We put everything back in the trunk. I pull the keys from my pocket and start up the Charger. Hank is nowhere in sight. I honk the horn. We wait for five minutes, and I try not to look too close in the backseat at Austin and Jenni curled up together like a sickeningly sweet Christmas card picture. I’m annoyed with them, but also myself, as Hank and I are no different, and Jenni’s been tolerating me so far.
It’s been five minutes. I’m about to honk again, when I spy Hank jog toward the park. He stops under the monkey bars on the playground and grabs the bars to do a rapid set of pull-ups. I sigh.
Austin snorts. “Show off. I could do that too, but why?”
I can’t help it. “I totally would if I looked like that.”
Jenni laughs out loud. “If you looked remotely like that, you wouldn’t need a boyfriend.”
I giggle at the thought. “Hey. Muscle women date.”
Austin snorts. “Who? What man wants a woman who can lift more than he does? I can take prettier, smarter, and funnier. But I draw the line at stronger.”
Hank yanks open the car door, hops in the front seat, leans over and lays one on me before I even know what’s happening.
Austin kicks the seat between us. “Hey.”
Hank whips his head sideways, eyeing Austin. “What?”
“What are you doing?”
Hank winks at Austin. “Kissing my woman.”
Austin eyes me in the mirror. “Your woman? What century were you born in?”
Hank turns away and puts on his seatbelt, before turning back to Austin. “She does not seem to mind.”
I back up without a word. This conversation is awkward and embarrassing. I come to a stop. “Hank. I’m heading back to the highway. You want to be my navigator?”
He looks back at me, his eyes full of light. “Sure. I’ll steer your ship.”
I tap the brakes, unable to think. “Hank. Cut it out.”
He looks back at me all innocence. “What did I say?”
I glare back at him, but I can feel my face is pink. “Just shut up and tell me where to go.”
He winks at me again. “Oh, I’ll tell you where to go.”
Austin flies up between us. “That’s enough! Hank, I don’t care if you wipe the parking lot with me, just stop with the innuendos, or the two of us are settling things here and now outside this car!”
I glance in the mirror before pulling an Austin move. I punch the gas. Austin flies back to the backseat and hits his head. I growl at him. “Austin, I can handle my own.” I turn on Hank and point my finger. “Listen up, Hank. No more funny business. I’ll find the highway with or without you.”
Hank nods and smirks. “Got it.”
I pull out of the parking lot and turn on the radio, desperate for anything but talking. Bon Jovi’s playing, and Hank cranks it, singing “Wanted, Dead or Alive” at the top of his lungs with gusto.
Austin cracks up from the backseat. “You’re a Bon Jovi fan? Amy hates Bon Jovi.” How does he know that? I never told him that.
Hank’s face falls. “How can you hate Bon Jovi?”
I glare at Austin. “I don’t hate him. He’s just not my favorite.”
Hank looks back at me. “Who is someone you like?”
I think about this. “Bruno Mars or Michael Buble.”
Hank looks confused. “I do not know them.”
Austin smirks. “How do you not know…” He slaps Hank’s arm. “Have you been living under a rock all your life or something? Oh no, wait. You’ve been living in a silo. My bad.”
Hank frowns, and his fists clench at his sides. I try to distract him. “Hank. Tell me about the set up inside the silo.”
Austin leans forwards again. “Yeah. Tell us about the levels of Dante’s Inferno.”
Hank raises his fisted hand and stops inches from Austin’s nose. To Austin’s credit, he doesn’t flinch. “I thought you were taking a nap.” Hank growls at him.
Austin glares back. “What am I, a toddler? You told us you would tell about the set-up.”
Hank looks at the two of us. He hesitates. “I will. When the time is right.”
Austin flops back against the seat. “And when will that be, Hank? When we’re already trapped inside your compound and can’t get out?”