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The phone rings for a moment before her ringtone appears from inside of Adrian’s car. He places the device to his ear and smiles.
“Hello?” I hear his voice through the phone and in front of me. “I took her phone and keys so she couldn’t stop me from going with you. Now, please,beautiful, get in the car,” he pleads, and I let out another laugh.
This man is impossible.
I climb into the truck, and Adrian holds out a to-go cup for me.
“Your favorite, a hazelnut hot chocolate.”
“How did you find that out? I didn’t tell you,” I reply and he gives me a satisfied smirk.
“I asked your sister,” he says nonchalantly, still grinning at me.
“Nova needs to stop telling you about my favorite things,” I say, making him nod in agreement.
“Damn straight. You should be the one telling me so I can spoil you more efficiently.”
“You shouldn’t spoil me at all. I’m not your girlfriend.” Especially not after that phone call with Ms. Martin.
“Technicalities,” he mumbles, waving his hand like he’s dismissing my comment.
I laugh a little before thanking him for my drink.
My eyes study the simple, black interior design of the truck. The familiar “new car smell” fills my nose, and I notice there isn’t a single speck of dirt anywhere.
“Did you buy this truck?” I ask him, but he shakes his head while turning the key in the ignition.
“I rented it for today. Now, before we go, are we okay?” he says, causing me to shift my head in his direction. “Since we kissed, we haven’t really spent time together, so I just wanted to make sure you don’t hate me now,” he says, lifting his sunglasses to show me he means every word.
“Of course we’re okay.”
Adrian has done nothing wrong. My feelings are complicated. They are causing all the trouble in my life when the only thing that matters is how happy Adrian and my relationship makes me. Friends or friends who like each other more than friends, it doesn’t matter. I like how I feel when I’m with him.
“Good, because I have something else for you, and I didn’t want you to think I’m bribing you into agreeing we’re okay if that’s not how you feel,” he admits while reaching back to grab something.
He brings a camera to the front and places it on my lap. My jaw drops as my heart forgets its rhythm.
“Adrian—” I start, but he interrupts me before I can complain.
“None of that. Thank me or don’t say anything,” he instructs, rolling his lips to keep from laughing and stay serious.
“Thank you,” I say and lean over to press a kiss to his cheek.
The corners of his mouth curl into a smile while heat settles on my cheeks, most likely painting them a deep shade of red.
He turns on the radio to break the tension, and I stop breathing when Dylan Scott’s voice fills the car.
“You like country music?” I ask when I see him mouthing the lyrics of ‘Can’t Take Her Anywhere.’ He grins, but his eyes stay on the road, making me feel safe and giddy at the same time.
“Yeah, but we can change it if you want,” he offers. I reach out to turn up the volume.
“Dylan Scott is one of my favorite artists,” I explain.
Seconds later, we’re singing our hearts out to the music. No one has ever enjoyed country music with me, not my sister, Aileen, Papa, Mama, or even Lincoln when we were still friends. None of them, except Adrian now.
My chest fills with a sweet warmth as the biggest smile covers my lips. ‘New Truck’ starts blasting through the speakers, and we both scream along, not caring how horrible we probably sound. I’m laughing so hard, my stomach starts to cramp in the best way.
“Not there, Nevaeh, how many times do I have to tell you it goes on the other side?” Adrian asks, and we both burst into laughter. He points to the instructions, making me almost fall over.
