11 Chapter 11

She belted out a line in tune with The Ramones blasting through the speakers, glancing over at me, a cheesy grin with each pause, and I think that’s when I realized I had fallen in love with her. Her blond hair was wild as she shook her head back and forth, fingers thrumming the steering wheel, voice soaring to meet the high pitch. I may have feared for our safety, but I relished the sight of her carefree spirit. I wanted her to be mine. One hand on the steering wheel, her other was loosely on her lap.

Gathering every bit of strength within me, I reached out and placed my hand over hers as we stopped at a red light, our gazes meeting. Her eyes widened and her jaw tightened as she stared at me, then to the hand over hers. The light turned green and she averted her attention to the road, her joyous attitude vanishing before my eyes. I removed my hand, awkwardly lacing my fingers together in my lap.