She grins. “That kind of danger I can handle. I’m just — it’s you. It’s always you, Toni; I don’t want people pestering you about, oh, older women or something, I don’t know. I don’t care if they call me a gold-digger or a cradle-robber or what-have-you; I’ve heard everything at one time or another and nobody can say anything to me I haven’t heard already.” She starts on another lock of hair. “I am happy, Toni. I never,” she laughs a little, “I never in the world believed this would happen.”
Toni frowns and his grip tightens a bit at his own idiocy. “I’m going to make it up to you; I shouldn’t have treated you how I did before. it was rude and mean and, God, you know I’m sorry for everything, right? You’re so amazing, Summer, and I was a fucking idiot and I know that doesn’t make up for anything, but I’m going to make things right.” The brunet looks over at and gives her what he hopes is a smile. “I’ll make things right,” he repeats more to himself as he turns to the roads once more.
Summer flushes hard. “You were never that bad. I was an unholy pest.” She looks up at his profile, eyes soft, and bites at her lip. “I know. Don’t — just be yourself, okay, Toni? I lo-like, I like you the way you are.” Reaching out, she puts a hand over his wrist and squeezes a little. “Like that night I was so drunk. You were awfully good to me that night.”