can get annoying with it.”
“How? Do you sing at inappropriate times?”
Do I?
“I sing with my nieces and nephews,” she answered after a moment. “I know the words to every Disney song and enjoy getting into character while singing them too.”
“What the heck does that mean?”
“You know…all the hand gestures and dance moves…all of it. And the kids love it. Like seriously love it. I get to be fun Aunt Willow–which I love.” She let out a soft sigh. “As for inappropriate times…no. It’s not like I break out into show tunes at funerals or anything, but if there’s music playing, chances are I’ll be singing along.”
“Nothing wrong with that, I guess.”
This was turning into a great, big disappointment, and they were only in New Jersey. She was afraid to think about how much less they were going to have in common by lunchtime.
“Okay then. Next question.” And she read it and shook her head. “We should probably just skip this one.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t sing, I’m pretty sure you’re going to say you don’t cry either.”
“That’s the next question? If I cry?”
“No, it’s when did you last cry in front of someone and by yourself?”
“Well, then prepare to be shocked but…I cried a few months ago at my grandfather’s funeral.”
“Oh, Levi, I’m so sorry.” Without thinking, Willow reached over and placed her hand over his. Levi immediately linked his fingers with hers.
“He passed away a month before my grandmother’s 80th birthday. I think everyone in the family cried. So…I cried in front of and with them and…I even cried alone when I got the call.”
“As you can probably imagine, I cry around once a week. I cry over commercials or out of frustration. The last time I cried in front of anyone was…” She had to stop and think about it. “Oh, last week in front of the dogs.”
“The dogs? Really?”
She nodded. “I had taken the smaller dogs out for their walk and Gia stepped on something and let out the most pitiful little sound. I scooped her up in my arms and cried because I felt so bad for her!”
“O-kay then…”
“You think I’m weird, right?”
“I wouldn’t say that…”
“You’re definitely regretting being on this trip with me. I can tell.”
“I never said that, Willow.”
“You don’t have to. I can tell. You have a very expressive face.” When he turned to look at her like she was crazy, she waggled her finger at him. “There! Right there! You think I’m crazy!” Sighing, she went on, “It’s okay. I get that a lot. I guess it’s why I don’t date a lot. Most guys don’t want someone who’s as…emotional as me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being emotional,” he countered. “And honestly, I don’t think you’re weird.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. I’m not used to someone being so honest about themselves. I think this test or quiz or whatever it is you want to call what we’re doing really is kind of fascinating. I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation like this with anyone I’ve ever dated.”
“Me either.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“You should probably stay focused on the road.”
He laughed, and it was low and gruff and so masculine that Willow almost hummed dreamily.
“I meant can I ask a question that’s not part of the quiz.”
“Oh, um…sure! Why not?”
“Actually, I have two questions.”
It was hard not to tense up. It was one thing to be the one in control of the questions and to wrap her head around them before she had to answer, it was quite another to have no idea what was coming her way. So instead of internalizing and freaking herself out, she said, “Lay them on me.”
“How did you get the name Willow?”
“Gammy named me.”
“And she’s the one we’re going to see, right?”
“Yup.”
“How come she named you?”
“Because she told my parents they were picking uptight names, and she thought my siblings were a little on the serious side. So she challenged them to let her pick my name and they would see if the name really affects our personalities.”
“So you were like…an experiment?”
“I never thought of it like that, but…I guess.”
“And that doesn’t offend you?”
She shrugged. “Like I said, I never really thought about it.” They drove in silence for several minutes. “What was your other question?”
Levi seemed to consider his words carefully before asking, “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?”
Okay, clearly he hadn’t thought this through because once Willow shared her most embarrassing thing, he was going to have to do the same.
“Falling in front of you kind of