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Behind us, Julia’s bright laughter sounded. I glanced at her through the reflection of the rearview mirror. Cash had his good arm over her shoulder —his bad arm was in a sling as a precaution— and was whispering something in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Julia laugh even harder.
Warmth bloomed in my chest. It made me happy to see her happy.
“What are you two conspiring about back there?” I asked, my eye on the road.
“I was just letting her know there’s a comfortable bed in the back of the RV,” Cash teased. “But with the way you’re driving, it’ll be way too bouncy to get up to what we want to get up to.”
Julia’s cheeks flushed pink. “Oh, stop it. That’s not what we were talking about.”
“True, but now it’s all that’s on my mind. What do you say, baby?” Cash pumped his eyebrows suggestively. “Care to jump on the bed with me?”
“No jumping on the bed,” Red and I said together.
Cash scoffed. “You guys are no fun.”
Julia leaned in to kiss Cash on the cheek. “Maybe later,” she stage whispered. “Besides, we’ll need a much bigger bed for what I have in mind.”
He smirked. “Naughty, naughty. I like this side of you, Thatcher.”
We crossed state lines into Arizona around the four-hour mark. If we continued along Highway 15 at this pace, we’d reach Vegas in another two.
At some point, Red slipped his seatbelt off and vacated the passenger chair. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take over?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Don’t trust my driving?”
“Not one bit. Boone’ll kill me if there’s so much as a ding on the RV.”
Red huffed. “Suit yourself, Callaghan. I’m gonna lie down.”
A few minutes later, Julia ducked under the overhead bunker and slipped into the vacant seat. She pressed a small bite of brownie to my lips with a smile. “Eat,” she said casually. “I’m taking your sister’s warning about low blood sugar very seriously.”
I parted my lips and allowed her to feed me. The bit of brownie was delectably sweet and soft. I was convinced that nothing would ever compare to Irene’s home baking. “Thanks,” I mumbled around my mouthful of food.
The soft click of a camera’s shutter sounded. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Julia with her camera in hand, the lens pointed directly at me.
“Please, no paparazzi,” I said with a chuckle.
“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re camera shy. I need some pictures of you for the spread.”
“I thought it was supposed to be about Red and Cash. Why would you need a picture of me?”
“Because now that you’re their coach, it’s only right that the people know who to attribute their success to.”
“Their success is their own,” I stated firmly. “I’m just here to make sure they stay on track.”
“Surely that deserves some recognition.”
“I’m not here for the recognition. I’m only here to help.”
Julia smiled wide. “Okay. Then maybe I’m just looking for an excuse to get a few pictures of you.”
“Fine,” I breathed. “But don’t you dare make me say—”
“Say cheese!” she announced chipperly. The flash went off, the shutter clicked. “Aww, you’re scowling in this one. Let’s try again. Say raspberry!”
“Julia—”
