“This fucking traffic. Come on!”
Michael honked the horn in his SUV as we sat in standstill traffic. The girls had been at the boardwalk by themselves for damn near forty
minutes, and we couldn't get there to save our lives. Despite the windows being rolled down and the classic rock station turned up, I shifted in my seat. My eyes darted around. My pulse ticked up.
I wanted this to be a stress-free day for Rae.
And it was turning into anything but that.
“What the hell is all this traffic about?” Michael asked.
I shrugged. “Who the fuck knows?”
“I mean, wouldn't they have cleared it by now if it was an accident? Do you see any orange cones for construction?”
“We’ll get there when we get there. Not much we can do unless we want to pull over and walk.”
He snickered. “Had we done that before, we’d already be there by now.”
“Well, in a few weeks you guys won’t be here to experience any of it.”
Mike put his car in park. Never a good sign when sitting in traffic. But, I knew exactly what I had said to trigger his response. I felt him turn to me, but I refused to meet his stare. Because I wasn’t ready for the question about to fly out of his face.
“Clint?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Mike.”
“Clint. Look at me.”
“No, thanks.”
“You going to man up and have this conversation? Or am I going to have to pull it out of you?”
I snickered. “I’d like to see you try.”
And when I rolled my eyes over to his, he grinned.
“Gotcha.”
My face fell. “You’re a fucking child.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, well. I’m a manchild who’s worried about my best friend.”
I’d never get used to him calling me that.
“You know, that title is usually designated for--”
He waved his hand in the air. “Yeah, I know. You always remind me. Best friends are reserved for those who have known each other the longest. But not this time. I consider you a very good friend. A best friend. Because you’re awesome, and I like you, and you fit in with our group, and you make Rae happy, and I don’t mind shooting the shit with you.”
I grinned. “Thanks.”
“So time to shoot the shit since we’re stuck in traffic.”
My grin fell. “No, thanks.”
“Dude, come on. It’s painfully obvious you haven’t made a decision yet. Why not?”
“Why the fuck is it so hot in your car right now? Fucking hell.”