Page 83 of Desert Heat

Yeah, you know. Baby, you're a tall drink, little top shelf that'll get me going, hold on. We both know that road that we're goin' down. And right now, all I can think about. I got my mind on you and you on my mind. Got these four wheels on a two-lane and we cuttin' through the night. Got you high in my head and your love on my lips. Girl, I'm huggin' on these curves, like them jeans on your hips. Every time you hop in lookin' like you do. I got my hands and my eyes and my mind on you.

I got my mind on you.

I got my mind on you…”

“What’s up Tank? You only sing break up songs from the eighties?”

“First,” he held up a hand hitting pause on the stereo, “Whitney is the greatest of all time. Secondly, I beat your ass based on all the applause last night when stopped in that bar for karaoke.”

“Please, you ripped your shirt off and sang Deaf Leopard… that’s basically cheating.”

“You wanna rematch tonight? I’ll start looking for karaoke bars along the route to our destination.”

I shook my head, checked the rearview and changes lanes. “It’s all good, bro. You can have it. We need to formulate a plan for Operation Get our Girls Back.”

Tank rubbed his beard, thoughtfully, “Nothing on campus…. But nothing that could scare them or trigger memories of when they were grabbed. Fuck this is hard.”

“Maybe we should just take the honest approach this time? We could rent tuxes and show up with flowers?”

“Yeah, “ he snorted, “Savvy would take the flowers and start bashing you on the head.”

“Ok, I’m just gonna text her and ask her out on a date. You should do the same with Brandi… plan your big proposal.”

“A date? That’s not a grand gesture… big enough.”

I stared out at the road letting my thoughts go in rewind. I remembered the rage and the anger I felt after Danny died. “I was such a hot-headed idiot. What was I thinking when I cooked up the plan to go to Bradbury and seduce her as revenge?”

“Well, I for one, saw they way you eye-fucked her photo when we gathered intel on The Outlaws. Maybe it was just inevitable, fate and all that shit. I have zero regrets and neither should you. Look at the two of us driving practically all day and night to win them back after an almost year long cooling off period.”

“She did look pretty hot in that photo. Listen, I think I have an idea about Brandi. Let’s stop and get you a tux, and some luxury shit. She’s the type pf girl that needs a proposal Bachelor style.”

“I knew you watched that show.”

“Nah, but hacker was into The Golden Bachelor for some odd reason I still don’t get.”

“He’s got a specific taste in the ladies. Always like a sexy cougar. Who knows? But I think you are right about Brandi. Wining and dining her fine ass is the way to go.”

“Let’s focus on that then. I’ll handle Savvy on my own.” I turned back up the tunes feeling better than I had in a long time. Hopefully with a bit of luck, my world would be righted again.

“You set my world on fire,” I sang in my deep baritone while tapping my fingers on the wheel. Sometimes you just have to trust that things will be all right. That life works out, despite all the bad shit and obstacles that seem insurmountable.

I mean look at me, River Cruz, born a poor, unwanted nobody living on stale crumbs and expired formula. Yet, I found a family, a place to belong with good people beside me.

“

CHAPTER 3

They didn’t show.Brandi and I both felt stood-up which was irrational. But we were moody after being excited to see both our men in the person after so long.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked Savvy as we both sank down into the frothy water of the hot tub. I had invite her to crash like old times.

“Study? Make more TikTok’s?”

“Lame. We should go apple picking or hiking.”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “I’m beat. Let’s make a fire, put on Netflix and bake cookies.

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Take my burner phone. I need to stop myself from sending a text I might regret.”

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