Page 12 of Nomad

“K boss.”

He left her alone to concentrate on driving for a while, but when it seemed that she had relaxed into road trip mode, he said, “So why did you think I’d laugh about city planning?”

She wagged her head from side to side. “Because it sounds high and mighty, I guess.”

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. “All dreams sound high and mighty when there’s a big distance between where you are and where you want to go.” She smiled. “What?”

“You’re a biker philosopher.”

“Not really.”

“What are you really?”

“This and that.”

“What does that mean, Johns?”

He sighed. “I used to have a business. Online. I was a matchmaker.”

“Shut up.”

“Not that kind. I matched up vintage auto parts with people who were lookin’ for ‘em.”

“Oh. What happened?”

“Walked out. I think it’s still goin’ on though.” He laughed softly. “Business is probably gonna outlast me.” He gave the landscape a rueful smile. “So. How does a girl from El Paso get interested in city planning?”

“That’s the part where you’ll laugh.”

“Ohthat’sthe part.”

“Promise you won’t laugh.”

“Not gonna promise that, but I’ll say this. If you can get a laugh outta me, you should get a prize for it.”

“Why? Nothing is funny to you?”

“Spill it.”

“Okay! Your license says you’re twenty-five. Happy birthday, by the way. But you act like anoldman.”

“Iaman old man who’s not interested in birthdays. You gonna tell me or not?”

“Yes. I’m gonna tell you because there’s nothing else to do in this car and I think you’re right. Nothing I say is gonna make you laugh.”

“It’s a van. Not a car. And I think you should go into sales. You can talk around somethin’ without sayin’ what you mean more than anybody I’ve ever met.”

“Huh.”

He laughed.

“You laughed!” she said.

“All right. You get the prize.”

“Look. I’m going sixty-five.”

“Tryin’ to keep my heartrate steady.”

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