talking to the DJ.”
I mutter a curse. Now I have two choices—pretend like everything’s fine or make a break for it. I don’t want to talk about their ridiculous wedding. Two people could not be more ill-suited for remarrying.
I glance over at them. They’re probably requesting a sappy love song. My gut churns, bile rising in my throat. Sydney’s heading this way, which means I need to keep my distance from Eli. Shit. What to do, what to do.
Eli’s brows furrow over concerned eyes. He speaks by my ear. “You look like you’d like to be kidnapped right about now.”
“Yes!”
I take the lead, skirting the dance floor, Eli close behind. We make it all the way to the open barn doors before we’re stopped by a stern Mrs. Ellis blocking our way, arms crossed. Even the General can’t stand in my way this time.
“I hope you’re not going to hide behind the barn,” she says. “It’s a bad example for two such prominent members of the community, especially a police officer.” She narrows her eyes. “There are children here, you know.”
I’m brought right back to my teen years, sneaking around with a boy. “Bye, Mrs. Ellis. Don’t tell my parents what a bad girl I am. They’re dancing over there, and I’m out of here.”
Her jaw drops. “Your parents? Together?”
“Disgusting, isn’t it?”
I don’t wait for a reply, rushing past her and out of the barn, taking a deep breath of cool air.
“Jenna!”
I whirl to face Sydney, my heart beating double time.
“Where are you going?” she asks, looking from me to Eli and back again. “What’s going on?”
My words tumble out in a rush. “My parents showed up. I’m just getting some air.”
“With Eli?” she asks tightly. “How about—”
Eli cuts her off. “I’m taking her for a drive. Nothing better than a drive in a convertible to clear the head. Better go back in before the General thinks we’re throwing a party out here. Can’t be setting a bad example for the kids.”
Sydney doesn’t laugh; instead she turns to me. “I can take you for a drive.”
“You don’t have a convertible,” I say. “I really need to go before my parents see me.” I turn and walk briskly through the parking lot, Eli by my side. I don’t dare look over my shoulder, but I can feel her eyes on me. It’s just a ride. We’re not even together anymore, but part of me feels like I’ve betrayed her by not admitting everything that went on before. There’s no point now!
A few minutes later, we’re on our way. Eli puts the convertible top down for our drive through a neighboring town over windy roads, past horse farms with rolling green hills, and the occasional home. I shake my hair out in the breeze. It’s wonderful. Exactly what I needed. Slowly, the tension drains from me.
I turn to him. “I feel like I can breathe again.”
His lips curve up in a small smile. “Good. Breathing’s important. Music?”
“Yes!”
He turns on the radio, blasting a classic rock station. I tap my fingers in time to the music, taking in the beauty of the setting sun, streaks of orange and pink across the sky, when a song comes on that gets me singing, Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me.”
I turn in surprise because Eli’s singing it too with real enthusiasm. The lyrics suddenly mean more. He wants me to want him, and I do. I really do.
He turns down the music after a while. “It’s getting dark. Where to after this? You want me to drop you at home or…”
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I know that’s the right thing to do, even though I don’t want our time together to end just yet.
He gets serious. “Sure, no problem.”
He pulls into someone’s driveway, backs into the street, and turns the car back toward Summerdale. Fun time’s over. I’m quiet the rest of the way home. My mind is whirling, agitated by my parents and everything they put me through only to get back together in the end. It brings back a cold fury I haven’t felt in a very long time.
Eli pulls into my driveway, turns off the car, and turns to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I will be. Thanks for the fast escape. I guess I’ll get my car from the barn tomorrow.”
“I could give you a ride over there.”
“No, I don’t want to risk a run-in with my parents.”
“Okay.”
Our eyes lock for a moment, the longing in me making it difficult to look