Once we are all in our respective seats, Theo turns to us. “Buckle up, we’ve got a two-hour drive ahead of us.”
When the engine roars to life, I double-check that my seat belt is buckled. Tightening the seat belt as far as it can go across my lap, Theo must notice out of the corner of his eye because he begins to laugh.
Quiet enough for only us to hear in the front seat, he says in a low voice, “Don’t worry, I’m an excellent driver.”
“I’ll be the judge of that, thank you.” My response prompts his smile to grow wider, and I look out the window to avoid blushing any more than I already have.
Something tells me this is going to be a long car ride.
Forty minutes into the drive and Beth is passed out against the window. She never makes it through a long car ride without falling asleep in the first hour. Reaching back, I carefully take her book from her hands and mark her page with her bookmark. I’m sure to slip the book into her backpack for safekeeping.
When I bring my attention forward, I notice Theo smiling at me.
“How long have you two been friends?” he asks.
“Since kindergarten.”
This is good. We need to focus on getting our story straight, and I could use some conversation to make this car ride go faster.
R&B music has been playing softly throughout the car, and at one point, I rolled down the window for some fresh air. Other than the music and the sound of the freeway, the silence has been suffocating.
“I have a friend like that, Jessie. I’ve known him since preschool. Our moms were best friends,” Theo replies.
“Were?” I chuckle at his past-tense phrasing.
“Yeah.” He pauses. “My parents died when I was six. It’s just been my brothers and me since then. Well, and Jessie’s parents helped out here and there too.”
I feel like an absolute ass for asking. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea.”
My hand touches his shoulder, and when he glances at our connection, I quickly pull away, worried that I’ve crossed a line.
“It’s alright. That’s what this car ride is for, isn’t it? So we can get to know the basics?” I relax when he throws a grin my way.
My phone buzzes, and I force my attention away from Theo to check the incoming message.
Dad
Hey, Pumpkin, I hope you and Beth have so much fun at the lake house! Text when you get there. So proud of you for taking some time off and relaxing. Love you!
Sienna
Thanks, love you too! Text you when we get there.
Wincing, I send the text message, then put my phone away to avoid any further communication from my parents for the rest of the car ride.
“My music choice isn’t that bad, is it?” Theo asks.
“What? Oh no. It’s not that.” I pause, not sure if I should continue to complain about my very minimal issues with my parents after he just told me his have passed.
He continues the conversation when I stay silent. “Then what is it? Like I said, we have to get to know each other a little bit to make this work.”
Sighing, I confess, “I sort of told my parents that Beth and I were renting a lake house with some other girlfriends for the next two weeks instead of telling them the truth.”
He raises an eyebrow. “I take it you’re not the type to lie to your parents?”
I hide my face in my hands. “No, never. My dad has begged me to take a break from job-hunting and use this summer to relax. He thinks that’s what I’m doing when I will in fact be doing the opposite.”
“Well, look at it this way. Yes, your main focus is to get a job, but there will still be plenty of time to relax over the next two weeks. So it’s only a half lie if you really think about it.”
