Page 38 of Worth the Trip

“I was beginning to wonder.”

His laugh came low and easy.

I surrendered the gallon. “Only until we reach the parking lot. And don’t mistake this for proof I needed help.”

“I wouldn’t disrespect your preferred narrative like that.”

“You’re enjoying this entirely too much.”

“I am.”

At least he was honest.

He adjusted the gallon in one hand, the ruined chocolate in the other, and looked at everything still balanced against me. “You got a book bag, tea for a church picnic, artwork, lunch, and somehow still committed to proving you had it handled.”

“I did have it handled before I backed into you.”

“You were lost.”

“I took a wrong turn.”

“Behind a restaurant.”

“Because of the festival sign.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “So we blaming infrastructure.”

“I’m not blaming anything.”

“Hershey, you got a very generous relationship with accountability.”

I stared at him. “You’re wearing my tea.”

“Exactly. I’m invested now.”

Another laugh got away from me.

He noticed that too.

Of course he did.

“You always this pleased with yourself?”

“Nah. Sometimes I exceed expectations.”

“That was awful.”

“You laughed.”

“I did not.”

“You definitely did.”

I pressed my lips together.

His eyes dropped there for half a beat before returning to mine, and something about the shift changed the temperature between us without changing the weather.

“Stop studying me.”