Page 14 of The Triple Threat

“It’s reliable,” Ellie said before she poked her tongue out at me. “The color is irrelevant.”

“Hmm, if you like a car the same shade as baby poop.”

Ellie laughed a little louder and started the car. “That’s exactly how I describe it. I think that’s why I got such a good deal on it. Dusty said it was in great condition for its age, so it can only be the color that put it at a thousand dollars under the list price.”

“I think I’d probably agree and the fact that it is such a good car, I’d suggest you should take better care of it.”

Ellie shrugged as she maneuvered out of the parking lot and pulled onto the main road. “Like I said it’s been a busy week. I don’t normally use it as a four-wheeled trash can.”

“Good to know,” I replied and glanced at her profile.

Her nose had a little wrinkle in it and there was real concentration on her face.

“Do you need glasses?” I asked.

Ellie took a sharp intake of breath and threw a quick glance at me before she turned back to the road.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” I said, cranking down the window an inch to let in the breeze and let out the smell of burger and fries.

“I’m not ashamed,” she snapped. “I forgot to put them in my purse.”

“Should you be driving?” I instinctively reached up for the ‘oh shit’ handle and held on tight.

“Stop being a pansy.” Ellie slapped a hand at my arm. “I’m a perfectly safe driver, with or without my glasses.”

I raised my eyebrows and coughed out a laugh. “If you say so, Ellie.”

“I do say so, and if you’re that scared you can always walk.”

As we’d just passed the seven-mile marker to get back into town, I decided to keep my mouth shut and trust her driving ability.

We remained silent for a couple of miles until I heard Ellie take a breath as if she was about to speak but the silence continued for a couple more minutes until she took another, followed by quiet again.

“Spit it out, Ellie,” I groaned wincing as we hit a bump in the road which jarred my sore ribs.

“I just… well I just think you should take it seriously about Bronte and your dad.”

Shit not again. I was sick of talking about a subject which I thought was totally unnecessary.

“He’s dating Jojo, he’s forty-eight years of age, and he’s her daddy’s best friend. Listen carefully to me, Ellie. It. Ain’t. Gonna. Happen.”

“Hah well there’s the problem with your argument.” She briefly took her eyes off the road to smirk at me. “Bronte said your pop and Jojo had a bust up during dinner and that Jojo sat in the Jackson’s backyard for twenty minutes before he went out to talk to her.”

I reeled back a little in my seat. “I didn’t know that. They seemed okay when I picked them up. How were they when you got there for your folks?”

Ellie pressed her foot down on the accelerator and her grip tightened on the wheel.

“Loaded,” she barked. “All six of them. I had to practically pour my dad into the car and then had to listen to him and my mom whispering sweet nothings to each other all the way home.”

I let out a laugh. That pretty much summed up my own journey home. I’d been a little late picking up Pop and Jojo because I’d fallen asleep on the sofa and missed his first two calls, so Ellie’s mom and dad had already left.

“Same here,” I sighed. “So maybe Bronte got it wrong Pop and Jojo were pretty happy in the back of my truck.”

I watched Ellie as she chewed on the inside of her mouth, her eyes narrow as she evidently contemplated what I’d said.

“Hmm maybe.” She drummed a beat on the steering wheel for a few seconds and then blew out a breath. “Do you like her? Jojo I mean.”

Did I like Jojo? How the fuck did I answer that? At least not without coming across as a rude douchebag who didn’t think my pop’s latest girlfriend was fit to lick my dead mom’s boots.