All the Feels (Spoiler Alert #2)(65)

Marcus: Well, you’re not wrong



Marcus: Obnoxious, but not wrong



Marcus: You doing okay? After everything that happened last night?



Alex: Great!



Marcus: …



Alex: No lawsuit + no fines + no press junket = ROAD TRIP!!!



Alex: With Wren, obvs



Marcus: Obvs



Marcus: I hope you noted the sarcasm there, because it was distinct



Alex: Nope, I spotted nothing but sincerity



Alex: Anyway, on Wednesday, we’re heading up the coast to Stacia’s wedding



Alex: I plan to woo her along the way in my own unique, extremely charming way



Marcus: So you’ve finally realized you’re into her?



Marcus: Thank fuck



Marcus: I thought we’d both be sitting in our rockers at a nursing home before you noticed



Alex: Self-reflection is not my strong suit, dickwad



Alex: Also, please note how I didn’t make a dirty joke about the “into her” bit



Alex: This is just part of my transformation into a gentleman worthy of Lauren’s affection



Marcus: She seems fond of you as you are



Marcus: If I were you, I’d just stay an asshole



Alex: I should probably be offended, but we both know it’s true



Alex: Wish me luck, dude



Marcus: Good luck, drive safely, and let me know how it goes



Alex: It’ll be great



Alex: As I always say, CLEAR EYES, SMARTASS, CAN’T LOSE



Marcus: You’ve literally never said that before



Alex: Let me rephrase



Alex: CLEAR EYES, SMARTASS, FUCK YOU



Marcus: Love you, man



Alex: FINE, I LOVE YOU TOO, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW



Marcus: Yes, very much so



Alex: Good, you deserve it



Alex: Still, fuck you





20


“I’M EXCELLENT COMPANY ON ROAD TRIPS.” ALEX AIMED A blinding grin Lauren’s way before turning back to the traffic. “Charming. Witty. A veritable fount of wisdom and knowledge. So stunningly attractive that I’m essentially my own tourist attraction and/or scenic overlook. By the time we’re amongst the redwoods, you’ll be having such a great time, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without me.”

It was just after noon, and they’d only recently hit the road. Because … Alex.

Despite his insistence on an early start time that morning—“You already made me wait until Wednesday, Wren, which is essentially next year”—he’d had them sit down for one of Dina’s delicious, huge breakfasts before they departed. Because, he claimed, Lauren owed him the consumption of croissant-based French toast stuffed with a heavenly cream cheese–strawberry mixture, since he’d defended her.

Then he’d confessed that he hadn’t packed yet, and insisted on modeling way-too-flattering outfit possibilities for her and parading around shirtless as he changed, and …

Well, they’d gotten a late start. But as he’d pointed out, this was meant to be a vacation, and they had plenty of time and nowhere in particular to be before Saturday.

It was wonderful, frankly. All of it.

The travel plans. The uninterrupted time to talk. The lack of divided loyalties. The car.

The shirtlessness.

“I’m going to have a great time? That’s odd.” She angled herself toward him. “I seem to recall a brand-new bumper sticker on your very expensive car reading—and I quote—NO FUN. In all caps. I assume it was purchased for this trip?”

The sight of it had stopped her dead in her tracks that morning, as she’d approached the mini-castle. Alex had pulled his car up just outside the front door, and she couldn’t miss the decorative addition. Not with its bright red letters against a stark white background. And yes, the car itself was that same shade of cherry red, but the sedan was also sleek and pristine and entirely unsuited to smartass bumper stickers.

Upon second thought, maybe the combination of car and sticker was perfect for Alex. Slick lines and gorgeousness leavened by a healthy dose of the ridiculous.

“The bumper sticker’s an homage,” he declared loftily, his attention on the road, his eyes hidden by his stylish sunglasses. “A nod to our past as Nanny Clegg and her irascible yet irresistible charge.”

“I see,” she said dryly. “I didn’t realize it was an act of historical commemoration. My mistake.”

The sun blazed overhead, and the car’s air-conditioning battled valiantly against the July heat. The rolling hills surrounding them were parched and golden, with patches of green from brush, and she couldn’t wait to get even closer to the water and the ocean breeze. But to be perfectly honest, she’d barely managed to glance outside the passenger window so far. Because Alex might be aggravating, but he was also right: He was irresistible.

He’d modeled countless outfits for her, all of them glorious on him. But in deference to the temperature, he’d chosen to wear a plain white tee today. Or at least, it would have been plain on almost anyone else. On him, it was an artful garnish on a perfectly plated dessert.