Page 10 of Loving Hard on the Highway

“So am I,” she said, her soft smile radiant. “I can’t remember the last time I was anywhere, especially with a guy, and felt free. Like I don’t have to look over my shoulder.”

Chapter 5

Gabbie

We were still singing with light laughter as we left the karaoke bar. The town had quieted while we were inside the club. As the midnight hour approached, the crowds thinned, the laughter grew softer, and the shop windows darkened. Only the warm orange glow of the streetlights lit our path, and the occasional sound of cars heading down Route 14.

My pulse hadn’t quite returned to normal since we left. Not from the music. Not even from the dancing. It was him. I couldn’t get over the way he’d looked at me during that slow song, like he’d wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if he should.

The hotel came into view up ahead, its dull exterior softened by the amber porch lights and the glow of the vending machines by the entrance. I wish the walk had been longer.

We reached the front doors. He opened one for me without a word.

Inside, the lobby was mostly empty.

A bored but smiling receptionist behind the desk called out to me as we walked by. “Miss Jones. There is a message for you.”

I hesitated.

“From a Laurel Young.” The receptionist held up a piece of stationery.

“Oh.” I smiled as I took the note. The note said she would call the hotel room at midnight if I didn’t have a phone yet. “Thank you. Please put her through when she calls back.”

I hurried, and Sean picked up the pace to keep up with me. The mood immediately shifted from blossoming possibilities to getting back on task.

“Everything ok?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s almost midnight, and I don’t want to miss her call. She’s probably worried.”

The phone was already ringing by the time we got into the room. I waved for Sean to shower first as I picked up the phone.

“Hey.” I barely got that out of my mouth before Laurel chimed in.

“Oh my gosh, where were you?” Laurel jumped in.

“We thought maybe you’d had an accident or had been kidnapped. I was ready to get in my car and go after you,” Evie said over the club music playing in the background. They were probably outside the club on the beach.

“Nothing like that,” I said, flopping my whole body back onto the queen-sized bed. “It was so late when we got here. We were desperate to get some food.”

“We?” my two friends questioned in unison.

“The guy I’m riding with to California,” I attempted to explain.

“What?” Laurel sounded as if she were about to hyperventilate.

Evie took a deep breath before taking over the conversation. “Okay. Start from the beginning. You met him where?”

“Actually,” I smiled, staring up at the popcorn ceiling of the hotel room. “I first met him last night at Club Vida, after you two convinced me to dance with him.”

I explained the mix-up at the car rental service and the compromise we made. And at some point, I must have gushed a bit.

“Oh, my gosh! You have a crush on him,” Laurel squealed.

“His Connect-ID says he’s an Associate at Holsten Industries. And his InView is just a ton of pics with him and a motorcycle.”

“That’s Reba, and are you two stalking his socials?” I asked.

“We have to make sure he’s not a serial killer,” Evie laughed, unapologetically and a little too loudly. She probably had a drink in her hand, too, hundreds of miles away in Florida.

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