Chapter 46
“Lucky, can we please stop here?” Liz begged, pointing to the McDonald’s they were about to pass. “We’ve been driving for three hours now, and I really need to use the restroom!”
Lucky continued down the road, passing the restaurant. “Sorry, I want to get there as soon as possible. Anyway, think of it as payback for not letting me go when we were in jail!”
“What? That was a totally different situation! I couldn’t leave the room then. I’m not asking you to go in with me, just stop so I can run inside really quick,” she argued.
Lucky shook his head, enjoying himself. “Nope, can’t stop now. You’ll just have to hold it like a big girl.”
Liz groaned and folded her arms across her chest, staring angrily out the window at the passing buildings, all of which probably had bathrooms.
“Lucky?” Lulu asked timidly from the back seat a few minutes later.
“Yeah, sweetie?” he asked, glancing in the mirror at her.
“When do you think we’ll be able to stop?”
“I don’t know, why?”
“Cause I have to go, too,” she answered softly. Liz giggled and looked over at him. He sighed and flipped on the turn signal, getting over so he could stop.
“We’ll stop now, honey. Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
“You told Lizzie you wouldn’t stop,” she answered.
“I know, but I was just teasing her. If you ever want to stop for something, just tell me, okay?” He looked in the mirror at her again as he pulled into a Burger King, smiling as she nodded. “Good. Okay, go ahead. Just try to hurry.”
Liz grinned triumphantly at him, then got out of the car. She waited for Lulu to get out, then grabbed her hand and lead her inside. “You know Lulu, you’re pretty handy to have around. Thanks for the save.”
“You’re welcome, Lizzie, but I really do have to go!”
A few minutes later, Lulu ran out of the restaurant by herself, and tapped on Lucky’s window. Frowning, he rolled it down. “Hey, where’s Elizabeth?”
“She’s inside. Can we eat here? I’m really hungry!”
Lucky really wanted to get back on the road, but as much as he suspected that Liz was behind this request, he could never deny his baby sister anything. He nodded and got out of the car, locked the doors, then followed Lulu back into the building. Liz was already seated with her food. She held up a fry as he passed her table.
“French fry?” she asked innocently, grinning.
“No thanks, I’ll get my own,” he grumbled, pulling Lulu into the order line. He slipped on his sunglasses quickly, just in case anyone might recognize him, even though wearing sunglasses indoors usually drew more attention.
Once they had their food, they went back to Liz’s table and sat down. Lulu took the seat next to her and immediately propped her feet up on the chair across from her, forcing Lucky to sit across from Liz.
“You’ve got quite a haul there,” Liz joked, pointing at the tray of food he had.
He shrugged, opening one of the cheeseburgers. “I’m hungry. I don’t want to make too many stops, so I might as well stock up now.”
“Fine by me. I don’t suppose I can drive for a while after this? You’ll probably need to sleep off all that food, anyway.”
Lucky looked up at her and was momentarily distracted by her piercing gaze. “Um, yeah, sure. I guess I could use a break.” He looked down at his tray again and they all fell silent while they continued to eat.
Lulu watched out of the corner of her eye as Lucky and Liz stole glances at each other as they ate. One would look up when the other was eating, then the other would look up just as the first looked down. It was almost like a game, and she found it highly entertaining. After a while, Lucky glanced over and saw her grinning.
“What’s so funny?”
Lulu quickly shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” he asked, putting down the rest of his last burger. “Are you up to something?”
“Nope,” she said innocently. “Just watching you.”
“Why? Am I doing tricks?” he joked.
Lulu giggled and shook her head again. “No, but you and Lizzie are funny. You keep looking at each other, but you don’t know it.”
They both blushed slightly and glanced at one another, then looked back at Lulu. “No we weren’t,” Liz said.
“Yes, you were,” Lulu responded firmly. “Daddy was right, you do love her.”
“What?” they both asked loudly, causing everyone near them to stare. Liz started to giggle as Lucky tried to speak.
“What was...why....what did you say?” he stammered.
“Daddy said you loved her, and he’s right, because you keep looking at her.”
Lucky shook his head in disbelief. “No, I don’t. Just because I look at someone, doesn’t mean I love them! Man, I can’t believe he’s already started this crap with you!” He looked up to see that Liz was still snickering, and narrowed his eyes at her. “What are you laughing at?”
She shook her head, waiting for her laughter to subside, then cleared her throat to speak. “Out of the mouths of babes!”
Lucky sighed and stood up. “Come on, we’re leaving. Meet me in the car.” He grabbed his tray and dumped it in a nearby garbage can, then hurried outside. Liz looked down at Lulu and smiled.
“As funny as that was, you’re wrong. He doesn’t love me, he doesn’t even like me!” she said, standing up with her own tray.
“Yes he does, I can tell,” she answered, sounding very sure of herself.
“How do you know? You’re, what? 11? Since when are you such an expert on love?”
“Daddy said so, and Daddy’s always right,” she said proudly. Liz laughed and threw away their food.
“Sorry, honey, but your Daddy’s dead wrong this time. Now come on, let’s get you to camp before it gets too late.” Liz grabbed her hand and walked out of the restaurant, determined to prove her wrong. Lucky didn’t love her, and she certainly didn’t love him!
