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I frowned at the speed-o-meter, noting forty. “You’re right. I do apologize.” I removed my foot from the pedal that seemed to want me to slam it all the way to the ground and allowed the carriage to slow.
No, not acarriage. A vehicle or car. I appreciated that Kate was teaching me the terms I needed to fit in with human society.
“We’ve driven enough, don’t you think?” she said in a thready voice. “We could turn around and return to the B&B.”
“You’re correct. I have had one hour of driving, which was recommended for each session in the manual I studied last evening.” I took her hand, squeezing it, watching her face. “You’re very sweet to help me with this. I can’t wait until I can—"
Her other hand snapped out, jerking the wheel to the left before I drove the vehicle up onto the curb—for the second time.
“Turn it around,” she said, shaking her head. She shot me a smile. “You’re actually doing very well. It takes time to learn how to drive. We’ve got lots of time to teach you.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll ask Vrok to take you into town when you select your wedding dress. He can drive you or you can operate the vehicle while he rides . . . shotgun.” The term she’d used for where she sat. It made me laugh.
“I’m still not used to having a bodyguard, but it’s nice letting someone else drive.” She nudged her head, reminding me to pay attention to where I guided this vehicle. “If you’d like, we can stop at a coffee shop and get some drinks to have with our dinner at the park. Does iced coffee sound good?”
“I haven’t had it. Many new experiences today. Driving. Iced coffee.”
“You’re going to love it all.”
Under her direction, I took the vehicle into a parking lot and slowly drove around the back of the building, approaching the road again. Stopping completely at the sign, I looked both ways before cautiously pulling out among the other cars. When the DMV delivered my card that gave me permission to operate a vehicle such as this, they also gifted me a fascinating book full of many rules related to the operation of said vehicle. I’d studied it before taking a carriage to the B&B to collect Kate.
“The coffee place is up here.” She pointed. “Put your blinker on and when you can safely turn, do so. Park in any spot—that would be between two lines in the lot.”
I did as she requested, proud of how smoothly I handled this car. It would be a good vehicle for Kate to drive. She would be safe surrounded by this much metal.
“I obtained tea at this place once,” I said, cringing as we stepped inside. “I’m afraid it was right after I’d arrived in the human realm, and I may have made some mistakes.”
She linked her arm through mine. “No problem. I’ll teach you all you need to know.”
We joined the line, moving slowly toward the staff person I’d spoken with when I came here that one time.
When he saw me, he scowled. “You.” His finger stabbed in my direction. “Get out of here.”
“We’re here for coffee,” Kate said in a more pleasant tone than I felt was warranted.
“He’s a shoplifter,” the male growled. “Tried to walk out without paying the last time he was here. Seemed to think a coin he insisted was gold would be enough. Like I’d believe that? I didn’t fall off the potato truck yesterday.” His hand flapped our way. “Go. Don’t come here again.”
Silence descended in the big open room. Someone snickered behind us.
“Let me tell you, buddy,” Kate snarled, glaring at the male. “First, he’s an elf, and he’s new to our world, which means he deserves our respect and patience.”
The guy sputtered, frowning. “Well, I—”
“Second, he just wanted tea,” she half-shouted.
“He got his—”
“Third, his coinwasgold, so you messed that one up.” With a huff, she pivoted, still holding my arm and taking me with her. Her voice lifted even higher, and she spoke to the room in general. “You’ll get much better food at Rylee’s bakery,Love at First Bite. Her muffins melt in your mouth, and her coffee comes from freshly ground beans she imports from Costa Rica. It’s much better than anything they servehere.”
She took me outside, where she stormed back and forth in front of her vehicle. “The nerve of him.”
“You’re amazing.”
“What?”
