pressed the gas hard, pushing the car far beyond the speed limit.
“Oh my god, we’re going so fast!” I raised my hands in the air even though the top wasn’t convertible. “What are we at?” I leaned over the center console to see the dashboard.
“One twenty.” He grinned, still driving with one hand.
“Wow, it’s so smooth. But you’re going to get a ticket.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care.”
“Woo-hoo!” I waved to all the cars we passed as he weaved in and out of traffic.
“Wow, you really are fearless.”
“No. I just don’t get scared.”
He kept going, moving farther away from the city so the highway was more open. It was incredible that we were pushing the car at such an intense speed, but the car remained so smooth, absorbing all the bumps in the road and gliding like a plane in the open skies.
I got comfortable in the leather seat and looked out the window, watching the landscape pass by, the tall trees and vegetation that were absent from the city. The only landscape available near me was the occasional park. The rest was all skyscrapers, sewer grates, and fire hydrants.
I loved the city. But I also loved the wide-open spaces.
He broke the silence. “What’s new with you?”
“Well, I found out my sister has the hots for Charlie.”
“No surprise there.” He grinned. “He was dominating that court like he was about to get drafted into the NBA.”
“But she said she knows she can’t, because of Kat.”
“Did you tell Charlie?”
“No.”
“Why not? He’s your best friend.”
“And she’s my sister. I’m so well connected to everyone that I can’t be loyal to one person without being disloyal to another.”
“If the guy has been into her for so long, I still think a heads-up would be nice…”
“And then what?” I asked. “He asks her out? We just forget about Kat?”
He sighed as he considered my questions. “I know the situation is complicated, but sometimes we all just need to be mature about things we aren’t happy about and accept them.”
I glanced at him, wondering if that statement applied to himself and our breakup.
“Maybe Kat needs to learn to accept this.”
“That’s a little harsh since she’s still in love with him.”
“No offense, but that’s not Charlie’s problem. Maybe seeing him move on will help her move on.”
“Or just rip her apart…”
“What if Denise and Charlie are perfect for each other? Like, get married someday perfect for each other? But it never happens because of a relationship that’s been over for months? That doesn’t sound right. If Charlie just wanted some ass, this would be a stupid idea, but from what he’s told me, she’s the real deal.”
“Yeah, I know.” I wanted him to be happy. I’d never seen him feel this way about someone before. Women were a dime a dozen. They were there just to keep the sheets warm. He was happy with Kat, but he never talked about her the way he spoke about Denise. And if there was a chance for him to have that, of course, I wanted it to happen.
“Maybe you should talk to Kat.”
“I…I don’t know.”
“You have to start somewhere. Because these two people not being together because of this other person sounds unfair.”
“Well, Denise said she had the hots for Charlie, would do a one-night stand if Kat weren’t a problem, so I’m not sure if she actually has real feelings for Charlie or if she just wants some D.”
“I guess that does make a difference. But I think you should tell Charlie. It sounds like, no matter what you do, there’s going to be drama, so you may as well put everything on the table.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I’m always right. Wise beyond my years.”
“Yeah…okay.” I rolled my eyes.
He slowed the car down once he approached a property secured by a large gate with iron bars. A brick wall surrounded the area, masked by the trees and bushes that discreetly hid it from view of the road. He pulled up to the security keypad and typed in a code.
The doors slowly swung inward, revealing a paved road that led to a two-story house with unobstructed views of the water.
“Wow, this place is beautiful.”
He drove forward down the path. There was grass on either side and, along the edges, blooming hydrangeas in colors of blue and purple. There were pink roses too, deep green bushes, and tall oak trees that cast shadows across the lawn. He parked at the entrance to the garage and killed the engine.
“Not a bad place to grow