ChapterFourteen
BRYCE
It shouldn’t surprise me that Krystal knew exactly the right way to deal with the situation. Probie Burns had already managed to alienate most of the department with his smart mouth and lazy work ethic. His disrespect to Krystal had me seeing red.
How Krystal read my mood and somehow navigated around it in a way so that everything worked out was typical of her. She’d always been able to read my moods. I used to pick her up and drive without a word after a fight with my dad, and she’d always been able to tell when I was finally ready to talk.
Or when I was frustrated in school with the calculus assignment and she patiently talked me through it, somehow keeping me from shredding my entire notebook.
We climbed in my truck, and I started driving toward Terre Haute. I glanced at Krystal in the passenger seat. She was checking her phone.
“Do you remember when we took that road trip to Indianapolis?”
“For the MercyMe concert?” she asked, sounding puzzled. She tucked her phone under her leg. I warmed at the intentional action she took to give me her full attention.
“Yeah. We hit the biggest traffic jam on I-70. Bridge construction delayed us like an hour. Do you remember?”
She shrugged. “Kind of. Not really. Why?”
“I remember I was so frustrated. I was ticked at the other drivers being reckless and angry that we were going to be late to the concert.”
Krystal was watching me, but I kept my eyes on the road.
“Okay? I don’t even remember being late.”
I smiled at the memory. “I’m not sure we were. I do remember that you found a country station playing a throwback countdown. You cranked up the radio, and we sang at the top of our lungs to every song until we got through the construction.”
She laughed. “Okay, I think I remember that. You butchered the words to ‘Grundy County Auction.’”
“That’s probably why I’m not the auctioneer at the fundraiser.” I turned to her and winked. “Well, that, and because I’m the biggest moneymaker.”
Her laughter filled the truck, and I dropped my egotistical act. “I’m just saying…you always know how to shift my focus toward the positive. To find the silver lining when I’m frustrated and upset. Like how you diffused things back at the station.” I clicked my tongue. “I was ready to defend your honor to Burns.”
Krystal laid her hand across the console and rested it on my arm. “And while I appreciate that, Captain Storm, my honor is just fine. It was a harmless joke. And besides, if we’re supposed to be dating…maybe we’ll disappear into the closet again. Let them think we’re making out.”
My mind flew to the moments before the crew arrived back at the station, and I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. I cleared my throat. “Yeah, um. Probably not a great idea.”
Krystal laughed. “You’re probably right. You might be a temptation I don’t need.”
I nodded. “Exactly. Need you to keep your wits about you… I can’t help being irresistible,” I joked. I don’t know why or when exactly I started throwing out those over-the-top comments, but it had been our inside joke, even back in high school. I could remember making Krystal laugh with my antics, despite feeling the complete opposite of self-assured with my lanky frame and pimpled face. If I couldn’t win her by being the most handsome guy in school, I could at least be the funniest.
She shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”
I shrugged. “You like it,” I replied with an eyebrow wiggle. It made her lose her composure and she laughed again.
Yep, it still worked.
* * *
KRYSTAL
In Terre Haute, we stopped at Walmart and the craft store. It was easy enough to find fake flowers and wreaths, but the budget was limited, so I’d be spiffing them up a little with Mom’s hot glue gun.
When we’d finished, my stomach was rumbling. Apparently loud enough that Bryce heard, based on the raised eyebrow look he gave me with barely concealed laughter. “Lunchtime?”
I opened my arms and imitated a giant Venus flytrap. “Feed me, Seymour!” I said with a croaking yell.
He grinned. “Man, that movie is a classic. How about tacos? There is a good place downtown.”