“Well, last year, the characters ran off before they were supposed to, and we found them—” She shifts in her seat. “Anyway, I don’t know if we can go off that. Unless you want to get that into the characters. I could follow your lead, whatever you’re comfortable with. This is going to be weird, isn’t it? I’m sorry, it’s weird.”
We stop at a red light, and I turn to face her. There’s no way she knows the invitation she just gave me. All I can think about is how I’d love nothing more than an excuse to kiss her senseless and have her carrying this torch for fucking once.
But again, the whole “don’t make this friendship weird” neon light blinks on over her head.
I grip the steering wheel and slow the indecent thoughts I have of slamming her back against a wall in the museum where the fair is taking place. “Do you want to feel it out tonight? See what we’re comfortable with? When one of us goes too far, we can let the other know that’s our limit.”
“Honestly, after a few shots, that might be a nice way to ease into it. I haven’t acted in a while, and I’m worried I’ll be rusty.”
“Same. Same.” I nod.
And she laughs in return. “I need to warn you I used to get really into character when I did these kinds of things.”
“Do whatever you think is best. I’m sure I can handle it.”
“Okay. I’m kind of excited.” She wiggles in her seat. “Give me the rest of the ride to get into character. I need to meditate on it. Yes. I am silly. I fall easily in love. I—” She peeks at me with one eye. “When is go-time? Are you sure this isn’t going to be too weird?”
“We’ll be fine. Let’s say we’re Jack and Aulie until we cross the threshold of the bar.”
“Deal. Okay. Getting back into character. You’re lucky yours isn’t too far from the real Jack.”
What the hell? Does she really think that?
“Indeed,” I say, biting the inside of my cheek just to elicit a different pain.
We ride in a terse silence for the rest of the ten-minute drive.
“Park here.” Aulie points to an open space a block down from the bar. “The lot gets tight, and your definitely-overcompensating for something car would probably get stuck there until closing.”
“Ouch, hey! What do you have against my car?”
“It’s just a bit much, don’t you think? Your sports car would have been fine up here.”
“My sports car wouldn’t fit my family in it if we all wanted to go somewhere together.”
“Oh.” Aulie blinks. A slow smile creeps across her face, and my eyes linger on upturned lips. She leans in. “I’m on to you, you know.”
I fight to catch my breath. Of course she is, ever since I saw Emy and Gus together I haven’t been able to get my shit under control.
“On—on to what?” I stammer, entranced by the curve of her neck, and slope of her bare shoulder. God, my lips can’t be this close and not brush against hers. What the hell is this torture?
“You, Jack Parker, are secretly a bigger softie than I am.” With her devious grin, she boops my nose and I shake out of her spell.
I fashion a hard slash to my mouth to hide my current decimated state. “I thought I was an ass like Wickham.”
“With women, sure.” She shrugs. “But with your family you’re a big ol’ squish. And I love that about you. If you have a hat and don’t want to be recognized, grab it.” She opens her door and gets out while I’m left processing the fact that there’s something about me she loves. The level of my gaze naturally follows her in her dress that hits barely below…
Yup. If I look there much longer I’ll be the furthest thing from soft. Reaching into the back seat, I grab the flannel and hat I bring on every outing in case I want to go under the radar.
Since my suspension roughly a week ago, I haven’t shaved, and the hair on my face covers a good portion of my cheeks and jawline. Hopefully, it’s enough to obscure me somewhat. I wanted to get out and drink and forget, but there’s still the part of me that hates crowds and people and regrets this decision.
Walking to the bar, Aulie huddles against the wind. What was she thinking coming out without a jacket? At some point tonight, this flannel will find its way onto her shoulders.
I stop at the door, grabbing the handle and holding it open for her.
“Last chance to back out,” she whispers.
“We’ll be fine.”
