“I suppose, but it’s got nothing on that yellow Lambo over there.” I nodded a few spaces down to the SUV. “I think we should test drive that one.”
She shook her head so vigorously, pieces of hair fell out of her bun. “No, it’s too much. I think the BMW is much more reasonable. It will have all the safety features you want, right? This is more than enough.”
I spotted one of the lot guys a few rows back and flagged him down. I asked for the keys to the Lambo, and he jogged toward the main building to get them for us.
Gabi buried her face in her hand and groaned. “Jake, you’re killing me.”
A few minutes later, she was behind the wheel of the Lambo, and I was strapped in beside her while one of the salesmen walked her through the features and helped her adjust her seat. She was pretty short, so she had to adjust the steering wheel, seat, and pedals. She found the sweet spot and gripped the wheel, her fingers spreading as she got a feel for the leather.
A nervous laugh came out of her. “Holy shit, this is a nice car.”
The salesman laughed. “Yep, she’s a beauty. Make sure you take her around some corners. Really get a feel for how she handles. Open her up if you can, too. Within reason, of course.” He winked. “I don’t need my boss hearing me telling people to floor it. Then again, nothing is off limits for Mr. Cassidy.”
Gabi gave me a knowing eye roll. “How predictable.”
The salesman told her to have fun before closing her door and walking off to greet a couple wandering around the sales lot.
I pumped my eyebrows. “Ready?”
“No.”
“Yeah you are. We can start slow if you want. You made sure all your mirrors are good? You’ve got a feel for the blinkers and all your controls?”
She nodded and her grip tightened on the wheel. Her knuckles turned white.
“Hey.” I reached out and put my hand over hers. “There’s nothing to be nervous about here. It’s just a car. You drive every day. Just take a deep breath and give yourself permission to have some fun. That’s what you’re always preaching, isn’t it? Joy?”
Suddenly, her face broke into an easy grin, and I knew immediately I’d said the right thing. She drove out of the lot, took a few turns, and pointed us away from the city so she could do what he said and open it up. She drove effortlessly, like she’d been born to drive this thing. She handled it in sharp and wide turns alike, knowing how to adjust her speed. Clearly, she didn’t need me in the passenger seat giving her pointers.
By the time we’d been on the road for half an hour she’d rolled down the windows and cranked the music. She laughed into the wind, sang along with the music pouring through the speakers, and bopped in her seat to the beat.
She didn’t know it yet, but I’d already decided this was her car. I would put it on the company card and write it off.
Maybe she was right about this whole joy thing after all. Maybe it was worth chasing.