Page 147 of Drive
Jacques shook his head. “It’s just over amile.”
Rainey’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, but, you don’t have to stay in a hotel. We have plenty of room,” sheprotested.
This time, Gloria shook her head, but she did so with an easy smile. “Your sister’s not well. She doesn’t need a house full of guests.” She put her hand on top of Ray’s head. “Especially not one as energetic as this littleguy.”
Jacques had to give credit to Gloria. Putting Holi’s welfare first — even if it was just to avoid staying in a strange house — was the right thing to say to Rainey, who bit her lip and was about to speak when Ray chargedin.
“But Mom said that if Holi was okay, maybe there would beonenight when I could have a sleepover with you.” His eyes behind those glasses were huge andhopeful.
Again, all of the adults fought their giggles. “Absolutely, Ray. We’d love that,” Raineyswore.
Ray shrugged. “Maybe even tomorrow night after I go get my bloodtested.”
Rainey gasped at his words, her hand jumping to her heart. Without speaking, her eyes moved from Ray’s to Gloria’s to Jacques’s, and he realized by the way they shone again that she couldn’tspeak.
He tucked her against him and pointed everyone toward the escalators. “C’mon. Let’s go see if our bags are down yet,” hesuggested.
“Yes,” Cliff agreed. “And I need to check on our rentalcar.”
* * *
Fifteen minutes later,Gloria and Cliff were in their rental, and Jacques, Rainey, and Ray were in Holi’s Mini Cooper, leading the way with Rainey comfortably in the driver’sseat.
When she’d started up the engine and reversed out of the parking spot, Jacques’s smile of pride was slightlyobnoxious.
She shrugged off his admiration. “It’s like believing a lie,” she explained as they pulled onto Surrey Street. “Once you know the truth, you can’t go back to falling for the lieagain.”
“I can still be proud of you,” he murmured, “for confronting thetruth.”
He watched the corner of her mouth turn up, but she said nothing. Then she glanced into her rearviewmirror.
“I hate that they’re spending money on a rental car,” she lamented. “That, the hotel, and the plane tickets must be costing afortune.”
“We didn’t buy the plane tickets,” Ray blurted from the back seat. “Jacquesdid.”
They were stopped at the light at Pinhook and University, and Jacques watched Rainey’s jaw drop. Mouth open and eyes wide, she craned her head to take in him and Ray inturn.
Jacques looked over his shoulder. “Way to spill the beans,Ray.”
“Oh…” he said, his innocent focus bouncing between them. “…sorry.”
Jacques looked back at Rainey, and this time her eyes weren’t just brimming with tears. The drops spilled over, one afteranother.
“Oh my God, Jacques,” shesobbed.
His hand captured her cheek. “Rainey…” He tried to swipe the tears away, but they just keptfalling.
“This isreal,”she said, sounding astonished, her eyes widening onhis.
He frowned. “What’sreal?”
“You… us… Youloveme.”
Jacques felt something in his chest slam home. His heart squeezed even as he laughed. “Of course, I love you. I’ve been telling you that for weeks,” he said, the words rushing like a tidal wave. “I love you more thananything.”
She gripped a handful of his shirt over his heart. “I loveyoumore than anything.” She hiccupped a sob and shook her head. “And I don’t think you’re going to forget about me when you start touring and millions of girls throw themselves atyou.”
He tipped back his head and laughed again, joy getting the better of him. “No, Rainey, I’m not. I promise.” It would be the easiest promise he’d ever keep. “Two weeks without you was hard because I wanted you with me. I’ll always want you with me. You. Not anyoneelse.”
