The Fastest Way to Fall(56)

She nodded and laughed. “Yes. And, they’re not that bad.” She glanced out the window.

I nodded.

“And I’ll hop out of the car before they can pounce on you, I promise. My mom is like a dog with a bone when there are new people to feed. You’d be stuck there for hours.”

“Ah, but what if Calvin is there?”

“Just shield me. I haven’t seen him since high school, and he’s a nice guy, but . . . no. His family usually comes to these things, so hopefully he’s not in town.” Her laugh filled the space, and I relaxed in my seat, contented. I liked hearing her laugh in my car. I liked hearing her laugh anywhere.

“What if he turns out to be wealthy?”

She rolled her eyes, which buoyed me. “I’m sure my mom would have mentioned it, but I don’t care.”

At this point, I didn’t think it would make a difference to her that I owned FitMi. We were only ten minutes from our destination, so it definitely wasn’t the time for confessions, but I would tell her about my role in the company when she got home. That way the air would be clear. In the moment, though, I returned to Calvin. “What if he’s really good-looking, too, though?”

“Really good-looking and wealthy?” She paused. “Well, then you probably need to get back to the city immediately. Relieved of duty, sir.”

“I see how it is.” I loved when she returned my teasing. Kelsey would get annoyed with playful banter and refuse to respond until I was serious again. The more time I spent with Britta, the harder it was to remember why I’d stayed with Kelsey for so long.

“You know you’re my favorite.” Her fingertips brushed my knee, and it sent a jolt straight to my groin. Her hand fell away, and I shifted in my seat. If she kept her hand there, I might be sporting a semi when I pulled up to her parents’ house.

Britta touched me like she’d been touching people her whole life, like she didn’t know how important it made me feel.

I let my thoughts fall away from her hand, and Britta directed me off the interstate and through the small town. She pointed out the intersection that used to hold the town’s only stoplight before the second was installed, as well as the library where she’d first checked out Stephen King novels she had to hide from her parents. It was fun seeing this side of her, learning her history. She motioned for me to turn down a gravel road. “The house is up ahead.”

“Holy shit,” I muttered under my breath. We came to a stop, and I cast a quick glance through the windshield as we approached—the trees were like a canopy above us, boxing us in, but the sky and land seemed to go on forever around us. “This is where you grew up?”

“What are you looking for?” Britta’s tone was playful as she followed my gaze into the trees.

“I grew up in the city, remember? It’s so . . . open out here. Aren’t there other houses?”

“Not for several miles. Are you scared of being in the country?”

“No. It’s just . . . quiet.” With the windows down, the only sounds were my tires crunching over gravel and the wind around us.

“It won’t be quiet once we get near my family.” Britta settled her hand over mine. “When you slow down to let me roll out, I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

She’d said we were going to her parents’ house, but a more fitting word would have been estate. We crested the hill, and the large house and expanse of land met us at the end of the gravel road, where the concrete took over. We were surrounded by trees and shrubs, and the path leading up to the house was lined with yellow and red flowers. The lawn ahead was manicured and a shade of green I’d thought only existed on TV. Several cars filled the driveway already, and kids zipped back and forth across an open green space.

“Wow,” I said, pulling to a stop. Three men stood around a firepit in the back of the house, arranging wood, and a huddle of people was at a table focused on a card game. It looked like a family on a sitcom. “This place is really nice.”

She nodded and opened the car door. “It is. My mom’s grandma left it to her. They sold most of the farmland a long time ago, but this is where I grew up.” She motioned to the house.

“Wow,” I repeated under my breath, grabbing her bag from the trunk and eyeing the lush surroundings. I had money now, but I had never grown out of feeling like an interloper who might muddy the carpet, even while we were still outside.

“Thanks again for driving me.” She looked up at me, sunlight warming her face. “Do you want some water or food or something before you head back?”

Before I could respond, the front door flew open and two kids sprinted down the steps, a blur of brown hair and bright colors. “Aunt Britta’s here!” they screamed before tackling her to the ground in two bear hugs. She laughed as one more small body leaped onto the pile.

“Give her a minute to breathe.” A voice similar to Britta’s but deeper rang out from the top of the steps. The older woman wore jeans and a plain gray T-shirt. “Kids!” she said more firmly, pulling the littlest one up while the other two peeled themselves away.

Britta huffed, blowing wayward curls from her face with a gleeful smile as she tried to return to a post-tackle upright state. When I offered my hand, our eyes met for a second. Something electric passed between us as she gripped my palm and regained her balance. “Thanks.”