Page 29 of The Law of Attraction
“Don’t mock my Beaver Nuggets,” Olivia said. “They’re delicious.”
His lips pressed together like he was restraining himself from making an inappropriate comment. “If you say so.”
“Just wait. You’ll see. They’re crazy addictive.”
“I’m sure they are.” His eyes were shining with suppressed humor, and she couldn’t help smiling back.
The cashier bagged up Olivia’s items, and they carried their spoils out to the car. Compared to the air-conditioned store, the air outside felt like a hot, sweaty gym sock that had been peeled off a runner’s foot. There were some things Olivia missed about Texas, but the humid summers were definitely not one of them.
“I’m almost sad we don’t need gas,” Adam said as they drove past the massive row of pumps on their way out of the parking lot.
“Told you this place was better than that grungy truck stop two miles back.”
“You were right. I’m glad I trusted you.”
Olivia felt her cheeks heat. It was the second time he’d admitted she was right, and it gave her all kinds of feelings she didn’t want to think about.
“How about some music?” she asked, casting about for a distraction. They’d had the radio off before so they could hear the GPS directions, but the remainder of their route was fairly straightforward.
“Okay, but the driver has veto authority.”
“Fine.”
She pressed the power button and country music blared out of the speakers at them.
“No,” Adam said immediately.
“Cool your jets. I wasn’t stopping there.” She hit the seek button, moving through the stations until she found one playing an old Nirvana song that took her back to elementary school. “How about this?”
“Acceptable.”
Olivia settled back in her seat and dug into the sausage and cheese kolaches she’d bought for herself while Adam sucked on his Icee. Fortunately, there was no repeat of the O-face incident in the close confines of the car.
She was on her last kolache when he finally took notice of her food. “What is that?” he asked, throwing a curious look her way.
“It’s a kolache.”
“A what?”
“It’s a Tex-Czech pastry. Sausage wrapped in sweet dough.”
“Like a pig in a blanket?”
“Sort of. They make sweet ones too, with fruit and cream cheese.”
“Smells good.”
She’d already eaten half, but she held out what was left of the kolache in her hand. “You want to try?” She didn’t know how Adam felt about eating something her mouth had been on, but she figured she ought to at least offer, out of politeness.
He glanced at her half-gnawed sausage kolache, then back at the road, seeming to think about it before holding out his hand. “Yeah, okay.”
As she passed him the rest of the kolache, she wondered if he was going to make that face again. The one he’d made over the Icee.
She wasn’t sure what she would do if he did.
She watched him closely as he bit into the soft dough. He didn’t close his eyes this time or throw his head back, which was probably a good thing since he was driving. But that blissed-out expression came over his face again and he broke into a grin.
“That’s fucking delicious,” he said.
