Page 139 of Worth the Trip

Warren considered the plate in front of him, then nodded. “That’s fair.”

I laughed, and lunch settled after that. His parents asked about Crème & Chill without making me feel interviewed. Mama Brooks described the butter pecan so dramatically I promised her another pint, and Warren told me Landon had once attempted to repair a lawn mower at eleven and nearly dismantled half the garage. Landon denied several details. Nobody believed him. His knee remained against mine beneath the table, and every once in a while, his hand found my thigh while he contributed something unnecessary near my ear.

Thunder rolled outside.

Warren glanced toward the windows. “Forecast said scattered storms.”

Mama Brooks followed his attention. “Scattered where? That cloud looks organized.”

Rain answered her. It struck the roof hard enough that conversation stopped beneath the sudden roar, and within minutes, the street disappeared behind silver sheets while water raced down the windows. I checked the radar.

“That moved fast.”

Landon leaned over my shoulder. “What’s it saying?”

“That I should’ve packed a canoe.”

Lightning flashed. Thunder followed close enough to shake the dishes. Landon looked toward the road, then back at me.

“You’re not driving back in that.”

“I wasn’t planning to leave this second.”

“And you’re not driving in it later if it keeps building.”

I turned toward him. “That sounds suspiciously like a decision.”

“It’s a preference.”

“A strong one?”

His eyes warmed. “Very.”

“And what exactly would you prefer?”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice until the answer belonged to me. “You safe. You close. And, since you asked, somewhere I don’t have to keep pretending I haven’t wanted you to myself all day.”

My fingers found the pendant.

His eyes dropped to them, then returned to mine.

Mama Brooks looked through the window. “Cabin’s closer than the athletic complex. County keeps those roads maintained too.”

I looked between them. “The cabin?”

“About twenty minutes from here,” Landon said. “Generator. Food. Clothes. Everything we need.”

“And my car?”

“Safe at the field. I’ll bring you back tomorrow.”

Tomorrow.

That word had weight.

Landon waited. No persuasion. No explanation. Just those eyes on me while rain covered every available road home.

“You comfortable spending the night with me, Hershey?”