loud groan. I think, once, there was an, “Oh, God, this isn’t happening.”
When I questioned her about what the hell she was doing, her only answer was a shrieked, “Shut up and drive!”
I went so far as to ply her with Slim Jims and a king-sized Snickers at our one and only bathroom stop, but nothing helped. She’d eventually tell me what was wrong, and if she didn’t, I had no qualms about wading into the quicksand in her head to pull her out. With nothing but the open road, the hum of the engine, and the wind in my hair, I decided to first go for the tried-and-true method of letting her nap it off.
And sure enough, after another fifty miles or so, she took her scarf and sunglasses off and fell asleep with her head propped against the window.
“Dad!” Jack yelled, running down the front steps as I put the old Chevelle into park.
Damn, I had missed that kid. I hated to be “that dad,” but I was going to have to have a talk with Lauren’s parents before their next beach trip. A week was too damn long.
Lex’s eyes flashed open and she bolted upright, already sporting a giant smile and furthering my belief that there wasn’t much a nap couldn’t fix. Judy and David were standing on the front porch, waving as though we’d just come back from war, and I climbed out in time to scoop Jack off his feet before he crashed into the side of the car.
“Hey, buddy!” I laughed, planting him on my hip. I would get about thirty seconds of holding him like a baby before he started to complain.
“Guess what! Guess what!” he said, already squirming to get down.
I pretended not to notice. “What?”
“Grampa bought a Jet Ski and I got to drive it.”
“Rented!” David corrected from the porch, curling his wife into his side. “I only rented it.”
Jack gave him a blink, which I knew all too well was supposed to be a wink, and then let out a soft giggle. “He totally bought it, but then Mimi said it was a death trap, so now we’re pretending that he only rented it so she doesn’t bury him in the sand and never come back for him.”
Lex came walking around the hood, her bag already thrown over her shoulder. “He let you drive the Jet Ski? You’re, like, four. He still won’t even let me drive his car to the grocery store and back.”
“I’m seven and three eighths, thank you very much. I guess that means he likes me more than you.”
She faked a wounded gasp and dropped her bag. “Your words slay me, Jackie Boy.” She dove in to tickle him, and Jack finally wriggled out of my grip.
I put him down and he took off at a dead sprint toward the beach, laughing at the top of his lungs, with Lex hot on his heels.
I shook my head, but that was basically business as usual when those two got together. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I fucking loved it. Crazy as she was, she was good for Jack. And most of all, Jack was good for her.
I grabbed her bag off the ground and hooked it over my shoulder before making my way up the drive.
David extended his hand in my direction for a quick shake before taking his daughter’s bag. “So, riddle me this, son. What kind of blackmail do you have on Alexis that landed you behind the wheel of the old Chevelle?”
I shot him a wink. “Now I can’t tell you or she won’t let me drive home. Though, if you happen to mention to Cal that you saw me driving it the next time you two talk, that would be much appreciated.”
He chuckled.
Judy dragged me into a hug. “Well, I for one am happy you two came. You sure you can’t stay for more than one night?”
“I wish, but we both have to work on Monday. I promise we’ll be back for Fourth of July. Especially now that I know David has a Jet Ski.” His eyes flashed wide, and I smiled as I finished with, “That we can rent.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Judy chirped. “Hudson, you head down to the water and hang out with Jack and Alexis for a bit. David and I will be down shortly after he helps me with the chicken salad lettuce wraps and explains why it cost ten thousand dollars to rent a