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Devin removes my carry-on-sized suitcase and shifts the remaining bags. “This will have to go in the back.”
Mrs. Hawthorne finally re-appears. “You two about ready?”
“Yeah.” Devin slams the trunk closed. “I just need to grab my other two bags, and we can go.”
Stealing a glance at me, he jogs over to his mom’s car while she joins me near the trunk. “I bought you some water and a few snacks.” She extends a shopping bag. “Dev eats like a whale. You’ll never waste a dime if you find buffets on the road. He’ll eat his weight in food, yours and his.”
“Athlete metabolism, I get it. The dancer stigma is to starve ourselves for our art, but most of us eat twice our weight when performing and practicing daily.”
Her gleaming smile grows as tears come to her eyes. “I’m so glad Willa suggested Devin take this trip with you, Nova. You two are going to have a great time.” She shifts and pulls the passenger door to my Audi open as Devin crosses the lot with the last of his stuff in hand. “Oh, you have to give me your parents’ contact information, so I can thank them properly for letting Dev tag along.”
“My parents are just grateful I’m not doing it alone.” Crazy enough, his being a boy rather than my former best friend had no bearing on their decision to back my trip.
“I’m sure. Hey, when you reach Oregon, we have a family friend there who would happily give you two a place to stay. It would give you a break from hotels. Devin has her information.”
Devin grunts. “Nova and her parents already have a complete road trip plan set. We’re not stopping at Tara’s.”
I ignore his emphasis on the word plan.Button pusher.
“It’s just a suggestion. After everything with Damian, I know she’d love to see you. I bet she’d make you some home-cooked meals. It would be a nice break after eating on the road for so long. And who knows when you’ll get another one. Lord knows you’re probably going to be living on ramen.”
Devin’s body tenses. Sensing he’s about to resist again, I cut in. “We can discuss it and see if it’s a good stopping point. Even with everything set, who knows what we’ll run into on the road.”
“Yeah, of course.” Sharon hugs Devin, then pulls back, holding his shoulders. “I want you to check in with me every day.”
“I’m not calling you every day, Mom. You’ll get tired of talking to me.”
“Never.” She ruffles his hair like he’s ten and tugs him into her arms again. “At least text or send me pictures so I know you’re breathing.”
“That I can do.” He kisses her cheek, his voice lowering as he murmurs, “I love you.”
“Nova.” Sharon’s vise-like hug is eerily similar to Mom’s two days ago. “Make sure you get my number from Dev, and don’t be afraid to call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“‘Kay. I’m fleeing before these tears make a mess of my face. I’ll see you in a few months, baby boy. Be safe.”
Devin backs into the opening of his door. “Absolutely. You drive home carefully yourself.”
“What’s this?” Devin asks, picking up the container I left on his seat and moving it to the dash while he climbs in.
My face heats. “Oh, um… I baked you some cookies.”
His brows dip low, then smooth as he pops the lid. “Your famous everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cookies?”
He’s dug one out before his seatbelt is buckled. I chuckle. “I take it Willa told you about them?”
“She sure did. They’re the whole reason I agreed to this trip. She said that you make the best cookies, love Clem, and are pretty.” He eats half a cookie in one bite. “Now I’ve confirmed she didn’t lie about two of those things.”
Tempering my smile, I start my vehicle. “I guess we can’t all be pretty.”
The twitch of his lips is my only reply.
Once on the road, we drive with the top down and wind in our hair. Worried about having time to clean up and find dinner, I push the speed limit. I’m not usually punctual, but I don’t want to be late for this. Mom pulled some major strings to get us these tickets.
Talking is difficult without the roof to dampen the rush of the wind, but I’m okay with that. Deciding against lunch, we dig into the snacks Sharon bought, and I blast my road trip playlist, not bothering to ask if Devin minds. The driver controls the music. For this being his first time in my car, he doesn’t waste time getting comfortable. Adjusting the seat, he rests his arm on the door and leans his head on the headrest like he’s been in this car a million times. But even with the pavement to focus on, his occasional stare warms the side of my face, distracting me in between the constant checking of his cellphone.
No need for stopping since I topped the tank this morning, the two hours are up in no time. I pull off Wacker Drive to the portico of our hotel. Our family stays at this twenty-seven-story property whenever we visit Chicago because of its proximity to the theater district and the views of the Chicago river. The building might look like a simple concrete high rise from the outside, but the modern decor and location make it a favorite place of mine.
