Page 198 of Worth the Trip

“You can sing?”

“No.”

“That sounded like singing.”

“Nyla sings.”

“I know Nyla sings. I asked about you.”

I sighed. “I can sing.”

His delight came through immediately. “Aye, Hershey.”

“Do not get excited.”

“My woman got vocals, and I’m supposed to respond administratively?”

“You’re not hearing them.”

“Aight.”

I frowned at the windshield. “That easy?”

“You said no.”

The answer left nowhere for an argument to stand.

The song continued.

So did the road.

A minute later, I hummed again.

Landon said nothing.

Another few measures passed before I let actual words follow, barely above the music and meant more for myself than him. I sang through half the chorus before self-consciousness caught up and made me stop.

Landon remained silent.

“Now you’re being weird.”

His laugh came softly through the speakers. “I’m trying to act like my woman didn’t just sing to me after saying she wasn’t going to.”

“It was barely anything.”

“It was beautiful.”

I pressed my lips together.

“You behaved.”

“You said no.”

Simple.

I liked that.

“I changed my mind.”