Chapter 15 #2
“I couldn’t agree more,” I said, bending toward Mardi so he could lick my face. “But if they post any more comments, could you please let me know? I’d like to figure out who’s behind them, just in case. I hate surprises, especially the kind that spring out from behind a door, you know?”
“I will. Promise. I was just trying to save you some aggravation from someone who’s probably a troll and just looking to make someone else’s life as miserable as theirs must be. I’ll pray for them. But I will also open up a can of whoop-ass on them if they don’t quit.”
“Well, then,” I said, heading toward the door, “let’s hope that whoever it is takes a hint so we don’t have to see what that is, because it sounds serious.”
“Oh, it is. Believe me.” Jolene followed us to the top of the stairs, then watched as we descended to the front door.
“Just ask my cousin Clyde. He wouldn’t stop beheading my Barbie dolls, so I put a mess of fire ants in the back pockets of his Wranglers.
He couldn’t sit down for a week, bless his heart. Let’s just say he never did it again.”
“Good to know.” Cooper opened the door, and I looked up to say good-bye and saw Jolene waving Mardi’s paw. I blew them both a kiss and stepped out into the cool autumn sunshine.
A brand-new sporty navy Audi sedan sat in the driveway.
“Is that your rental?” I asked, stepping close to admire it.
He opened the passenger door and the distinct scent of new leather wafted out at me from the cream-colored interior.
Obviously the car of a single man without kids or animals.
I bit the inside of my cheek to get myself to stop thinking like Melanie.
“Nope. It’s mine. I ordered it online and had it waiting for me at the airport when I landed. Do you like it?”
“It’s very sexy.” I looked up at Cooper and stopped myself from adding Like you.
That wasn’t the kind of thing I would say to a member of the opposite sex, regardless of how much I might think it.
I couldn’t imagine that hanging between us on the ride over to the Esplanade house and then to the airport.
“Thank you. I don’t know about ‘sexy,’ but I do know it drives like a performance car, which I enjoy.”
“I hope it has all the latest safety features, since you’re going to be driving it in New Orleans. And may I suggest throwing a couple of extra spare tires in the trunk?”
He laughed and then took my elbow to stop me as I moved to step inside.
“You need to practice. And yes, it does have all the latest safety features, because I’d hoped that you would be a frequent passenger.
Or driver. You really do need practice, Nola.
Especially if you’re getting that Mustang after Thanksgiving. ”
I looked at the car and then back at Cooper. “But it’s brand-new. And I’m not the most confident driver.”
“I know. But you will be. And I trust you.”
I bit my lip. “Are you absolutely sure?”
“Absolutely,” he said, guiding me toward the driver’s side and pulling open the door.
I slid inside, feeling the soft leather beneath me and trying not to be intimidated by the flat digital instrument panel in front of me. “I feel like I’m in the cockpit of a plane. And I’m feeling really stupid because I don’t see where to insert the key.”
Cooper walked around to the passenger side and sat down beside me.
“I’ve got the key fob in my pocket, so just put your foot on the brake and push the ignition button.
” He indicated a discreet button on the dash.
The engine purred to life, the sound almost unnoticeable inside the car—unlike Bubba’s engine, which made occupants feel as if they were riding under the hood.
“I could get used to this,” I said.
“Good.” Cooper looked at me and smiled, and I was surprised by the ensuing flash of heat that washed over me.
We were just friends, I reminded myself.
I must have been feeling lonelier than I’d thought.
“Give me your phone and I’ll get it hooked up with Bluetooth so you can use CarPlay for hands-free calls and messaging.
You can even play your music without looking away from the road to change tracks. ”
Just as he was finishing, my phone rang through the car’s impressive speakers, playing “Tubular Bells,” the theme from the movie The Exorcist and the new ringtone that Sarah had programmed into my phone during her last visit so that I’d know it was her when she called.
She said it was because we were near Halloween at the time, so the ringtone needed to be spooky.
I had to ask her how to change it, because it was now almost Thanksgiving.
“I’ll be quick,” I said, hitting the green Answer button on the phone screen.
“Did you forget something?” I asked Sarah. It had barely been an hour since we’d finished texting. Maybe she was ready to tell me what I was supposed to be prepared for.
“Yeah. Grandma Ginny had a strange dream last night,” she said, referring to Melanie’s mother.
“Okay. Was it about me?”
“Not technically.”
“All right. So what was it about?”
“She said I was riding in a really big old car, and I was behind the wheel like I was driving. I think she was talking about Bubba, because she mentioned that the windows had those manual thingies.”
“You mean window cranks?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
I sighed. “Go on. And please hurry.”
“So, I was driving along when all of a sudden there was, like, a loud squealing and a big bang, and then everything went black and she woke up.”
“Well, that kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? Aren’t you nearing your midterms?”
“Funny. Anyway, I’ve been trying to figure it out, and it occurred to me that her dream couldn’t be about me, because I don’t know how to drive.”
“Like I said, maybe it was metaphorical and it actually was about you. Hey, can I call you back? Cooper and I are on a tight schedule.”
“Ooh, Cooper.” Sarah made obnoxious smooching noises into her phone. “He is smokin’ hot.”
“Just so you know, he’s sitting next to me and you’re on speaker.”
Long pause. “Oh. Hi, Cooper.”
“Hi, Sarah.” He somehow managed to keep a straight face as he spoke.
To interrupt the awkward moment, I said, “I’ve really got to hurry, so if you could tell me what—”
“So, what I was trying to say, metaphorically or not, is that I don’t think the dream was about me because I don’t drive.” She paused again. “But you do.”
“True, but I wouldn’t worry, because Jolene doesn’t let me drive her car.
She says it takes me too long to park it, because I drive around the block until I find two spots next to each other.
So I’m thinking it was metaphorical and about you.
And you should probably hang up and get studying.
” To soften my words, I said, “But I promise I’ll be careful. ”
“Just in case you didn’t know, if you’ve got an airbag and a deer jumps in front of you, it’s better to plow head-on into the deer instead of swerving to avoid it, because the airbag will do less damage than rolling your car. I saw that in an injury-lawyer ad.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Okay. One more thing. Jolene says she’s going to have my colors done. Should I be scared?”
“No, Sarah. It’s supposed to be fun. Or ‘life-changing,’ according to Jolene. We’ll talk about it later. Now go study.”
I pressed the button on the steering wheel to end the call and turned to Cooper. “Maybe I shouldn’t drive.”
“If you’re really worried, then don’t. But it seems to me as if your grandmother’s dream wasn’t about you at all, and that maybe you’re looking for an easy out.
” Before I could argue, he held up his hand.
“Which is totally fine with me. I’m here to help, and not to pressure you in any way.
Just remember that if you ever want the independence of being a confident driver, you have to actually get behind the wheel and practice. ”
I stared at the interlocking rings of the logo in the middle of the steering wheel. “Yeah. You’re right. One hundred percent.” I turned my head and met his gaze before shifting the car into drive. “Let’s do this.”