“I don’t require a weapon,” Grim states.
Calix snorts and rolls his eyes. “Shotgun means she’s calling the front passenger seat,” he clarifies.
“Why would weapon choice determine where you sit?” Grim takes a few steps and opens the front door, motioning for me to enter.
“It’s just something people say, because the person in the passenger seat would carry the… never mind,” Calix mumbles, giving up trying to explain the outdated idiom to Grim.
The rear doors slam as the guys get in. Grim is behind me, and I feel his knees press into the seat. I instantly feel bad for making him sit back there, since he’s so much taller than me. When I turn around, I see both Grim and Calix maneuvering to get comfortable. “Maybe we should just have Grim carry us there?”
“Second thoughts?” Gunnar sounds hesitantly eager.
I bite my bottom lip, considering. Calix leans forward, wrapping his fingers around Gunnar’s seat. “No, we’re driving,” he insists with a slight edge to his voice. I glance back at Grim. He’s settling into the seat, his knees spread wide, but he doesn’t look too uncomfortable. “It’s just a couple of days,” Calix adds more persuasively.
“You sure?” I bounce my gaze between the two men behind me.
Calix leans back and gives me any easy grin. “Positive, there’s plenty of room back here.” He rubs the space between himself and Grim in invitation, understanding the reason for my change of heart. “In case you get tired of the grump,” Calix teases in an exaggerated whisper.
Gunnar growls, and the engine of the SUV roars to life as I let out a carefree giggle. Gunnar hits the gas and kicks up a flurry of pebbles from the driveway as he makes a quick turn to get us out to the main road.
The house is all shut up and dark as we pass by, and a quick stab of longing hits me. I’ve rarely been away from my home. Although I’ve always yearned for adventure, I never really thought about not coming home at the end of the day and seeing Dare in the pantry or having Bloody Mary for a cup of tea. I trace my fingers over the window, watching my refuge disappear into the darkness. I really hope none of my baddies think I’m abandoning them.
I take control of the radio, plugging my phone into the system a few moments after we get onto the highway. The guys have all been fairly quiet so far. “Any requests?” I peer around the cab, including all three of them in my inquiry. Gunnar shrugs one shoulder, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I can’t believe I don’t know what kind of music you like,” Calix mutters to himself while shaking his head.
“I like everything… well, almost everything. Depends on my mood.”
“What are you in the mood for, Dami?” Calix makes it sound filthy and I love it.
With a grin, I answer, “You know me, I like a little of everything. Can’t seem to make myself choose.”
Calix chuckles and lowers his chin a bit. It changes the planes of his face and makes his hazel eyes seem much more predatory. I contemplate climbing over the center console and onto his lap, but I think better of it. We just got on the road, and knowing Gunnar, he’ll have a dad crisis and threaten to turn the car around.
I peer at him from the corner of my eye and giggle at the thought. I wonder if I would get a spanking. He turns his head and gives me an accusatory glare, almost like he knows what I’m thinking. I bite my lip and return to fiddling with the radio. Being in the car with these three for hours is going to wreak havoc on my hormones.
Scrolling through my music, one of my favorite songs catches my eye. As soon as I hit play, the quick tempo of drums fills the air and my body is already swaying to the beat. Once the guitar starts, I close my eyes and let the music consume me. I’ve often wondered if any of the members of this band are baddies, since so many of their songs reference monsters.
The song ends fairly abruptly, leaving the car in silence. The sound of a snicker starts slowly, but within three seconds, more snorts of reserved laughter fill the interior of the SUV, and it’s not just coming from one of them.
“That was adorable,” Calix comments, then he really starts laughing. Gunnar gives up trying to hold in his sniggering and chuckles along with Calix.
“What’s so funny? That’s one of my favorite songs,” I snap defensively. Gunnar peeks at me from the corner of his eye and smooths out his face, controlling his features.
“I just…” Calix can’t finish before he erupts into another round of laughter, his head thrown back, and he has his hand over his abdomen. I spin so I can glare at him.
“What?” I demand again.
Calix wipes the corner of his eye and finally takes a look at my face. He sobers, but his grin isn’t fully squelched. “Don’t be mad. I said you’re adorable.” He gives me those fucking puppy dog eyes he’s perfected. I narrow my gaze on him. He looks around like one of the other guys might help him. When he comes up empty, he says, “It’s just, you’re so beautiful, everything about you is perfect, but your singing…” He twists his mouth just a little, not saying anything else.
“What about my singing?” Gunnar clears his throat loudly, but no one else makes a sound. “Well?” I prompt.
Calix’s eyes widen the slightest bit, and I watch his Adam’s apple bob when he swallows. He takes another breath then wets his bottom lip. “Uh, it’s nothing.” He’s trying to dismiss me, but I’m not letting this go.
“You were cracking up over nothing?” My tone is disbelieving.
“I could just tell you loved the song so much,” Calix replies, backpedaling, but he already mentioned my singing.
“I believe he was talking about how off key you were,” Grim interjects, as placid as ever. He was the only one who didn’t laugh.
