I Crave You - C.C. Wood Page 0,33

me. "This isn't a mom vehicle. It's an SUV! A very nice, luxurious SUV."

I gave the leather interior and the fancy dash a dismissive wave. "Doesn't matter how many upgrades it has, it's still a mom car. Maybe one step up from a minivan."

Brody stared at me, open-mouthed and speechless until the car behind us honked.

I reached out and patted his forearm. "Oh, bless your heart, darlin'. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you."

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to burst into laughter at the glare he shot me.

Then he groaned. "You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

I couldn't hold back the laughter anymore. I clutched my stomach and giggled for a few seconds before I managed to say, "It took you long enough to catch on. I guess I can attribute your sloth-like reflexes to old age."

"Ass," he muttered.

I giggle-snorted. "I had to do something. You were getting all mushy on me."

Brody rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I won't ever make that mistake again."

I chuckled to myself for a few minutes as he drove back toward Farley. But by the time he'd turned on to the main road that led to town, my urge to laugh had faded, leaving me a little sad for him.

I put my hand on his arm again and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad I could help."

Before I could move away, his palm landed on mine, holding my fingers closer to his skin. His fingers clasped mine for a brief moment before he released me, but I understood what he wanted to say anyway.

10

The next day, I woke up bright and early.

And in a great mood.

I came out of my room dressed in my yoga clothes with my mat tucked beneath my arm. I whistled a short tune. The sun seemed to shine brighter than usual and I felt rested. Full of energy.

"Damn, girl. Why are you so chipper this morning?" Sierra grumbled from the couch.

I leaned over the back and stared down at her. She was in the clothes she was wearing last night and her hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head. Mascara was smeared around her bleary eyes and there was a streak of lip gloss angling from the corner of her mouth to her cheek.

"What happened to you?" I shot back, glancing at the mess around her. "Did you host a stoner party here after I went to bed?"

There were junk food wrappers, soda cans, and tissues all over the coffee table. They surrounded her laptop as if they were offerings to a shrine for the gods of technology.

She moaned as she sat up and rubbed hard at the back of her neck. "Damn, I'm getting too old to sleep on the couch anymore."

"We're twenty-eight, not ninety-seven," I said.

Sierra rolled her head around in an attempt to loosen up her neck. "I feel ninety-seven most days. I'm just glad I didn't drop the laptop on the floor. Been there, done that, had to buy the replacement."

"Sierra, why did you sleep on the couch instead of your nice, comfy bed?"

"My boss called me with a work emergency so I spent the night working on it. Plus my feet are killing me. I don't know how you do it."

"You get used to it," I replied. "Does your boss call you with emergencies often?"

She shrugged. “I just got a promotion so he probably thinks he’s entitled to my time whenever he needs it. I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come,” she grumbled.

"You just got promoted?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me? That's awesome! We should celebrate!"

"Maybe while I'm here," she said, but she seemed unenthusiastic. I wanted to ask why but Sierra's eyes moved over my clothes and the rolled yoga mat under my arm. "You're going to work out first thing in the morning?"

Since she changed the subject, I let it go. For now.

I nodded. "We're going to my parents' for lunch, remember?"

She collapsed back against the arm of the couch and closed her eyes. "Ugh. Can't I skip it? I mean, your mom realizes I'm not actually her child, right?"

"No such luck. If I don't bring you, she'll just come by later."

"I have to go to the shop later."

I opened my mouth to offer to take the half-day shift she was supposed to work, but one of her eyes popped open and she glared at me. "Don't even think about it. You're taking