Page 33 of Hopeless Romantic
What had started out as an empty parking lot lesson on staying between the lines had jumped the curb, and Paisley was showing him all hundred-and-thirty-seven reasons she was a three-time-fail in the practical driving exam.
“You want to try to stay in the middle of the lane,” he said, flexing his right butt cheek as if it could somehow keep them from sideswiping the parked cars, which were close enough to kiss.
“Okay. But then it feels like I’m too close to the oncoming cars,” Paisley said, jerking the wheel hard to the left. Thethump-thumpof the tires crossing over the yellow reflectors and into the next lane matched his booming heart rate. “Better?”
“Try to look over your shoulder before changing lanes.”
“Oh, right.” With a beaming smile, Paisley leaned forward and looked over her shoulder, but didn’t change lanes so much as swerve left.
Levi’s phone rang, and he automatically sent it to voice mail, but not before Paisley glanced at the screen, causing her to drift right, back into the slow lane.
“It’s against the law to be on the phone and drive at the same time.”
She looked at him as if he were dense. “My phone’s in my backpack.” As if to prove her point, a muffled ring came from the back seat.
“That was more of a reminder to keep your eyes and focus on the road,” he said.
“Gotcha,” she said—to him.
His phone rang again. And again, she glanced his way. Slapping her hand over her mouth, she laughed.
“Eyes on the road,” he said.
He disconnected the call, only to hear Paisley’s phone go off again. His niece didn’t look, but she did smile. “It’s probably Grandma. She’s calling to check on us.”
“I’ll call her back after I drop you off at home.”
“You know she’s just going to keep calling until one of us breaks and answers. And when that doesn’t happen, she’ll start calling my dads, which will freak Gray out. And since I’m driving . . .”
That left Levi.
He ran a hand down his face, wondering when his life had spun so far off course. Usually, he could deal with his mom, Paisley, and the other two guys who made up their unconventional family. It wasn’t like him to avoid responsibility, especially when that responsibility was family. But lately, he’d been so busy, he was sending more and more calls to voice mail, missing softball practice with his city league. He’d even slept through dessert at the last family dinner.
It must be exhaustion, he thought. He’d pulled one too many hours at the bar. The guys had been bugging him to hire more help, but what he really needed was another Levi, someone who could run orders, work the bar, and help Gus out in the kitchen from time to time. Especially if he wanted to get his boat ready to set sail.
His phone rang, and Paisley laughed. Levi sighed long and hard, knowing that a call was never just a call when it came to Ida Rhodes. It was a conversation, confession, and cross-examination. And that was if she’d had her second coffee.
He answered. “Hey, Ma.”
“Levi. Are you okay?” Ida asked, her intonation betraying her Greek roots. “I’ve been sitting here worried out of my mind, trying to reach you all day.”
“Told you,” Paisley mouthed to him.
“Eyes on the road,” he mouthed back, pointing two fingers in her direction, then out the windshield. “I’m fine, Ma. It’s just been one of those crazy days.”
“Too crazy to call your mother?” The worry in Ida’s voice was as real as the guilt she was serving up.
“I was going to call you after I took Paisley home.”
“The doctors tell me yours was the most painful birth they ever witnessed. Encouraged me to take the drugs, but I said no. No to the drugs. I will endure this for my son. And he doesn’t even answer when I call, leaving a mother to imagine the worst,” she said, and Levi could hear the fake tears Ida was working hard to produce.
Born on the island of Crete, Ida Rhodes took her oath as a Greek mother seriously. She held advanced degrees in worrying, micromanaging, and extreme couponing. And when it came to her family, her love knew no boundaries. Neither did her nosiness.
“I’m with Paisley,” he explained. “We are practicing for her driver’s test and—”
“Don’t tell her!” Paisley yelled, her foot more than tapping the brake.
Levi dropped the phone, his head jerking around at the cars swerving to avoid a collision. “Wide open road, kiddo. Wide open road. Remember, we go with the flow of traffic,” Levi said, more calmly than he felt.
