s wireless system.

“I hope you’re ready for this,” she said.

She settled back into her seat to watch him as one of the singer’s most popular songs played.

“Pshaw! Is that all you’ve got? My grandfather probably knows that song.”

“So far, all I’ve heard is a lot of big talk.”

Wade knew it might hurt his chances of being seen as a romantic possibility, but he couldn’t be anyone but who he was. And he was a legit fan. He turned up the volume and belted out the lyrics as he sang along.

Her eyes widened comically, and then she burst into laughter while he serenaded her with the song’s lovesick teenage girl lyrics.

“Okay, okay, you’re right,” she said between giggles. “That one might have been a little too easy. Let’s try this one instead.”

She swiped on her phone, and the song cut off.

“Aw, I liked that song. You could have let me finish,” he mock-grumbled.

“Do you like this one, though?”

Just a few seconds into the song, he smiled at her again. Together, they sang along to the rest of the catchy song with its sardonic take on modern sexism.

Jenny fell into a contemplative silence once the song ended, so Wade refocused on the drive and let the music flow. Several songs later, Jenny lowered the volume.

“Do you think we’ll be stopping for gas sometime soon?”

“We don’t need gas, but we can stop for a bathroom break and stretch our legs. There’s no reason to push hard since we’ve got plenty of time to get there.”

At Jenny’s prolonged silence, Wade looked at her again. “Is there?”

“No, I guess not. I just thought…”

“What did you think?”

“It doesn’t matter. But, yes, if we could stop somewhere so I can grab a snack and use the bathroom, that’d be great. I promise I’ll be quick.”

“Like I said, we’re not in a hurry. Would you prefer to stop at an actual restaurant, a fast-food place, or do you just want gas station treats?”

“Why are you being so accommodating?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought it was a guy thing to hate stopping on road trips.”

He shrugged. “I’d rather be comfortable.”

“If you’re sure, I’ll keep an eye out for a fast-food place near a gas station.”

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