grinned. “I sound like a broken record, don’t I?”
Record? What in the—?
“It seems like the only thing I can ever ask you is if you’re hurt or not.” He chuckled.
I was dying. I never thought I would see his grin or hear his laughter directed at me again. “I’m fine.”
My smile caused Gregory to pause a moment, and I watched as his eyes settled on my mouth briefly before meeting my own again. “You should do that more often.”
More often?
“Smile. You’re really pretty when you smile, Andy.”
My heart melted right then and there. I’d almost forgotten his nickname for me.
“You’re sure, though, that you’re okay?”
I watched him glance down at my sore ankle and realized he must’ve seen me trying not to limp. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just tripped over a fallen branch. It’s no big deal.”
“Hey, guys, we’re going to be heading back soon and we’ll be taking a different route.” Carson announced to the group. “Ethan has offered to give up his front seat to anyone who’d rather have more leg room.” He turned to us first. “Gregory? Amanda? Would either of you like to sit up front? It’ll be more comfortable.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” Sydney’s shrill voice took us all by surprise. “I might’ve wanted to sit up front. Seriously, you should’ve asked me first.”
Great. Sydney is in one of her moods. I sighed. Kylie stealing Gregory must’ve made her madder than I thought.
It was Kylie who put my stepsister in her place. “Well, Sydney, you’re definitely welcome to the front. And Ethan—” Kylie turned to him “—we would love to have you take Sydney’s spot in the back with us.” The smirk Kylie directed at my sister reminded me a little of a cat.
It was almost comical to watch the emotions flail through Sydney’s head. I would’ve treasured the moment a bit longer, but my attention was caught by Gregory as he stepped up to Carson and spoke quietly to him.
In the next instant, Carson turned to me and asked, “Amanda, would you like to sit up front? I mean, you do look a little tired. Plus after your fall I’m certain everyone here can agree that you deserve it more than the rest of us.” The last part was directed right at Sydney.
“I . . . uh . . . ” I was completely taken aback. “No, really—” I would’ve protested more, knowing how my stepsister would react, but Gregory placed his arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the passenger side of the Land Rover. Before I’d even fully comprehended what was happening, the door was whisked open and I was placed carefully on the seat. Then Gregory gently lifted my legs and brought them around in front of me. He shut the door. I was so astonished I didn’t say a word.
Clearly dumbfounded, I stretched my legs and found my ankle hurt more than it had just a few minutes before. I was grateful to have the seat with the better legroom—my ankle would’ve been doubly cramped the whole way home if I’d sat somewhere else. And Gregory knew it.
The ride back was much more fun, mainly because Carson was such a great host. He had me laughing out loud while he rehearsed antics of past four-wheeling experiences with his brother.
When I asked why the Land Rover had two gearshifts instead of just one, Carson explained about overdrive shifters and their purpose. I was only able to follow about a quarter of the conversation, due to my particular lack of automobile knowledge, but he was still so friendly and cheerful, it didn’t matter that I had no idea what he was talking about. I just enjoyed hearing him talk.
When we got back he insisted that we all pose around his beautiful Beast so he could have a picture to hang on his office wall.
“Can I have a copy too?” When everyone else turned around to stare at me, I clarified, “You know, just sent to my email or whatever.”
“Sure.” Carson smiled. “Remember to leave me your email address and I’ll send it to you.”
“Great.” I
Record? What in the—?
“It seems like the only thing I can ever ask you is if you’re hurt or not.” He chuckled.
I was dying. I never thought I would see his grin or hear his laughter directed at me again. “I’m fine.”
My smile caused Gregory to pause a moment, and I watched as his eyes settled on my mouth briefly before meeting my own again. “You should do that more often.”
More often?
“Smile. You’re really pretty when you smile, Andy.”
My heart melted right then and there. I’d almost forgotten his nickname for me.
“You’re sure, though, that you’re okay?”
I watched him glance down at my sore ankle and realized he must’ve seen me trying not to limp. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just tripped over a fallen branch. It’s no big deal.”
“Hey, guys, we’re going to be heading back soon and we’ll be taking a different route.” Carson announced to the group. “Ethan has offered to give up his front seat to anyone who’d rather have more leg room.” He turned to us first. “Gregory? Amanda? Would either of you like to sit up front? It’ll be more comfortable.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” Sydney’s shrill voice took us all by surprise. “I might’ve wanted to sit up front. Seriously, you should’ve asked me first.”
Great. Sydney is in one of her moods. I sighed. Kylie stealing Gregory must’ve made her madder than I thought.
It was Kylie who put my stepsister in her place. “Well, Sydney, you’re definitely welcome to the front. And Ethan—” Kylie turned to him “—we would love to have you take Sydney’s spot in the back with us.” The smirk Kylie directed at my sister reminded me a little of a cat.
It was almost comical to watch the emotions flail through Sydney’s head. I would’ve treasured the moment a bit longer, but my attention was caught by Gregory as he stepped up to Carson and spoke quietly to him.
In the next instant, Carson turned to me and asked, “Amanda, would you like to sit up front? I mean, you do look a little tired. Plus after your fall I’m certain everyone here can agree that you deserve it more than the rest of us.” The last part was directed right at Sydney.
“I . . . uh . . . ” I was completely taken aback. “No, really—” I would’ve protested more, knowing how my stepsister would react, but Gregory placed his arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the passenger side of the Land Rover. Before I’d even fully comprehended what was happening, the door was whisked open and I was placed carefully on the seat. Then Gregory gently lifted my legs and brought them around in front of me. He shut the door. I was so astonished I didn’t say a word.
Clearly dumbfounded, I stretched my legs and found my ankle hurt more than it had just a few minutes before. I was grateful to have the seat with the better legroom—my ankle would’ve been doubly cramped the whole way home if I’d sat somewhere else. And Gregory knew it.
The ride back was much more fun, mainly because Carson was such a great host. He had me laughing out loud while he rehearsed antics of past four-wheeling experiences with his brother.
When I asked why the Land Rover had two gearshifts instead of just one, Carson explained about overdrive shifters and their purpose. I was only able to follow about a quarter of the conversation, due to my particular lack of automobile knowledge, but he was still so friendly and cheerful, it didn’t matter that I had no idea what he was talking about. I just enjoyed hearing him talk.
When we got back he insisted that we all pose around his beautiful Beast so he could have a picture to hang on his office wall.
“Can I have a copy too?” When everyone else turned around to stare at me, I clarified, “You know, just sent to my email or whatever.”
“Sure.” Carson smiled. “Remember to leave me your email address and I’ll send it to you.”
“Great.” I
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