“I’m surprised he’s letting me drive it. Maybe he’ll feel more comfortable if you escort me,” she said when they were finally alone.
“Bill Davis over at the Ford dealership across the way called me boy once. I figured George’s old-school approach was the lesser of two evils.”
“Yikes. Good call. Well, I guess I’ll see you later?Bachelorettestarts at eight sharp, I’m told.”
“Yeah. If you want a good seat and some food.”
“Are you cooking?”
“I’ll be firing up the grill. Do you have any food allergies?”
“Nope. All good. Can I bring anything? An expensive wine, perhaps?”
“We have wine,” he grumbled at her.
Lily-Grace leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“It was my pleasure. You gonna go cruise downtown now? Show off your new ride?”
“You know it. Actually, I’m gonna text Jenny and see if she wants to drive over to the pond so we can blast some Spice Girls.”
“You should check out Little Mix. You might enjoy them.”
“Who?”
Jesse pulled out his phone and sent her a link to an album with four girls strutting in front of a purple sunset.
“Jesse Pleasant approved?”
“Absolutely.”
She didn’t want to leave him, which was definitely a sign it was time to go. Also staring into Jesse’s eyes in the parking lot of a car dealership wasn’t as romantic as it sounded. She said her final goodbye, then kissed him on the cheek one more time before she climbed behind the wheel of her Tahoe. She’d definitely go over the manual before bed. She had to get to know her new whip and of course she had to name it.
She waved at Jesse as he drove out of the lot, then triple-checked to make sure Bradley and Mr. Martin weren’t watching her as she snapped a few selfies. She sent the one featuring her biggest smile to her dad.
Baby got her own wheels!
It would take him a smooth fifteen minutes to text back if he didn’t just call her first. She sent the best of the bunch to Jenny.
I’m on my way over. I gotta show you my new car!!!!!!! *breakdance gif.com*
She and Jenny would never outgrow their sixteen-year-old bullshit.
Yes bitch! Come pick me up.
I have to run out and get green onions.
Lily-Grace synced her phone to the car, then safely stowed it away before she headed toward her friend’s house.
Chapter 13
Jesse stopped by the grocery store. He went back to Pleasant Lane to check on his grandmother—after he knocked, of course. He changed his clothes and took care of the dogs, and still he couldn’t shake the warm feeling radiating from his chest.
He was still pacing up and down their road, with Clementine and Eucalyptus by his side, when Lilah pulled up in Zach’s truck. She rolled down the window and frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Thinking. I might need to talk to you about something.”
“Oh good. I need to talk to you too. Gimme one sec.”
