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“Well, lucky for you, I’m back in your life. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”
“Can I at least control the radio?” She flashed me wide eyes and fluttered her eyelashes, a move that once had me falling at her feet.
I laughed. “Sure.”
An adorable squeak slipped from her lips, and she bounced in her seat. If I knew something as simple as giving her control of the radio would make her so happy, I would have gladly offered it sooner.
She got to work, and before the first note even drifted out of the speakers, I knew exactly who it was going to be.
“Ella Fitzgerald,” I said.
“You know her voice soothes me, and I need all the soothing I can get.”
“It’s not going to be that bad.”
Phoebe barked out a laugh that was full of sarcasm and no humor. “You haven’t been around for the last decade and a half. You think Marion was bad back then?”
“Whose fault is that? I wasn’t given a choice.” The words were out before I could stop them.
Phoebe froze, any sense of joy completely void from her pretty features.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
She held her hand up. “It’s fine.”
“But it’s not. I upset you.”
“Only by using my own actions against me, so technically, the only person to blame is me.”
“Still, it wasn’t right. I know the next few days are going to be hard, and you don’t need me taking cheap shots.”
“If you decide to drive in the other direction, I won’t stop you.” She forced a smile, but it barely showed.
“If that’s what you want. I will.”
She bit her lip, a world of unspoken words flashing in her greenish blue gaze. “Could you imagine? Not only did I have Marion add another plate to the guest list, but then I have the nerve to not even show? I’d never hear the end of it. It’s tempting, to be honest.Reallytempting. But I can’t.”
“Why not?” I asked. She had no obligation to go. If she was this worked up about it, why even bother?
“Do you want the cordial answer or the truth?”
“The truth. Always.”
“My mother raised me to be the better person. So, despite my desire to not be the better person, I can’t. All these years later, and I’m still scared I’ll disappoint my mom.”
I reached across the console and rested my hand on her knee, rubbing lines with my thumb. “Phoebs, your mom would be so proud of you. Never doubt that.”
“I hope so.”
“She is.”
Her gaze met mine, and a sheen of unshed tears pressed against her lids. I gave her knee a final squeeze and put the truck in drive before I did something stupid like kiss her pain away.
After an hour, I had enough of Ella Fitzgerald. It had nothing to do with the silky-smooth voice, but everything to do with the fact that Phoebe was using the soulful singer to avoid conversation. Finally, I snapped the sound off.
“Hey!”
“Are you planning on ignoring me this entire trip?” I asked.
