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Fuck.
I rip my eyes from her. “We’ll be fine.”
“It sounds like you’re in a bind for time. Ubers usually take a solid thirty minutes to get here because they’re all tied up around the university at this time of day.”
“Can’t she take us, Dad?Please.”
My jaw tenses as I fix my attention on Ms. Everett. “This doesn’t change anything. Just because you give us a ride doesn’t mean that I’m going to give you any leniency.”
“I’m not doing it for leniency.” She looks hurt. “I’m just being nice. I don’t have to pick up my brother from the afterschool program for another forty-five minutes, so I should have plenty of time.”
I stare at her, considering going in and asking Bert for a ride. But I know that’ll put him out—and I doubt he’ll let me borrow his car.
The hopeful expression on Connor’s face pushes me over the edge. “Fine.” I sigh. “Let’s just go.”
“Yes!” My son pumps his fist in the air and follows my student across the parking lot.
She leads us to a beat-up red sedan.
Great. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Ms. Everett taps the top of the car, giving Connor a big smile. “She’s old, but she’ll get you where you need to go.” He looks at my son, opening the door for him. “Trust me. My dad took really great care of her. He was a mechanic.”
Was?
No. I don’t care. Not my problem.
I slide into the passenger seat.
The interior is surprisingly clean, and there’s some sort of middle school pickup tag on the dash—must be for the brother she’s mentioned being at school.
There’s no way in hell the woman is old enough to have a kid in middle school.
My son leans forward from the middle seat as she starts the engine. “So, what’s your name? I’m Connor.”
When the engine roars to life, it sounds steady, which is more than I can say for my currently stuttering and coughing mess of a luxury car.
“Melody.” She smiles at him over the rearview. “But you can call me Mel. Where am I taking you?”
“The Cricket Café,” I answer for Connor. “Over by the airport.”
She nods. “I’ve never been, but I know where it is.”
“Great!” Connor calls from the backseat. “That’s perfect. Stomp the gas and let’s go!”
Melody giggles, shaking her head as she puts the car in reverse, backs out, and heads off. “Are the two of you planning to have an early dinner?”
And she’s a talker. Just wonderful.
“No.” Apparently, Connor has no problem with her talkative nature. “Well, Dad isn’t eating with us. It’s just me and my mom.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.”
She is clearly confused, but polite enough not to pry. Of course, the lack of a wedding band on my ring finger should be answer enough, but she hasn’t looked my way once since getting in the car.
“I need to meet Mom before her flight. She is leaving again to meet her fiancé.”
“That’s probably enough sharing, buddy.” I glance back at Connor, giving him a warning look. “Ms. Everett is one of my students at the college. She doesn’t need to know about our lives.”
