Page 54 of Letters of Faith
Georgia:Meet me outside in five. I’ll drive.
Grayson:Absolutely not. I’ve seen your driving. You still have a car in the shop from your driving abilities. I’ll drive.
Rolling my eyes, I grab my coat and run out the door to beat him outside.
He’s opening his door by the time I’ve closed mine, and when he sees me running at a full sprint to the driver’s side of his truck, he jumps off the porch, skipping the steps, and takes off at a dead run. He has the advantage because his truck is parked closer to his side, but I refuse to let him win.
It’s a good thing some of the ice has melted because if not, I would be flat on my back when I pick up the pace to beat him.
My hand touches the handle of the driver’s side door at the same time he reaches the truck. I’m about to pull it open when he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder.
I squeal, pounding on his back as he carries me to the back of the truck, opens the tailgate, and sits me down.
“You cheated,” I say, shoving at his chest.
He doesn’t go anywhere. Instead, he ignores it and steps closer, laughing as I cross my arms and huff.
“Did you really think I would let you win, Peach?” He lowers his head and runs the bridge of his nose against my jaw, causing me to shiver. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll let you drive, but I need a consolation prize.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” I’m breathless as I ask the question. Myhands are wrapped into his hoodie like if I let go, he’ll disappear.
“One favor—no questions asked, and I can call it in whenever I want.” It’s a whisper against the shell of my ear, and I can’t take it anymore.
“Yeah, yeah. Sure, one favor. Now kiss me.”
There’s mischief in his eyes as he leans in and kisses me, but I figure I’ll worry about that later. Right now, I can only focus on the pure happiness running through my whole body as I smile against his lips.
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“Are we there yet?” Grayson asks from the passenger seat of his truck.
His eyes are closed, and he’s holding on to the handle above the door with a grip so firm that I worry he might break it. When I don’t respond, he peeks one eye open to look at me, keeping the other one tightly squeezed shut.
“We’re here, you big baby. I’m not that bad of a driver.”
“The near heart attack I had back there says otherwise.”
Rolling my eyes, I open the truck door, grab my purse, and hop out. Grayson meets me at the back of the truck and scoops my hand in his, intertwining our fingers.
I look down at our hands and then back at him as we walk across the parking lot toward the grocery store door.
“Is this okay?” he asks, holding our hands up to indicate what he’s talking about.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He pulls me to a stop just outside of the door, a serious look on his face.
“Because you know as soon as we step through those doors with me holding your hand, the whole town will know about us. If you aren’t ready for that yet, I’ll understand. We’re doing this on your timetable, not mine.”
I don’t know how this man can’t see how good he is, but it’s thetruth—he is. Sure, he’s grumpy, but he’s willing to give up his happiness if it means I’m comfortable.
Squeezing his hand, I smile at him and say, “I’m okay with it. Now, come on. I need groceries so I can cook us supper.”
“Your cooking is even worse than your driving,” he groans as I pull him behind me into the store.
“It is not,” I laugh over my shoulder, “and you better not let my momma hear you say that, either. I like you, but I can’t save you from her wrath. She taught me everything I know.”
We make our way through the store, piling groceries into the buggy as we go through each aisle, and it hits me that I don’t dread coming into public like I have every day since Nate died.
