Page 39 of That Summer
“Hey,” Lucas said, interrupting her brooding.
“Hey.” She removed her gaze from the calendar.
“You okay?”
“Totally.” She forced a smile as he placed a cup of coffee in her hand.
He took a long drink from his mug. “I need to leave you alone for a bit today.”
“Thank god,” she said in jest, smiling at him. “I thought you’d never leave.”
In truth though, except for Saturday nights when he was at the track, he hadn’t left her alone for more than a few of hours since the Benedryl moment. No matter where he was, he checked in. To make sure she was okay and wasn’t up to anything that would be a detriment to their plans. She knew she was being watched, and rightfully so. She’d earned it and in a small way, it warmed her heart to know he cared.
“But I have an idea for tonight. It’s been school-school-work-work all week. Time to kick back a little bit because my brain is completely fried.”
She stared at him, wondering what he was dreaming up in that head of his. “Fun sounds good. Like real fun—not car crash video fun or anything like that.”
The thought of a night of dancing at Urban DC lit her up. She hadn’t been out to let loose in a long time. Her hip had improved enough over the summer with the incessant physio, she wouldn’t even need a drug to prevent any pain from showing up. Not that she had any percs anyways.
“Good.” He raised his mug in the air. “We’re gonna attempt a longer drive though.”
“I thought you said we were going to kick back a little? A long drive sounds like work.” She cocked an eyebrow at him and tipped her head to the side.
“Nothing I think you can’t handle.”
“That’s a double negative.”
“Anyway,” he said and leaned against the wall while she sat at the table. “I’ve been thinking. For the journey to the track, it’s over forty-five minutes. Now, clearly, we’ve finally broken that nasty five-minute mark.” A large grin spread across his face, lighting up his grey-blues when he spoke. “We’re making excellent progress but there’s no way you’ll make that length of trip in one shot, so I plan on breaking it up into smaller segments.”
“Like how? Take a week to get down there?”
“Yeah, because that’s not impractical at all.” He gulped down the coffee. “I’m gonna break the trip up into manageable fifteen minute drives. I think that’s within reach.”
“Barring no traffic.”
“Of course. Then, plan for lots of break time at each stop. Figure that way, it should be easier.”
“Our break time will likely be longer than the drive time.”
He shrugged. “So be it. I’ll plan accordingly. We’ll leave here at three or something, maybe even earlier.”
She sighed and thought about it.
Itwouldmake it easier. And we’re close to the fifteen-minute drive time, being that we’re at ten minutes now. By the end of next week, fifteen should be doable. Totally. It’s a long time, but with some healthy breaks…
“You know, it just may work.”
“Excellent,” he said. “We’ll do a dry run on a much smaller scale tonight, if you’re game.”
“If I’m game? Hmm, I may have to check my schedule. I don’t know if there’s much room in there for long drawn-out fun.”
“I’m pretty sure your evening’s free and clear.”
“Yes, but my afternoon is full. Physio at one, shrink at two.”
“Well, that’ll give you time to unwind and relax as I’ll be back at eight to pick you up.”
“I look forward to whatever you have planned.” She saw the excitement dancing in his eyes and quickly refocused on her coffee. “Or maybe not.”