Page 7 of Until He Confesses

“Oh please,” she said. “I’m sure we’re going to get caught anyway. We might as well have something to eat beforehand to give the night some meaning.”

Brett laughed and tapped loudly on the roof just as the car accelerated.

Lucas gave him a stern look and I lowered my head to hide my amusement.

“Sorry,” he said casually, but when I looked up, I nearly lost my breath because he was staring directly and intently at me through the rearview mirror.

Lucas

Visiting McDonald’s when it was almost midnight was the last thing I wanted to do.

Especially when it truly was out of my way to find one that wouldn’t be closing in minutes.

“Why don’t we just go to a proper dinner?” Brett suddenly suggested. “Make this a date of some sort.”

At this I gave him a look and from his exclamation I was sure that he received looks from everyone else too. I wanted to gaze at the rearview mirror to see if she had once more tried to look at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to. So, I kept driving until I heard her friend’s voice from behind.

“That’s not a bad idea.” Followed by a yelp of pain. “Ow!”

I almost smiled then, and Brett laughed.

“So, it’s a date,” he said. “Who’s my partner?”

He looked back … all smiles but was immediately disappointed.

Silence filled the car and then I heard Anna’s voice again.

“Me,” she said, and I couldn’t stop myself then from glancing at the rearview mirror. She didn’t look at me, and an irresistible urge to taunt her rose within.

We soon found an open diner, I parked in the lot, and we all got out.

“My darling,” Brett called, and I watched as he went around the car and threw his arm around Anna’s shoulders. At first, she resisted, but amusement soon overcame her enough to finally give in. She slid her arm around his waist, and they basically hopped and skipped into the diner.

I went ahead on my own and truly couldn’t help but wonder about why I was so aware of the girl behind me. I pushed the door open and couldn’t help but hold it open for her. She looked at me for a moment and then quickly diverted her eyes as she hurried up to cross the threshold. I watched her from behind and was glad that I had taken the initiative.

She was dressed quite simply and not as though she was going to a party that had advertised itself as being raunchy and chaperon-free.

She had on a dress that had a flattering fit to her upper body but flared out from the waist. Over it she had thrown on an oversized denim jacket. Her hair was in a half up half down hairstyle that I couldn’t help but admit fitted her immensely and then she had on off-white Converses with one of the laces coming loose.

I watched them to the point where I got so distracted, I began to wonder if I should call her attention to the fact that she could trip over it, that I almost bumped right into her when she abruptly stopped. Irritated with myself I stepped back quickly and headed straight to a booth by the corner.

The others came along and seated themselves around me. She was right across from me with her friend beside her while Brett was beside me.

“This place looks decent,” Brett said as Anna pushed his hands off hers.

“Too bad I can’t exactly vouch for their food since I haven’t been here before. Has anyone been here before?”

“I have,” she suddenly said, and it was the perfect excuse for me to look up.

“I came here with my parents I think, a few years ago. My dad’s job is not too far from here.”

“Oh, yeah,” Anna said. “That’s right.”

“And?” Brett asked, and I watched as she stared directly at him as she replied.

“I really can’t remember.”

Anna laughed and so did I. Brett feigned offense.