Page 54 of Drive Me Crazy

"She's been waiting." I tap her nose. "So has the back seat, get it in there."

"That's what she said." Harper waggles her brows, giggling. I'm sure she got the reaction she wanted by the look on my face.

I step back, checking her out as she wiggles her way in. "Dear God, I'm a patient man but this is torture."

"Looks to me like you got a handle on things." Harper drags her eyes down my body before meeting mine again with a blush in her cheeks. "Or maybe not."

I push the seat back, shutting the door as I turn my back to her to adjust myself. "I'm fine, dear!"

"Okay, Honey!" She breaks into a fit of giggles as I round the car to the driver's side.

"Women gonna be the death of me before all of this is over." I grumble, sliding in behind the wheel.

Harper shifts in her seat. "What was that dear?"

"Nothin,' Honey."

"Why are you two talking like parents?" Rumor scrunches her nose up. "Are y'all havin' a baby?"

My eyes snap to Harper's in the rearview as we answer together. "No!"

I shake my head, hitting the garage opener. "Boo, Harper and I are old friends. Like your Momma and me are, there's nothing going on between us."

"Yep! Not a thing." I cut my eyes just in time to watch Harper sink, staring out the window.

Why in the hell are women so confusing? I mean, I'd love for something to be happening, but I know she isn't ready. "But when the time comes, you'll be the third person to know. Alright?"

"Sounds like a plan, Stan." Rumor chuckles as Harper side eyes me and I put the car in reverse.

"You've gotta tell me who this Stan is you speak of often, I thought I knew all of your friends." Rumor rolls her eyes at my attempt to lighten the mood.

Shaking her head, Rumor sets out to explain who Stan is not. "He's not a real friend, Unc. He's a pretend friend, and it's funny to say it's a plan because it rhymes."

"Rhymes? Is that anything like dimes?"

She slaps her forehead, making Harper laugh. "Oh! Be careful."

"Men!" Rumor bemoans. "We have to teach them everything, they're hopeless."

"Hey, now. I resemble that remark."

"Yes, you do." I glance before pulling out at Harper's smirk.

Turning onto the road, I search the street for any sign of Weston. Oddly enough, it's quiet and eerily so. Although there's mostly family living around me, something feels off.

I slow at the intersection, checking the highway as I pull into traffic. Still watching everything around us diligently. I check my mirror to find Harper doing the same thing and again, I'm disturbed.

"I got you, I hope you believe me when I say that."

She releases a lengthy breath. "Old habits and all."

"Rumor goes to our school, thankfully she doesn't have the same teacher."

"Ughh, Mrs. Wilson was the worst!" Harper groans.

I raise my brows. "You don't think we could've had anything to do with her mood, do you?"

"We were innocent children, pure cherubs." I glance at her as she bats her lashes.