connect, and I have the strangest feeling. I want to lean forward and kiss him. The way his tongue makes a lazy lap over his top lip, I think he knows. He might even let me.
The car moves forward at a crawl. I snap my head to the left and Milo leans back into his seat, removing his hand from my leg.
The spot he covered feels cold now in comparison.
I open my straw and shove it into my drink, grateful I have something to distract me from the stupid mistake I wanted to make.
Oliver passes out the other drinks while we wait for the food to arrive.
A few kids from school pass in front of the car and Dante gives them a nod after they shout out, “Hey guys!”
Oliver is more welcoming, he waves and answers with a, “What’s up?” One of the guys comes over to the passenger window and leans down to look in the car. He does a double take when he sees me in the backseat. I move my head, pretending to look outside.
“So… what are you guys up to?” he asks slowly.
Dante doesn’t even look in his direction.
“Just grabbing a bite to eat,” Oliver replies easily.
“Here you go. Sorry about the wait guys.” The girl from the drive-up window leans down and whispers conspiratorially, “I threw in a dozen cookies, don’t tell my boss.” Her smile goes mostly unnoticed, as Dante is busy handing food bags over to Oliver.
“Thanks,” he mutters dismissing her.
Her eyes roam over the car and the other guys crowded around it before she turns back toward the lobby.
“Going,” is Dante’s only warning as he lets his foot off the brake and we roll forward slowly.
“See ya!” Oliver yells back to the guy he was talking to. ”You don’t always have to be such a dick,” Oliver accuses while pawing through the fast food bags.
“Didn’t think I was,” Dante replies.
Milo’s head tilts close to mine. “They can argue about anything,” he mock whispers.
“I thought it was you two that were the old married couple,” I whisper back pointing between Milo and Ollie.
Milo’s mouth drops open. There’s a second when I think I might have offended him before he lets a grin free, shrugging his shoulder into mine.
“What are you two whispering about? They’re whispering back there Dante,” Oliver rats us out like a toddler.
My eyes immediately go to the rearview mirror where I see Dante already watching at me. Milo bumps his shoulder into mine again and Dante tracks the movement before looking away.
“It’s your fault they’re back there together. Now you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
Oliver produces a long fry from the bag and leans over the seat. “Here,” he says while focusing on me.
“I didn’t get any fries.” He shrugs, then leans forward more, bringing the fry close to my lips. I open to take it on instinct.
Oliver grins at me. When I pull back he holds on to the fry, so it breaks off and he’s left holding a small piece.
Milo leans forward and snatches the bite right from Oliver’s fingers, using only his mouth.
“Knock it off Ollie,” Milo warns while chewing.
Feeling chastised, I swallow the salty fry and look down.
“You’re no fun,” Oliver mumbles as he crumples the top of the bags, closing the food up. Now that I’ve had one bite I’m starving. I hope we get wherever we’re going soon.
Dante turns down a tree lined blacktop road. I can’t see any houses, but I see a few mailboxes and driveways leading off each side.
He slows to a crawl then turns left on a single lane road. After a few hundred feet, the trees give way and I see a fairly large house stationed in the middle of a clearing.
It’s a cheery yellow with a wraparound front porch. There’s even a swing and a few rocking chairs with thick padded cushions. The front entry has a wooden screen door with an intricate design. The upstairs has a row of long windows, and above that are two arched windows, indicating an attic.
It’s quaint and homey looking. It’s completely opposite of what I’d expect Dante’s house to look like. He heads up the drive and around the side of the house, parking in front of a large detached garage.
The car doors open as soon as the engine is off and the quiet invades my ears, leaving a ringing in its place.
Dante shoves the seat forward and his hand thrusts down to me. I take his palm, stepping out