Page 297 of Ruthless Court

“There it is again.”

“What?”

“The door thing.”

“You want me to shut it?”

“No.”

She climbs inside.

I close it.

By the time I circle the truck, she’s smiling to herself.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re terrible at nothing.”

“I’m observing.”

“That usually ends badly for me.”

She buckles her seat belt.

“Where are we going?”

That is an excellent question.

I start the engine.

I’d planned dinner after the open mic.

Then we split a grilled cheese and some kind of rosemary flatbread Bellwether served between performers.

A bar feels wrong.

A party feels worse.

Taking her back to Briar ends the night too early.

I pull away from the curb.

Hannah notices we’re heading away from campus.

“Should I be concerned?”

“Probably.”

“Kane.”

“I’m thinking.”

“You’re driving while thinking. Historically dangerous combination.”

“I need somewhere that doesn’t ruin the night.”