Page 42 of Ocotillo Kisses
Nope, that wasn’t the least bit daunting.
“Hey, I texted you to see if you were going to make it,” he said, as she took a seat on the bench across from him, next to Javi.
“Yeah, my phone didn’t survive the storm. I tried to order another one online, but it’s going to take too long, so I’m heading into San Angelo tomorrow to pick one up. I think I can replace the SIM card on my own, if I can’t find someone in town to do it.” She was babbling, she knew it, and she wasn’t in the habit of doing that, either.
“You need company?”
And just like that, it was like the a needle scratching across a record. She did her best not to squirm on the bench as it seemed like everyone turned at once to look at them.
“Ah, your mom said she would go with me.”
“My mom?” His eyebrows rose, and he folded his arms on the table.
“She said she wanted to go into town, maybe go to the big box store, look for some decorations for the festival.”
He opened his mouth to say something, his eyebrows lowered now.
“It was her idea,” Britt said, holding her hands up, palms up.
“She, ah, she hasn’t been on a car ride that long in a while. And your little car—”
“We went to Kimmel in my car.”
“San Angelo is farther. I just don’t think—” He stopped himself and took a deep breath.
“You’re going to have to take it up with your mom. I don’t want to tell her no.”
“No, I’m not. I want her to go.”
This time she raised her eyebrows. “You do?”
He took a breath and glanced to the rest of the group, who weren’t as focused on them as they had been. “No, I mean, it will be good for her to get out, but yeah, that’s a long trip in a small car. You can use my truck.”
She held up a hand. “You trust me to drive your truck.” He hadn’t back in high school, that pretty, shiny new red truck.
“I presume you have more experience driving now than you did then,” he said, understanding her confusion.
“Not a truck.”
“It’s just got a bigger interior.”
“And exterior,” she pointed out, but she had noticed his mom had been uncomfortable in the BMW, and San Angelo was quite a bit farther. She was already worried about Alexis’s stamina when they actually got into town.
“Well.” Con pressed his lips together. “I guess I could drive.”
“I don’t want you taking a day off work so I can go get my phone.” She didn’t like to put anyone out on her account. But she was worried about taking full responsibility for his mother. She’d already thought at least the bigger stores would have a motorized shopping cart, but even that, she wasn’t sure would help. And if Con went, he could make sure his mom was safe.
He considered her a moment, then shook his head. “No big deal. Nothing important tomorrow that Richard can’t take care of. Head out about eight?”
She and Alexis had planned to leave closer to nine, but this was no longer Britt’s outing. She should never have said anything, just gone to San Angelo alone. But now she felt the need to conform to his schedule, since she didn’t know what he had planned for the day. He might prefer leaving early so he could return early to get to work.
So she nodded.
“So, Con, when do you think we can go to Del Rio and get the pottery for the sidewalks?” Poppy leaned on the table to look down at him.
He leaned back on the bench. “I thought you were still teaching.”
“Yes, I have two more weeks.”
