Page 82 of The Love Protocol
"What's wrong?" she demanded, already mentally cataloging the contents of their suitcases, wondering what essential item they might have forgotten.
Miguel looked up from his phone, face filled with genuine horror. "This," he said, thrusting his device forward between the front seats.
Elena took the phone, bracing for news of natural disasters or flight cancellations. Instead, her eyes landed on an article headline, which she read aloud for everybody: "Mountain Dew: Hard to Find in Maui."
She blinked at the screen, then at Miguel's distressed face, then over at Finn, whose expression was transitioning from concern to concealed amusement.
"Why is that even an article?" she asked, scanning the text below the headline. It appeared to be a blog post detailing one tourist's frustrated quest to find his preferred soda on the island, complete with a map of convenience stores he'd visited.
"It's a legitimate travel concern, Mom," Miguel insisted, leaning forward between the seats. "This guy went to seventeen different stores and couldn't find any. Not even Code Red!"
“I can’t believe they don’t sell it,” Miguel continued. “It’s an homage to island life!”
Finn glanced in the rearview mirror. “What does Mountain Dew have to do with island life?”
“I’m talking about Baja Blast, you fool!”
“Miguel Herrera!” Elena twisted in her seat. “Apologize right now.”
The realization hit Miguel’s face. He may have gone a bit too far. “I’m sorry, Finn,” he said with genuine regret.
“It’s okay,” Finn replied. “Though I should mention that Baja Blast is actually inspired by the Baja California region, not island life.”
Miguel’s hands were rubbing circles in his forehead in exaggerated stress.
Elena leaned toward Finn, lowering her voice. “Not helping.”
Finn’s shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. She handed the phone back to Miguel, trying to match his level of concern even as she was fighting laughter herself.
Ten minutes later, Elena noticed the comfortable quiet that had settled over the car. She glanced back to find Miguel asleep, head tilted against the window, headphones still on.
She nudged Finn’s shoulder. “Looks like he got over it.”
Finn checked the rearview mirror, a smile tugging at his lips. “There’s going to be hell to pay when he wakes up and remembers the unresolved crisis.”
Elena laughed softly. They drove in silence for a while, just the hum of the highway and the soft sound of Miguel’s breathing from the backseat. The urban scenery slipped by asshe watched through her window. Then she looked over at Finn in his ridiculous pineapple shirt.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Finn looked over with a smile she wouldn’t soon forget. “I love you too.”
His hand found hers, fingers intertwining as they drove toward the airport. They had two weeks of beaches and relaxation ahead of them.
But it would be hard to top this moment right here.
