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Plugging the code into the keypad, I entered through the sliding door. “Remington?”
The house was quiet and dark. He better not be out front smoking. I grabbed a bottle of window cleaner and a roll of paper towels, then headed to the front. When I opened the door, I came up short.
“What the fuck…?” A white Rubicon Jeep sat in the driveway, not a drop of bird shit on the exterior. Did he have company over?
I moved toward the garage and called for him again, “Remington?”
Hale stepped out from behind the Jeep, Elara perched on his hip, rattling a set of keys. “Surprise!”
What the hell was going on? I looked at the garage, but the door was closed. “Huh? Where’s your dad?”
“He’s in New England with Odette.”
“But he just called me…”
“Ma Ma Ma Ma,” Elara called as Hale crossed the drive.
“Do you like it?”
I looked at the Jeep and then back to him. “Um, sure. But I’m a little confused. Did you buy this?”
“With the money from the interview.” He took the keys from Elara and handed them to me. “It’s yours.”
My jaw dropped. “What?” I’d never owned a brand-new car. And I wasn’t used to big surprises—at least not the good kind. “You got me a car?”
“Take it for a spin.”
“You got me a…car. Like, for real, an actual car.”
He laughed at my shock. “You needed something more reliable.”
And something spider-free. I looked back at the Jeep and at him again. “You got me a car!” I rushed to the door and pulled it open. Buttery white leather with blue piping covered the seats. “Look at this radio!” I finally had cordless Bluetooth. “You even got a new car seat for peanut!”
I flipped buttons and turned dials, scrambling around like a squirrel on crack. Hale stuck by my side, vicariously enjoying my excitement.
“The interview really paid for this?”
“For the most part.”
I shook my head. He was like a money magnet. “I love it. Thank you.”
“Here.” He dropped the fob into the cup holder. It was attached to a glittery unicorn keychain. “Let’s go for a spin.”
Once Elara was fastened safely in her seat, I backed out of the driveway. The Jeep was much larger than what I was used to, but surprisingly smooth on the road.
Hale took my phone and hit a few buttons. A moment later, my music synched with the vehicle’s system and The Emotions Best of My Love came on. I couldn’t stop smiling as we drove with the windows down, the wind blowing in my hair.
“Does the top come off?”
“It opens. When it’s warmer and Elara’s not in the back you can try it out.”
“Hale…” I looked at him, in awe of his thoughtfulness. “This is the nicest gift anyone has ever given me.”
“Technically, you bought it for yourself.”
“No, I didn’t.” If the magazine had only interviewed me I would have barely been able to afford an inflatable raft. Everyone in the world wanted a piece of Hale and the rest of the Davenports. This was all him.
“Rayne, when are you going to realize that everything’s changed? People want to know you. They want to love you as much as I do.”
