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Shifting in his seat, Caleb nodded. “Good. I hope they’ll pay you what you’re worth.”
I laughed, growing more comfortable as we moved into easy topics. “I’m an unskilled entry-level employee who’s working the job because she likes seniors. If they paid me my worth, I’m pretty sure Jesse would have to turn his current shoes into sandals to last a couple more months.”
“Bullshit.” Caleb easily maneuvered the car out of the lot and onto the highway. “Entry-level employees matter a hell of a lot more than companies will say oftentimes. Plus, I’ve spent every summer since I was fourteen working in my family’s company and there are some things you can just tell about a person after being in a business for a while. Anyone would be lucky to have you. You have a charming energy that customers, or in your case, seniors will love. Don’t sell yourself short.”
I turned to face him, a wide smile on my face. “I have a charming energy?”
He glanced over and flicked his eyes over the length of my body. “Among other things.”
My entire body flamed red. “Wow.”
He merged onto a side street and even though he didn’t look back over at me, I could see his smile growing wider. “I’m glad you got the job. You set ‘em up and knocked ‘em out. Taylor couldn’t get in your way.”
I grunted at the sound of Taylor’s name. “Thanks to you and Andrew and Jack. I just had to drive two mostly naked, hammered old ladies around on a golf cart and I don’t think I would’ve been as good at it if Jesse was there, being traumatized.”
Sitting at a red light, Caleb turned to me. “Excuse me?”
“It was wild, Caleb.” I giggled. “The manager calls them the Trashed Twins. They caused a man to run over his aid. I saw more shit in those two hours than I have in the last four years back home.”
“I like the way you say my name.” A car honked behind us and he raised an eyebrow as he watched me. “Say it one more time?”
I looked back at the traffic behind us. “You’re blocking traffic.”
His smile was devious. “Seems so.”
My eyes widened as I realized he had no intention of moving until I gave him what he wanted. It should’ve annoyed me, but instead I found my blood plumping harder and my lips pursing to let him know I didn’t take orders. So quickly we’d slipped into a playful back and forth, one I’d only ever had with friends after years of friendship.
Caleb rested his hand on my headrest and licked his lips. “You just say it so sweet in that accent of yours, Olive.”
I smirked and crossed my arms over my chest. The honking behind us grew louder and more incessant. “They sound like they’re getting pretty mad.”
He didn’t break eye contact with me. “I’m sure they are.”
I shifted as I started to crack. Whatever game we were playing, I was new at it and didn’t have a clue what it was or what we were doing. It just suddenly felt like foreplay and there were a lot of angry drivers involved for that to be the case. I looked away finally and bit back a curse. “You win.Caleb.”
Speeding away from the scene, he laughed at my sulky expression. “Don’t pout, Olive. You just made me very happy. Tell me more about these Trashed Twins now. Please.”
I did so happily and was so caught up in telling him every detail that I didn’t notice he’d pulled over until he asked me what I wanted to drink. I looked up and saw that we were at Sonic. Shaking my head, I pulled my foot under me. “Nothing. Thank you, though.”
“Pick something.”
“No.” I narrowed my eyes at him, understanding we were in another standoff.
“You pick something or I’m going to order you something that you probably won’t like and then will feel obligated to drink anyway.” He’d already stabbed the button to start the order and right away a woman’s voice called back, asking him what he wanted. “Well, I know I want a Route 44 water, but my companion here is being stubborn about ordering something.”
I gasped and reached over to grab his arm. Afraid he’d say something worse to embarrass me, I quickly said the first thing I could think of. “Cherry Coke.”
Caleb laughed and rolled up his window after placing our order. Looking back at me, he leaned closer. “Was that so hard?”
I nodded. “Excruciating.”
“Brat.”
“Worse things have been said.” I looked down and saw that I was still holding his arm so I pulled my hand back and looked away. “So. What type of company does your family own?”
“It’s… It’s a lot of things, I guess. My great-great grandfather started it and the family has built it up over the years.” He sat up straighter as he spoke about it. “We have different businesses under the same parent company now. My dad’s a huge sports guy so he opened a division of the company that dabbles in sports interests solely. My great grandfather was a big candy guy, so there’s a candy company under the conglomerate that makes the best fucking gummy bears I’ve ever tasted.”
My stomach growled and I pressed my hand over it. “Sorry. Gummy bears do that to me every time. I love them. Your great grandfather and I would’ve been good friends.”
