Page 5 of When We Had Forever
“Your friend said so.” His glance flickers toward Kate. Barely. Then back to me.
I flush, realizing he must have been listening to our earlier conversation. Attentively.
“And it’s a good thing you’ve got brains,” he continues, “because judging by that throw, a career in baseball’s off the table.”
He softens the jab with another non-troll-like smile. I slit my eyes in response, warming to Kate’s challenge as she places a second pie in my hand.
I’ve insulted Michael Drake, and now he’s insulted me back, and not only do I desperately want to win a ride tomorrow, but I’d really love to nail this guy in the face. Just for the pure, sadistic gratification.
“Keep talking.” I heft the pan. “You’ll regret it once I’ve gotten whipped cream up your nose. And if you actually knew anything about nerds, you’d know better than to taunt one. We’re secretly dangerous.”
“Oh, god. That’s right. Never mock a nerd.” His eyes widen. “Is it too late to beg for mercy?”
“Beg all you want. My heart is a cold one.” I toss.
“Guess I’ll just have to move, then.” He steps neatly from my missile’s path, leaving another forlorn tin glinting on the ground.
“Hey! You cheated!”
“I absolutely did,” he says, without a trace of shame. “How else can I make sure you lose your bet?”
Off to the side, Darlene frowns.
I grab my final pie. “Why on earth would you want me to lose my bet?”
Michael considers me with eyes that words liketurquoiseandaquamarinedon’t do justice to. A rabid urge to know what he’s seeing rises up. Why fixate on a black-haired, blue-eyed pixie who so often goes unnoticed?
“I want you to lose,” he says, “so I can take you to Seattle myself. I’m headed home tomorrow. It wouldn’t be any trouble.”
My breath hitches. I can’t believe he would just come out with that, like he invites strangers on road trips every day.
Darlene’s frown deepens. “Now, young man, I know you’re Benny’s friend, but—”
Kate steamrolls right over that, her tone shrill. “Excuse you, you weirdo! Mina’s not going anywhere with you. She doesn’t even know you.”
No, I don’t. But strangely, there’s something about this guy’s confidence and sea-bright eyes that makes me want to.
“I’d consider it,” I say, trying to stifle my rising flush, “except that this next pie’s going to hit you in the face. Which means Kate’s taking me.”
“Damn right I am.” She sounds horrified that I’m even having this conversation. “No way are you getting in a car with this guy, Mina. He could be a serial killer. He’s probably trying to get you alone so he can make you his next victim.”
A dry note sneaks into Michael’s smoke-and-bourbon voice. “That’s actually not what I’m going for. At all.”
I combat the heat blossoming in my cheeks by spinning my pie. Amazingly, I end up looking like an expert, even if I do splatter whipped cream against my neck. “Maybe so,” I tell Kate. “But how can he be sure I’m not a serial killer, too? A better one?”
“What? What’re you even talking about?” Kate gibes. “You’re a girl.”
“Are you saying women can’t be serial killers?” Michael says. “Because I find that very sexist.”
I smother a giggle. “Yeah, Kate. How sexist.”
She pushes her sunglasses onto her head and gives me an unimpeded version ofthe look, one that tells me she’s not at all pleased that this tourist and I have somehow ganged up on her. “Don’t be stupid. Just pie this guy hard enough to shut him up and let’s go. I’m taking you to Seattle tomorrow. I’ll take you to freaking Canada if you want. Just don’t go anywhere with this creep.”
I flash a smile of surrender. “Okay, okay. You’re the bestest friend ever.”
“Obviously,” she says, peevish. But her frown eases.
I turn back to Michael. “And you. Don’t you dare dodge this time.”
