But they won’t.
I highly doubt I’ll see Ian ever again once we get off this plane. Why that makes me sad, I don’t know. Just because a guy is nice to you in an airport and gives you your first kiss doesn’t mean the two of you are destined for great things. Unfortunately. Ian is hot and seems to be really nice so far.
“I bet you don’t have a truck that squats,” I mutter aloud.
Ian turns his head sharply to look at me. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me.”
“It was just a stupid thought that I didn’t mean to say.”
“I don’t care. Tell me.”
Goodness, he’s persistent. “I said I bet you don’t have a truck that squats.” Ian looks confused. “You know, where the bed sits lower than the front. It looks so stupid, I think, but they think they’re hot shit.”
“For real?”
“Yep.”
Ian starts laughing.
“I don’t like riding in them either.”
His laughter dies. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.” I wouldn’t have let him kiss me if I did!
“Then what are you doing riding around in stupid-looking trucks?”
Oh. “Just because I have doesn’t mean it was recent.”
He only nods. I realize we’re still holding hands. That’s weird, right? Ian shifts in his seat and brings them to rest on his leg as if he knows I’m contemplating pulling away and he wants to make it a little hard. If I do it now, it’d be obvious and I’d rather make it more sneaky and subtle.
Even his leg is warm! There’s only the cotton material of his gym shorts separating the skin of my hand from his leg, but I can still feel the heat. My cheeks start to warm again and I try thinking about other things like flying and naked old people and—that did it. I can stop now.
“Do you like where you live?” Ian asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, I guess so. It’s a small town and people know too much and gossip too much and know everyone. I’d like to move to Raleigh or Charlotte once I’m older to put some space between the small-town life and me, but without leaving North Carolina. The weather is too perfect to move to another part of the country.”
“So, do you know what you want to go to college for yet?”
I groan. “No, Mother.” The corners of his mouth quirk in amusement. “I have time. Do you know what you want to go to college for?”
“Something in math or history. Those are the only subjects I’m good in and it’s something my parents would go for.”
“See, you might like my book, then! It’s set in a different time period. There you go. History.”
Ian laughs and shakes his head. “Doubtful.”
The flight attendant has finally made it to us to hand out our complimentary drinks. I use this as my opportunity to pull my hand from Ian’s, even though I had gotten comfortable. It was so comfortable that it was starting to get weird. It’s unnatural that we have this easygoing thing between us.
“Do you like where you live? Never mind. Dumb question. You decided to stay there with your dad instead of moving with your mom, so obviously you like it.” What else could I ask him? “What’s your middle name? What’s your last name?” I tack on, realizing I don’t know it either.
“Ian Adam Rhett. Thank god I wasn’t named Ethan or something or my initials would spell ear. You?”
I giggle, thinking of what it would be like to have those initials. “Sydney Mackenzie Jarvis.”