Page 22 of Crazy in Love

“Touché,” he mumbled. Some of Faith’s insanity must have worn off on him because he still willingly got in. Meredith was only a ten-minute drive. What could go wrong?

Hope ground the gears going from reverse to first and swore under her breath.

“Don’t tell Faith about that,” she said.

She repeated the same thing when she accidentally ran a stop sign, and once more when she ever-so-lightly tapped a fire hydrant while attempting to parallel park.

Thinking it might take the edge off his passenger status—he was not a fan of riding shotgun—he’d broken down and takenanother half a pain pill. Semi-high and feeling pretty good, he couldn’t help but get involved, offering suggestions and giving pointers on her driving.

“I didn’t bring you for advice,” she said. “I brought you to be a warm body. To just sitquietlywhile I log some drive time.”

“Yeah, I probably should’ve warned you. I’m accustomed to the driver’s seat and don’t handle being a passenger very well.”

“Control issues?”

“Hmm. But also, the reason they have you drive with someone experienced is so that person can teach you what you need to know before you’re on your own.”

“Faith already taught me all the rules and stuff.”

“Faith? Why not your parents?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished for them back. “I mean, your dad. I’m sorry about your mom.” This was another reason he hated taking drugs. They jumbled his brain and made him say dumb things.

Hope seemed to soften for a minute. “Thanks. My dad hasn’t been himself. Faith’s helping him. And me, I guess. Sometimes it’s annoying though. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I’ll be a junior this year. I’m practically an adult.”

She was tough. Or acted like she was. He sensed that under the facade was a scared young woman who missed her mom. Reasoning with a teenage girl had him on unstable ground, but he was trained in hostage negotiation. Maybe those skills could come in handy. Make her feel heard, then ease toward the desired resolution.

“Yeah, I can understand that. You’re not a child,” he started, and she nodded. “But the operable word is ‘practically.’ Like every teenager on the planet, you still need some guidance.”

She clammed up at that, and he followed suit, deciding it wasn’t his fight to fight. It was a bit of a stretch, but heremembered being sixteen. Like Hope, he was independent, dying to leave Green Valley Falls, and thought he knew everything.

The car in front of them stopped abruptly for a yellow light, and Hope slammed on the brakes to avoid rear-ending it.

“I know, I know,” he said. “Don’t tell Faith. What do I get for keeping all these secrets?”

“Would ice cream help keep your mouth shut?” she asked.

He laughed, and his stomach growled. “You trying to bribe me?”

She took her eyes off the road to chance a quick glance. “Is it working?”

“Yes. How ’bout food first though? I haven’t had anything since coffee this morning.”

“That’s probably why you took a dive at the bookstore,” she said. “Gotta keep fuel goin’ in. Let’s get drive-through in New Hampton and then go back to GVF for ice cream.”

“New Hampton’s another town past Meredith.” She was clearly conniving for more time behind the wheel.

“You have somewhere to be?”

“Got me there,” he mumbled. “Fine.”

She took them through the drive-through, and they parked to scarf down burgers and fries. His mouth watered at the first bite of juicy beef. “Ah, meat.”

Hope chuckled. “How ’bout I take us back via the interstate? I could use some freeway practice.”

This was turning into an all-day affair. He’d agreed to ride along with Hope just to get away from Faith’s crazy and fallen right into a younger, moodier version. But, between the burgerand the Vicodin, he suddenly felt game for anything. “Sure, why not?” He didn’t even protest when she turned on the radio.

They made it back to Green Valley Falls, and she pulled into the Cold Cone Cave.

“Ah, the triple C. How I’ve missed you,” he said wistfully.

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