I hip checked him.“Are you sure?I’ve seen the way you drive.”
Not a pinch over the speed limit.My Josh drove faster than that, although there was a fair amount of scolding from me about it.
Mark’s giant laugh filled the small space.“Ooh, I like her.Don’t let this one get away.”
Tristan choked on nothing.
We escaped before Mark started planning a wedding.
“Well, he was fun,” I said, climbing into the van and closing the door.
Tristan started the van and tapped the screen to send us onto our next stop.“He’s something.”
He maneuvered the van onto the road, and within a few minutes, we were driving on the Trans Canada once again.
“So you really think I’m a slow driver?”A playful expression pushed the corners of his eyes up.
“I’m just saying, going ten over won’t give you a ticket.”Ten percent of the speed limit was generally acceptable unless you got pulled over by a cop on a power trip.
“So I should go faster?”
I shrugged gently.“Maybe a hair.”
The van accelerated gently, and I was surprised to watch the speed rise over and above the posted limit.
“Look at you go.Do you think we’ll make Victoria tonight?”
“We should be in Merritt before ten now, especially since I am essentially speeding.”He pointed to the odometer for good measure before he gripped the steering wheel again.“But Victoria is still seven hours away, so no, we won’t make it tonight.”
“Oh, okay.”I pulled my ponytail free and redid it, after giving the spot on my head a solid rub.“Well, then what?”
“I stay hyped up on caffeine and an energy drink, and you can sleep.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can’t sleep in a moving vehicle?You’re a nurse.Surely, you’re able to drop and sleep for a power nap if needed.”
“I can’t let you stay awake while I sleep.Something about that feels all wrong.Maybe I could drive part of the way.”
He laughed and covered it quickly.
“Hey, I can drive safely, thank you very much.”
“It’s not that I don’t think you can drive this beast, it’s that it’s dark.In the mountains.Where wildlife can pounce onto the road without a notice.”
“I can be careful.I haven’t had an accident in over four years.”It had almost been five years since I got rear ended.
“Well, we’ll play it by ear after Merritt, Ms.Speed Demon.”He scrolled through the Spotify playlist.
“Actually...”I smacked his hand away.“It’s my time to choose.”
He tipped his head back.“No, it’s not time for Corb Lund.”
“Hey.I’m saving that musical masterpiece for later.”I winked and shuffled through the options.“Did you know there’s a road trip compilation?”
“Let’s hear it.”
I pushed the play button and kept a long lingering gaze on him.Always so in control, it probably rattled him to no end for me to have suggested driving.But it was only fair, and right.
