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“Grey Dodge Ram, two middle-aged men. Say whatever to speed up the process.”

“Yes, sir. Some freakin’ first date,” I mutter.

“What was that?” He leans in with narrowed eyes, then grabs me under the arm to get us moving.

I’d protest and slap him away, but his grip feels nice. It’s shielding, like a lion protecting his queen. I look up at him briefly… a grumpy lion.

Here I go being dramatic. The hell is wrong with me?

“Hey,” I say before making the call.

“Hm?”

“If you weren’t there just now… me and my dad would’ve been… you know.”

His grip loosens a bit, but he only grunts in response.

My heart races as his warm musk wafts over me. He smells like a mix of faint cologne and sawdust, which is likenoneof the men I’ve been around in lawyerville. I want to kiss him for saving me, like some sick dark princess.

He’s offering me nothing back, though, so I dial Gil to avoid an ocean of awkwardness.

“Finally. I was getting worried you found another scuba instructor and ran off with him,”he says through speaker, and I blush a bit.

Good. Now maybe Trino will think I’m a hot commodity, and he’ll stop being a standoffish dick.

“Ha. Ha. Very funny, Gil.”

“I do my best. What’s up? Ready to come back for an actual lesson?”

I glance up at Trino as if I’m considering Gil’s proposal. “Maybe. But first I need a favor, no questions asked.”

The line goes quiet for a few seconds.

“Hello?”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with… your dad… would it?”

Ugh. The fear in his voice takes away that tiny chance that I ever thought faux Michael Phelps was attractive. “I said no questions asked. Yes or no?”

“Okay, Capri. Just this once.”

“You can’t tell any of our friends at Witt, and we will never speak of it again.”

“Okay! What the hell are you going to have me do, take a naked lap around the pool? Hah, you wish.”

I shut my eyes as I prepare myself. “Call the cops to Oakland Place in Summit, and tell them there’s a grey Dodge Ram with two people flashing women. Say it’s urgent.”

Trino’s brow furrows.“What the fuck?”he mouths at me, and I shrug.

“It’s weird, and I don’t feel safe leaving my house,” I elaborate to Gil a little bit so he’ll help.

“You’re a strange bird, Capri. Okay, I’m on the way to the deli. I’ll use their phone to make the call. Five minutes. You owe me!”

“Yes, I do.” I smile and give a thumbs up to Trino as if he hasn’t been listening in. “Text me when it’s done, please.”

I hang up the phone and shrug one shoulder. “Good?”

“Wouldn’t have been my first choice of words, but yes.” His grip resumes, and weirdly… I accept it. Honestly, now that my dad is in good hands and I’m in strong ones… I’m kind of falling into Trino’s sexified orbit.