Page 46 of Stirring Up Love
A sour taste filled her mouth, and she reached for the cup again. Finn held it up, and she put the straw between her lips. Biting down on it, she spoke through clenched teeth. “Why’d you get such a giant cup of soda?”
“It was the best value.”
“Because you have to have hands the size of an NBA player to drink it.”
“Is that a dick joke?”
She coughed up a noseful of pop. “Jeez, no. Although one might say your giant drink is compensating for something.”
“My tiny bladder?”
At that, she let loose a laugh. “You’re super weird.”
“So are you.”
“I am.” Something she didn’t show many people. Most people got cool, self-assured Simone. Not quirky, sarcastic Simone. That Simone she saved for her closest family and friends.
This forced-proximity experiment was killing her vibe. If they went on like this, she might wind up kissing him again, and that was not happening. No more letting her guard down with Honey and Hickory on the line. Which meant she needed to put some physical distance between them, fast.
“What do you think about pulling over for the night?”
“Like, here?” He gestured to the roadside flying by outside his window. “Um, no thanks. I choose life.”
“Shut up. I meant getting a room.” She shot him a warning glance, lest he get the wrong impression. Then again, that ship had sailed. Right off a cliff. “Two rooms. And sleeping for a few hours.”
He frowned. “I thought you had to get back for your sister’s—”
“Alisha.” The name popped out without her thinking. Why the heck was she volunteering more personal details? That settled it. She needed out of this car and away from Finn. “And yes, I do need to get back for Ali’s—” Dang it. “My sister’sbachelorette party. But as long as we drive straight through for the rest of the trip ...” Oh gosh, all that time in a confined space with Finn and his soft lips and his sense of humor and his strong hands ...
And his self-righteous attitude. Her resolve strengthened. “As long as we drive straight through, we’ll have plenty of time.”
He watched her, his face illuminated by passing headlights. “If you’re tired, I can take over. That’s the plan, right?”
“Yeah, but those airport seats were murder on my back. I don’t think I can take another night of cramped sleep.”
“Okay, well, you’re the one on the timetable,” he said, voice even.
“I can’t believe I’m having to talk you into this. What’s your hurry?”
“I don’t have one.” This new agreeable Finn was freaking her out. “Your agenda is my agenda. I just want to make sure you’re happy.”
Happy? Sure, the two minutes of their kiss had been bliss. Right up until he’d called it a mistake. Called her unkind. “You have a funny way of showing it.”
He groaned, slouching down in the seat. “Are you going to hold it over my head this entire time?”
Definitely. “You kissed me.”
“I’m aware,” he said, in a way that made her all too aware, everywhere.
“And then called me entitled.”
He dragged his hand through his hair, mussing it. “Because I was going off crappy assumptions. And my overprotective best friend got in my head.”
That, she could relate to. Alisha was more protective than a father in an old-school country song. But still. “I get it, but you don’t just come back from that.”
“Agreed. We can’t pretend it never happened. I’ve made a lot of mistakes since we met ...” He sucked in a breath. She heard it, and oh Lordy, shefeltit. “But kissing you wasn’t one of them.”
The GPS dinged. “Recalculating.”
