He fidgeted with his seat belt, glancing at her. “Not because you buy a wing or something like that to get me in the way Zach’s dad would do.”

I side-eyed him, curious. “And who’s Zach?”

“The jerk I punched for hitting his girlfriend.”

I twisted around on my seat, catching Juliette’s eyes as I asked him, “And does Zach have a last name?”

“Don’t answer that,” she pleaded.

Colin wasted no time in answering. “Bauer.” He sent his mom an apologetic shrug. “What?” His grin stretched to meet his eyes. “I can’t risk him taking the keys from me, not when I’m having so much fun.”

So much fun? I settled back in the seat as that compliment passed over me.

“Zach’s father won’t win any nice-guy awards anytime soon.” Colin adjusted the rearview mirror to look at his mother. “He’s not just a defense attorney, he defends the scum of the universe and makes big bucks doing it.”

“You’re not helping my case here. I’m trying to keep your father from having a talk with him, not encourage it.”

“I already have enough reason to pay him a visit, don’t worry. Colin’s just helping me determine how, uh, hard I lay into him with that talk.”

“I’d pay what little money I have to see that conversation,” Colin said, beaming from ear to ear. The kid kept proving over and over again how much like me he really was, even though I hadn’t raised him.

“Speaking of Zach and school,” I began, deciding to deflect to save Juliette from worrying about my one-on-one that absolutely would be happening, “I was wondering if you’d like to switch to a new high school, my old one?”

I let Juliette take the lead and explain, and Colin agreed without any pushback. It felt almost too easy. What was I missing?

“Can you get Lennon in, too?”

And there it is.

That was another reminder that I needed to focus on our surroundings and check the mirrors, ensuring we didn’t have a tail. And where were Izzy and Hudson with an update on Lennon’s old man? “Let’s, uh, just see what happens after.”

“After what happens?” Colin turned to look at me.

“I don’t have an answer for you on that yet.” I quickly checked my phone. Still nothing. “I’ll do my best to get Lennon in,” I relented.

“Shake on it?” He offered his hand.

Like mother, like son. I pocketed my phone and hesitantly accepted, relieved to see a smile settle back on his lips.

“Okay, where are we going next?” He returned his hand to the wheel in preparation to pull back into traffic. “Brunch, driving lessons, and now . . . how about shopping before we go home?”

Home. He called my place home. Hell, I’d go anywhere he wanted after giving me that gift.