Page 37 of Just A Trip

Chapter 17

Karli

I feel like I’m cuddled in a cloud. It’s not as soft, but it’s a million times better. I’m sailing above the earth and I’m never coming down. It’s warmer up here than I thought, and firm, but also cozy.

Why is my cloud snoring?

My eyes fly open. There’s a face. And a body beneath me.

Trent? What’s happening?

I pull away slowly and take in my surroundings. This is not my van. This is…a hotel room. Why are we in a hotel room? My stomach growls as I try to piece it all together.

I got sick. Then I fell asleep. And now I’m here. I roll to my side and freeze when I see what’s on the nightstand. Just about every drink an ailing person might need, crackers, the TV remote and a room key. And…the blanket? Definitely not hotel-grade stuff. This is fuzzy heaven.

Trent did this for me?

No one has ever taken care of me like this. My fingers find the familiar gold chain around my wrist and it’s like I can hear my grandma saying, ‘That’s how you know he’s a good one.’

Heisgood. Too good. But Bakers don’t getgood ones. We get washed-up leftovers, the runts of the litter, the burnt ends. We don’t get people who stay and take care of us when we’re ill. Who rents a hotel room so I don’t have to be sick in a moving vehicle. This is all too much.

I pick up a Gatorade and sip it slowly. It’s just Trent, sweet, helpful, protective Trent. He would do this for anyone.

For some reason the thought of him doing all this for another girl though turns my insides into a flaming ball of fire. I’m jealous of my own imagination.

After the Gatorade is gone and I’ve eaten approximately four saltines, I slide off the bed and locate my mini Go Bag that he was sweet enough to bring in for me.

A memory hesitantly pops up in my mind. I asked him to get it. The details are hazy, but I can say with confidence it was something embarrassing.

Ugh.Why must I be so strange awake and asleep?

I locate my toothpaste and a pair of clean clothes. But no toothbrush. Must have left that behind. Maybe there’s a convenience store around here.

It’s nearly dinner time, and my depleted stomach is starving. Instead of hopping in the shower like I really want to, I go in search of keys. I’ll get us some food, as a thank you. The poor guy is clearly as exhausted as I was. It’s the least I can do.

***

I find my way out of the hotel and head for the only giant van in the parking lot. But then I catch sight of a strip mall across the street. Perfect.

Putting the keys in my pocket, I head for the stores.

The food options are Mexican and pizza. Not exactly what I want to put in my stomach hours after puking, but it is what it is. I place an order for a pizza, half with all the toppings, and half as plain as it gets. The cashier gives me a ticket then tells me the wait time and I head to the souvenir store next door.

There are all the classics. Mini flasks, mini shot glasses, mini lighters, but…wait a minute. Why are there Las Vegas shirts here? Aren’t we in Arizona?

A woman steps up next to me at the small rack of Vegas memorabilia. “Excuse me,” I say to her. “Where are we?”

She narrows her eyes. “In a store?”

“No, I mean this city? What is it called?”

She blinks, her gaze darting left and right before she clasps my hand. “Dear child, have you been abducted?”

“What? Oh, no. I just fell asleep while we were driving.”

She drops my hand and takes a step away, making atskingsound. “I suggest you pay more attention before you go scaring an old woman. We are in Boulder City.”

What? That doesn’t make sense. He went backward? We are still in Nevada? I guess it makes sense since it’s the only city for miles, but why would Trent do that for me? I know how bad he wants to get home. But instead, he made our trip longer.

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