Page 49 of Was I Ever Free
“Okay?” I repeat while looking back at the road. “You’re not disappointed?”
She settles back into her seat with a pleased sigh that shoots straight to my balls.
“Part of the adventure, Maxwell,” she says breezily, wiggling her eyebrows.
This time, I can’t help but smile along with her.
* * *
The sun is halfwaydown the sky and we’re still hours away from our destination when Lucy holds up a joint in her hand.
“Look what Bridget gave me last night,” she says, her tone hushed and conspiratorial as if her joint is some kind of government secret. But the pleased look written on her face tells me she’s more excited than nervous.
I hum in response, holding in a laugh. “You ever smoked weed?”
“Once with Lenix—surprised?” she says a little defiantly.
“You surprise me every day, Luce. It’s my favorite thing about you,” I say a bit too seriously.
The words hang heavy between us, as we both fall silent.
Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that.
I keep my eyes glued to the road, not knowing what else to say, while hers are burning the side of my face.
“So?” she says, and at first I think she’s trivializing what I just said, but realize from the corner of my eye that she’s still holding up the joint between us.
“You want to smoke it now?” I say, a little surprised.
“Why not,” she says with a shrug. “We can take a quick break… watch the sunset.” And then, as if catching herself. “Or sorry—do youdodrugs?”
Her lingering innocence is at times so refreshing that I can’t help but grin a little.
“Just not hard drugs,” I answer frankly.
“I’m not sure what that means,” she answers.
I breathe out a small chuckle. “Yes, Luce. I smoke weed.”
“Oh my goodness look, that’s your name!” Lucy shouts out of nowhere, pointing to the interstate sign that says Maxwell, amongst other things. “How perfect,” she says, beaming back at me.
“How is that perfect?” I say, my tone coated in amusement, still planning on taking that exit anyway so we can stop on a side road somewhere.
“I don’t know,” she says with a small shrug. “Fun coincidence, don’t you think?”
That word again.
I chew on my lip before answering. “If you say so,” I mutter, now slightly distracted.
After a few turns, I park on the side of the road, the car facing the setting sun.
“Come on,” I tell Lucy, opening the door. “We can sit on the hood.”
Her face lights up as if I told her something much cooler than I just did. Putting on her cowboy hat, she scrambles out of her seat and out of the car. Then stalls in front of the hood seeming a little lost.
Her laugh is a little nervous when she turns her head to look up at me. “What’s the easiest way to get up there?”
“Turn around and face me.” My voice having dropped an octave.