“Playing for strangers.” He glances at me. “Being up on stage — it’s a rush like you wouldn’t believe.”
I’m silent.
“Guess that’s my answer.” His eyes narrow. “How can you rule out ever singing in public if you’ve never even tried it? That’s like saying you hate space travel or peeing standing up. Until you’ve done it, you can’t make a true decision.”
“How did we even get on this topic?” I snap. “We were discussingyourmusical aspirations, not mine.”
“And…?”
“I’m not sure you’ve noticed, Ryder, but you and I are very different people.”
“You mean in the chest region?” His eyes flicker away from the road and drop briefly to my cleavage. “Cause I consider those some of your finest assets, Felicity.”
I’d shove him if he wasn’t driving. I settle for a glare.
“Relax, I’m only messing with you.” His eyebrows waggle teasingly. “That’s what friends do.”
My heart squeezes and I look swiftly away, out the window. When I respond, my voice comes out far softer than usual. “Are we friends, now?”
There’s a marked pause. “I mean… I don’t share my donuts with just anybody…”
I laugh. “Fair enough.”
“Speaking of, will you pass me one?”
Reaching into the bag, I pull out a glazed donut and hand it over. I try not to drool too much as I watch him take a massive bite.
“You salivating over how handsome I am again?” he says around a mouthful, driving one-handed.
Ignoring him, I suck the sugary glaze off my fingertips, one by one. I hear a choked sound and glance over to find Ryder watching me, his eyes zeroed in on my index finger. It makes a wet popping noise as I yank it from between my lips.
“You salivating over how beautiful I am again?” I tease.
Two can play this game.
He laughs thinly and glances back at the road. I can’t help noticing his knuckles are white as he holds the steering wheel in an iron grip. I swallow hard and look out the window, pretending not to feel the sudden tension in the air between us.
Obviously, I’ve made him uncomfortable.
But he’s the one who started the flirty banter! I merely reciprocated.
Kiddo, I repeat inside my head, calling on my safe-word to remind me that, no matter how cute or charming he is… we’re friends. Barely. Certainly nothing more than that.
Kiddo.
Kiddo.
Kiddo.
I repeat it so many times, the word has lost all meaning by the time we turn off the road into the Elmwood Estates parking lot. He pulls into a free spot by the front door marked VISITORS and shuts off the engine.
“Thanks for the ride.” I avoid his eyes as my hand searches for the door handle. “And for the donuts.”
“Anytime.”
I hop out onto the pavement, sling my purse over my shoulder, and slam the door behind me. Before I can retrieve my guitar from the back, Ryder appears at my side. I blink in surprise — I didn’t even hear him leave the van.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that, I can get it…” I trail off.