Page 39 of The Last Special Thing

A coy smile crossed her face as he ripped out the tissue paper, and she pulled out of the parking spot. He grabbed the shoe box and flipped it open.

“Holy shit,” he murmured, removing a black skater shoe decorated with skulls and with black laces. “These are insane!”

She pulled onto the main road, glowing at his reaction. “You’re welcome.” Then asked, “Where are we going?”

He swapped his old shoes for the new ones. “What are the choices?”

She took his request literally, naming stores as she cruised by.

“Burger King?” she joked.

“You think Burger King has hard liquor?”

“Community church?” She smiled sweetly.

“Oh yeah, they have tons of liquor." He said deadpanned. Her smile grew at their new game.

“Walgreens, Corner Liquor Store, Albertsons, Ralphs,” she rattled off as they approached a shopping center.

“Ralphs!”

She was surprised he didn’t choose Corner Liquor Store, but the thought was fleeting. She darted into the next lane, cutting off a blue truck in the process. They honked, and she waved her manicured hand in apology.

“Pull up right here,” Art instructed as they turned into the parking lot.

She stopped a little before the store entrance at the walkway.

“I won’t be long.” He hopped out of the car, and she scrolled her phone, searching for an album to play for him.

Less than five minutes later, he was in the rearview mirror. His hair blowing as he sprinted toward her, his fingers in the air, gesturing for her to drive away.

She reached over and popped the door open for him. Sliding into the seat, he slammed the door closed, and she pressed her foot on the gas.

“The alarm went off!” His blue eyes bulged.

“What?” Her eyes flicked to him, then back to the road ahead of them. There was a bump as her car zoomed over the curb, and she merged back onto the main street. Full trees lining the center divider blurred by.

“It’s okay, I got it.” He pulled out the top of the bottle of Plymouth Gin from his oversized jacket and raised his eyebrows at her. A vindictive smile widened.

“You might want to get on the freeway,” he recommended.

“You can’t be serious!” She yelled between laughs. “Buckle your seatbelt.”

“You’re an accomplice, a felon, and you’re bitching about my seatbelt?” An amused smile on his face.

“Yes.”

He buckled, then turned in his seat, peering over his shoulder. Deeming the coast clear, his shoulders relaxed, and he kicked up his new shoes on the dashboard. “These babies passed their first test!”

It was nice to be out of the apartment and on an adventure together, even if it was ripping off a grocery store. She shrugged off her conscience as she stole another glance at him. He caught her eye, and his smile didn’t falter. Adventure in a bottle, and he was hers. They were each others.

She did as he instructed and merged onto the freeway as a precaution.

For all his drama—running and signaling to her, nothing actually happened. There were no flashing lights, no security guard panting after him. She checked the rearview twice on the freeway to be sure. Nothing happened at all.

Amelia pressed her tongue behind her teeth. “This wasn’t your first time.”

“It was my first time with you, Princess.”