Page 31 of Just A Trip

I cross my arms over my stomach as if that will stamp down the pains within. “Perhaps someone didn’t wash their hands.” Just the thought has me feeling more nauseous. “I’ll be fine soon.” Hopefully.

His eyes rove over my face, reading the words I’m not saying. “But you don’t feel good rightnow. I know you can change your own tire, but just because you can, doesn’t mean you have to. Please, let me do this for you.”

His sensitive words break down my resolve. I feel awful, and all he’s asking for is to help. Why can’t I just accept it?

The nausea flares up again. The last thing my aching body wants to do is kneel on the rocky ground and change that tire. “Fine.” I hold my head a little higher. “Since I already did the first half, I suppose you can finish.”

He smirks. “Thank you for allowing me this pleasure.”

I can’t bring myself to go inside the van and be completely useless, so I open the passenger door and sit on the edge in the shade, watching him work. It’s a distraction I very much need right now.

Fifteen minutes later, Trent is crouched over the tire, dripping in sweat, but not once has he removed his shirt to get more comfortable. Call me stupid, but I thought that’s how all attractive men worked on cars. No? Sigh. I got my phone out for nothing.

Trent tightens the last lug nut on the spare tire and hops up. He struts toward me and I attempt to shove my phone into my pocket, but I move too fast and it slips from my fingers.

Trent is quick to rescue my phone from the dirt. He looks up, his blue eyes intent on mine. “Why is your camera app open?”

He saw that?

I stand, wobbling slightly. “The, uh, landscape is breathtaking.”

He glances over his shoulder at quite possibly the worst view I’ve ever seen. There’s nothing but desert. And a single toilet propped up by a cactus.

Now that I think about it, I had to pee last night before I fell asleep, but I was fine this morning. I really hope I didn’t sleep pee in that thing.

“Is that my butt?” He lifts the phone closer to his face.

“Is it?” I know exactly what he’s seeing. The tiny photo in the corner of the screen that I “accidentally” took of him about ten minutes ago. That doesn’t mean I have to admit it.

He looks at me, his eyes flashing. “It’s fine. I have some of you, too.”

“What?” This time, my surprise is genuine. And so is my intrigue, maybe also some fear. Did he catch me sleep-peeing? “Show me.”

“We’ll see.” He holds out his hand, offering the phone to me, but there’s something else in his eyes. A hidden meaning there, begging to be explored.

I reach for the phone, trying to conceal my blush when he doesn’t pull away, allowing his fingers to linger on mine. It’s just a touch. How sick am I?

Chapter 14

Trent

“Ontheroadagain,”Karli says as she delicately scoots herself into the driver’s seat one inch at a time. It’s utterly painful to watch. She still doesn’t feel good, I wish she’d just admit it and let me do more for her. But it felt significant that she let me help with the tire at all.

Once she’s settled she relaxes into the seat and takes a long breath.

“Think we can make it this time?” I ask.

“Boy, you better knock on wood.” She puts the key in the ignition and turns.

Nothing.

I groan. Audibly or silently, I’m not sure at this point. This trip is not going to plan at all. Not that we had a plan other than driving home. It shouldn’t be that hard.

“That’s weird,” Karli says. “What?”

“My gas gauge says empty. But I filled it up before we left Vegas.”

This time my groan is very much audible. And annoyed. With Bertha. She’s out to get me.

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