Page 104 of Class Clown

“Name one nice thing I’ve done.”

“Alright. You talk when we’re in a group so that I don’t have to, you clean the bathroom sink when you’re done getting ready because I like it tidy, you . . ..”

I interrupted him. “I do that because I like it clean.”

He chuckled. “Okay, good to know. You throw my dirty towels in with yours because I’m always short on time, you gave me a couple of shoulder massages after long days, you helped me after my nightmare.”

It was good to know I wasn’t totally selfish. I blurted out the next thought. “I don’t know enough about you.” The act of saying that out loud allowed my breath to woosh in and out once more. “Which means you don’t know enough about me, this woman you’re moving for.”

His hand left my shoulder and I saw him look toward me out of the corner of my eye. “Why do you say that?”

I glanced over at him and back, quickly. “We’re about to go live in the same town, and be a couple, and I’m worried that you’ll make this huge change, not truly knowing me, and regret it.”

He nodded, and I faced the road again. “Are you worried that you’ll get to know me better and want to ship me back to Texas?” he asked.

I swallowed and frowned. “Definitely.”

He laughed. “I was not expecting that answer.”

“You’re that sure of yourself?”

“Not at all. I figured it would be the truth, but thought you’d try to spare my feelings.”

I bit my lip. “Sorry.”

“Bee, you know me.” His voice was steady and sure. “And I know you.”

“Did you know that I never fill up my gas until the fuel light is on?”

“Seriously?”

I nodded. “Yes, and I won’t change. I like the thrill of rolling into the gas station on fumes.”

His hand landed on my knee. “I can accept that if you can accept that I refuse to let my gas tank go under the halfway full mark.”

“Oh my gosh. Nico!”

“What?” he looked to me.

“You don’t have a car. How are you going to get around Logan?”

He chuckled. “I have a motorcycle in Texas. We’ll figure out how to get it to Logan.”

I eased back into my seat. “You ride a motorcycle?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled. “That’s hot and I have no more questions.”

He chuckled. “Since I don’t want this to keep bothering you, what do you think you need to know about a person before you make big life decisions regarding them?”

I chewed on my lower lip as I thought. “I guess I’d want to know if they’re kind and ethical, if I could depend on them, if they’re trustworthy, and if they know how to cook or not.”

“Food is important,” he agreed lightly. “You already know those things about me.”

My mind skipped over our months together at camp and I realized I did know Nico. I knew some of his background, but other parts would take years to unfold even if we had started out the ‘normal way’. My friends insisted that even after months of dating they were still finding out new things about their boyfriends. I knew he was dependable, and trustworthy, and I knew he could make tea like nobody’s business.

“Do you feel like you know me well enough to be making these big changes for me?” I asked him, feeling better about this new adventure.

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