Page 60 of No Interest in Love

“I’m serious about it. That’s the first thing I’m gonna do if I ever make it to a bigger screen.” I shrug. “Even if I don’t, I guess.”

“Damn,” she says, then something in Korean. She tucks a loose piece of hair back up into her elastic holder. “That’s ridiculously attractive.”

“What was that?” I ask with a lift of my lip.

“Huh?”

“You think I’m sexy? My sensitive side gets your motor running.”

“And your mouth just killed my lady boner.”

“Payback for you killing my actual boners all the time,” I lie straight through my teeth. I wonder if she’s noticed that she’s been the cause of most of them nearly this whole week. But really, the wind could rustle and Woody would stand up and salute that he’s reporting for duty.

She waves her arm, elbow hitting me lazily across my hollow stomach. “You want to try your card again while I pee?”

I nod at the gas station she’s pointing at. We make our way across the parking lot, my arm tired from dragging my carry-on for who knows how many hours now. She meanders off to the restrooms while I locate the ATM in the back. Right when I swipe my card and hitAccount Balances, my vision spots, and I consider stealing the bag of beef jerky hanging from the rack by my left arm.

Checking balance: –$23.54, avail. $0.00

Savings balance: $25.00, avail. $0.00

VISA credit: –$3,011.92, avail. $0.00

Damn it.

2:12P.M.

We’ve gotta be getting close. At least halfway.

At least.

I want a meatball sub so bad right now.

“Sometimes I want to hate you,” Shay says, pulling me out of marinara-sauce fantasies. I’m not sure where the thought comes from, but I go with it.

“The feeling has been mutual.”

“But I can’t.”

Yeah…with her on that one too.

“It’s because of the meme thing, isn’t it?” I ask, letting my eyes skate from the sidewalk to the light sweat on her face.

“That meme sucks. It’s always there haunting me so no one at my agency takes me seriously.”

“You can blame me for that. I’ll take responsibility for my asshole shenanigans.”

She blows out a long breath. “It would be easier to blame you. But I don’t.”

Somewhere in my exhausted state, those words give me a shot of adrenaline straight into my chest. “So if it’s not that, then why…?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure why I said that.” Her eyes lock with mine, glasses making me see my reflection. I’m so surprised by the unfamiliar look in my own eyes that I dart my gaze back to the sidewalk.

“You wanna try that gas station for an ATM?” I point my chin toward the intersection coming up. I feel her nod next to me, and even though we both know it’s pointless, we check my bank account again before heading back out.

3:49P.M.

We haven’t said a damn word in about an hour.

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