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"Enjoying what?"she asked innocently.
"Tormenting me."He shot her a quick glance and caught her grinning.
"This song is so silly it always makes me laugh."She sang a few lyrics off-key, to further get under his skin.
After a few more seconds, he turned the volume down."Do you mind?"he asked sharply.If he clenched his teeth any harder, they’d crack, and he'd need a crown.
"Sorry I disturbed you."She used two fingers to zipper her mouth and tapped her feet to the music.When the next song played, she bopped her head toJingle Bell Rock.Like a teenager might.Like she used to do when she thought he was studying too hard or being too serious.
Jason’s fingers tapped along the steering wheel, then stopped immediately.He hoped she hadn't noticed."Now that's more like it," she said, singing along merrily.
"Just great."His scarf was suffocating.Or maybe it was his companion that made his chest congest.
"Why are you acting like sour grapes right now?"
"I'm not.Why are you so happy?"It had to be because she was moving on to greener pastures, maybe Scotland, where she could learn the highland fling.
"I have a happy nature.You should try to adapt one, it's good for your health."
He knew what she was doing and wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
Therefore, instead of anger, he goaded her on.“You chose not to kiss me and yet you were jealous of the nurse a few minutes ago.Odd, isn't it?"He gave her a quick peek, conscious of the slick road.
"A woman has the right...”
He didn't let her finish."So do men, and since you've made it clear you aren't interested in pursuing a friendship, I'm taking your advice and will be dipping my wand into the hospital pool."
"That's not what I said.I never mentioned you dipping anything."She giggled and turned her head.
"Close enough.But you...you look like one of those smiling emojis."
Her mouth gaped."I do not!"
He grinned at the image in his mind."Yes, you do."He felt a little pang.He'd always loved to tease her and make her laugh.Their relationship had been so easy, neither of them had to work at it.It just was.Now, he was stepping around on eggshells, afraid to say or do anything that would push her away forever.And he wasn't ready to let her go.
His smile faded and he swallowed hard.The sooner he got her home the better.He would be free of her, his mind at ease, then he could breathe again.
"Don't scowl.Come on, sing with me."She templed her fingers together, as if pleading."I know you want to.Jingle Bell Rockwith me."
"Are you on some kind of happy drug?"he snapped, shooting her a glance.
"No!But last night was wonderful."She gave a dreamy sigh."I woke up blissfully happy."
His gut clenched."Anyone I know?"
"What do you mean?"Steph twisted in her seat and gave him a scorching look."You think I can't be happy on my own?You think I hooked up with some guy?"She crossed her arms and glanced out the side window, but not before he saw the pained expression on her face.
"I'm sorry.I know you better than that."She refused to acknowledge him."Come on, Steph.I didn't mean to be such a downer."The car went into a slide, and he straightened it out just as they hit the bridge.He maneuvered the thirty-foot one-lane crossing, the icy water swirling below.
“You were the one who overslept this morning.I was ready.”She pouted for a few more minutes then shrugged."I'm in charge of the music."She turned on a country station and the volume up.
He grimaced."They won't be singing any of those twangy songs about a bar and a woman, I hope."
"You didn't mind them before.We'd crank them up and make out under a blanket in your father's old Mustang."
Jason laughed."Aww, the good old days.Nothing would have stopped us then."He glanced at her."Don't you wish we could turn back the clock?"
"For us, I do.Not for Jessica.”She wrapped the fringe of her scarf around her thumb then let it go.“Can't we pretend for a minute to be back there again?"
