Page 79 of The Americana Playbook

It must be. Because Parker reaches up, grabbing one of my wrists and keeping my hand against her face for another moment. It happens to be a really great moment because the corners of her mouth circle upward.

“Ms. Montgomery, since the walkabout has been cancelled, you’ll ride with the First Lady.”

My hold on Parker’s face slips when she turns her head.

“I rode here with Fitz,” she announces to the agent. “I’ll go home with him too.”

I feel for my key.

“You’ll ride with the First Lady,” the agent repeats, holding out an arm and motioning.

I look over. Candice and her crew have already gotten into cars. Parker laces our fingers together.

I should like the way Parker tightens her hold and steps closer. But it’s impossible for me to enjoy. Not when I feel the hesitancy radiating off her body.

I press my lips to her temple. “Count to fifteen.” When I back away, Parker’s eyes meet mine before I raise my voice. “I’ll see you at home.”

I won’t lie. I hate that when our hands unlatch, there’s a flinch that vibrates off her fingertips. I unlock my car and take hurrying steps before sliding in and turning on the ignition. The motorcade waits ahead of me, a streaming line of SUVs. I give a gentle honk, clearing the agent from behind my space as I reverse out of it.

“Let me grab my bag.”

With my eyes on the rearview mirror, I watch Parker and pivot, coming toward me. The first two steps are slow, and I wonder if the agent whose side she left will catch on.

By the time he does, it’s too late.

I reach over and open the passenger door before Parker’s hand even touches it, and by the time it clicks shut, I’m reversing out of the parking lot, thanking myself I left the car closer to the exit.

“I told you.” Parker presses her head against the seat, turning to face me. The smile on her face is secondonlyto the one she just had after I kissed her. “You don’t have to keep impressing me.”

Parker reaches across and takes my hand. I don’t have to tell her I’m not done yet. When she squeezes it and lets me rest it against my leg, I believe she knows.

“I’ve always beenfull of surprises. Maybe you just didn’t notice.”

Apparently, something else I didn’t notice today was that kiss coming at me in the parking lot until it was already over. Fitz managed to sneak it in between the space of our breaths and the beat of my heart, which hasn’t fully come down since his lips left mine.

Trying to be as discreet as I can, I drag the pads of my fingers along the rim of my mouth as if I might still find traces of him there. I’m shocked by how strongly I need to reminisce about a moment that only just happened.

I jump when my phone vibrates, but I ignore the unknown number, which means I just sent my mother to voicemail. She can go there and proceed straight to hell.

There’s a low ring, andCOACHflashes on the screen of Fitz’s car.

Out of the corner of my eye, I sneak a peek, taking in the boldness of Fitz’s jaw, the stubble that buries the treasures that are the cleft in his chin and the dimple carved in only his right cheek. I wonder if the world has noticed, and I find myself hoping it hasn’t, letting them remain my small secrets of Fitz to keep.

My gaze falls to my ring.

But I guess it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to share. Not when I’m about to be his wife.

For a second, as we drive down the highway with the windows and sunroof open on a warm Spring day, I allow myself to be just that. I let Fitz take my hand back and rest it on his thigh. I don’t try to pull away when his thumb sweeps over the back of my hand. All I do is pray he doesn’t realize that the smallest touch makes the rest of my body bloom with goosebumps.

My phone goes off again,I press down on the side button to stop the vibration. I won’t let her ruin this moment.

When I feel…happy.

I know she’s in a tizzy for many reasons. One being that we threw her off schedule, and the other being that, for just a few minutes, we stole the spotlight. Or at least, Fitz did. Clearly, the only person students cared about visiting their school today was him.

“She’s fuming.”

Fitz shakes his head. “Isn’t this the kind of stuff shewants?”

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