A comfortable silence settled between them, the humming glow of the engine the only sound. After a few moments, Daniel spoke up. “We are like the only people out here. No one really drives out here anymore. I could have chartered this one.”

Juniper’s fingers tapped against the steer, a subtle dance betraying her racing thoughts. “I like driving. It helps me relax, you know? Process my thoughts…”

Daniel smiled, a barely audible chuckle escaping his lips. “Oh, you think really fast, I guess. Quick…”

She glanced at him, her body bouncing once with a silent laugh, eyes rolling skyward in amusement.

Daniel’s smile turned introspective as he avoided eye contact, his focus shifting to the farms beyond the window. “You doing ok, Juniper? You seem off,” he said in a calm and relaxing tone.

“Yeah, just ready for the day, you know,” she replied, her tone carefully neutral as she kept her eyes on the road.

He nodded, a yawn overtaking him as he turned his head to watch the passing landscape. “Well, I’m glad, hun,” he said casually, the words slipping out unnoticed amidst his relaxed state.