Page 23 of Wish Lists and Road Trips

“We’re stuck together for at least two more days. I have time.”

She considered me for a moment, but then she put on a smile I hadn’t seen before. It was smaller than her usual ones and it had no light behind it. I knew it was forced. “We do have time,” she said. “But I’m not wasting any of it on Sean.”

She sniffed and did a little shoulder shimmy like she was shaking off the mood. Then she pinned me with her big brown eyes. “What about you? What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?”

I turned back to the road. “My brother dying.”

Brit went still and I felt like I’d just scratched a record in the middle of a party. The back of my neck heated. I immediately regretted opening my mouth. Why couldn’t I just play this stupid game with her? I could have easily lied and said the worst thing to happen to me was the Phillies losing the World Series. But for some reason, I didn’t want to lie to Brit.

My brother died two months ago, Brit, and it hurts so much that sometimes I think I’ll be sick.

She studied me wordlessly, long enough to make my skin start to tingle, then she launched herself over the center console, wrapping her arm around my middle while I tried not to swerve the car.

My stomach tightened at the unexpected affection.

“This game sucks,” she whispered, her head tucked onto my shoulder.

“Yeah, it does. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” She shook her head and her hair tickled my chin. “Not for me.”

I cleared my throat, desperate to change the subject away from Alex. “You’re still in charge of finding us a store. How’s that coming?”

She squeezed me once more, then went back to her seat. “Take the exit after next. There’s a Target close to the ramp. One-stop shopping for clothes, food, and most importantly, fun.”

“We should pick out each other’s clothes.” I held up a Hawaiian shirt with enormous pink hibiscus flowers to Nick’s chest and pretended to consider it.

He kept walking. “No.”

“Do you know any other words, Nicholas?”

“Nope.” He reached around me, grabbing two plain black T-shirts and a white Henley off a rack.Sigh.

“Come on, it will be fun.” I bumped him with my hip. “I can feature you on my Insta. Have you ever modeled before? You could.”

He shot me a look that was slightly horrified.

“People are going to think we’re married, walking around Target together in the middle of the day. Should we pretend to have a fight in housewares? I can cry on demand.”

“Maybe we should get the things we came for and get back on the road. Does that option work for you?”

He grabbed some plaid cotton boxers and a package of socks, then looked through a pile of jeans. I peeked over his shoulder to peep his size, desperate for a little more Nick Knowledge.

He’d put a wall up since our game in the car, or at the very least, a screen door. He hadn’t meant to say that to me about his brother and my mind was spinning with questions. I wasn’t going to push him on it, but I definitely wasn’t going to let him retreat either. We had a long trip ahead, and something told me he had more to say, whether he knew it or not.

I pulled him into the women’s clothes section, looking through the pajama options until I found a bright turquoise onesie. “What do you think about this?”

His lip curved with mischief. “I think you’ll look like a My Little Pony.” He flicked my hair. “With a rainbow tail.”

I gaped at him, touching the ends of my top knot. Maybe I shouldn’t make fun of his dreary wardrobe. He obviously suffered from color-blindness. “My hair isn’t rainbow-colored. It’s called strawberry brunette and I did it myself, thank you very much.” The video was one of my most popular to date. “What rainbows have you seen made of mauve and dusky rose?”

He shrugged and picked up a pair of flannel sleep shorts with cartoon penguins on them. “This looks like you. And it will probably be hot on the train.”

I plucked them from his hand, pretending to be indifferent even though I loved them. “I thought you didn’t want to pick out my clothes.”

“I didn’t wantyouto pick outmyclothes. Come on, let’s get food and go.”

I grabbed a floppy sun hat and a pair of sunglasses, then followed him to the snack aisle, watching as he chose between two boxes of protein bars and threw one in the basket. “You don’t need any pajamas?” I asked casually.

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