“Indeed I am.” I grab the small purse with my phone and keys before taking his arm.
After I lock the door, we head off toward a Toyota 4-Runner. It’s not the newest model, but not an old one either. It’s extremely clean, unlike my unorganized and messy Honda Civic. Please don’t let Drew be a neat freak. If he is, he might end up hating me and ending this before we even have a beginning. Oddly, I have a feeling I might be disappointed if that’s the case.
“So, Jenna tells me you’re dual majoring in accounting and journalism.”
“That’s right. And what else did Jenna tell you about me?” I nudge him playfully.
“Don’t blame her. I pestered the hell out of her for days. She was pretty reticent at first until I just wore her out. I should warn you. I can be like that.”
“Oh, not one of those!” I feign shock. It has the desired effect; he laughs.
“Yeah. I had the greatest teacher. My mother.”
“Hmm. At least you’ve given me a heads up.”
“So?”
That one word has me laser focused on his lips. It takes me a second to blink back up to meet his eyes.
“Yeah. Dual major. At first I was solely business, but I wasn’t into it. Then I discovered accounting and love it. And I’ve always had a thing for writing so I figured maybe I could parlay the two into business journalism or work for a large corporation and do business writing. I don’t know yet.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” His smile is warm and I’m finding it easy to talk to him. I thought I might have to force conversation. Yet I’m vomiting words like I have the stomach flu.
“Or a half-ass one, like my dad says. He thinks I’ll end up with some menial job somewhere.” I laugh and shake my head, thinking about my family.
“Yeah, well parents can either be most resourceful or the biggest hindrance when it comes to this type of thing. You should follow your heart.”
I grin. Not many people see my logic when it comes to my majors. Tapping his arm, I say, “Thanks. That’s very nice to hear because even Jenna thinks I’m crazy. She gives me a hard time because I’m always studying.”
“It’s good to be driven, Cate. Not everyone is like that.”
I smooth my dress over my legs. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it driven. It’s sort of a must.” I explain the deal about my parents and my scholarships.
“Ah, I see. But that sort of makes you even more motivated. The way I see it, you could’ve taken the easy road and gone to school where they wanted you to. But instead, you chose Purdue, and are working hard to stay here. It’s your choice, right?”
“Well, yeah. When you put it that way, I guess so.” He makes me feel good about the fact that I have to study hard. Everyone else, including my best friend, gives me a hard time about it.
I look at his profile as he drives and see his lips curl into a smile. He’s nothing like I expected. What had I expected? Some older dude. And why? I don’t know. Seven years from now I’ll be his age. Will I consider myself old? I shake off the thought because I see how ridiculous I was being.
“What has you so quiet over there?” He glances over at me before returning his focus to the road.
“Honestly?” I should feel silly but I don’t. He seems good natured.
“Yeah.”
“A couple of things. One, you get why I have to spend so much time studying. Everyone else gives me crap about it. And two, I was thinking that twenty-seven isn’t exactly old.”
“Ah, so maybe not gramps then?” He looks at me and winks.
I shake my head. “I can’t believe Jenna told you that.”
“Don’t blame her. Like I said, I’m persuasive. I had to know why you were so opposed to going out with me. Then I thought it was funny. Old man McKnight here.”
It is comical when he says it like that.
“Well it was partly because I don’t date since I need to keep my grades up. So you and Ben are close?” I ask.
“Yeah. We’ve been close since kindergarten.”
“It is funny that we’re all from Charleston, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but it’s even funnier that you don’t remember our conversation about this,” he says, grinning.
My hands cover my face. “Oh lord. I’m so embarrassed about that. And sorry. I can’t believe how stupid I was, too. So, tell me what I missed.”
“Only that Ben and I have been friends since kindergarten, like you and Jenna.”