Page 34 of Pit Stop

Twenty-Six

Odette

As I head back inside Tillman is coming in through the doors, dressed but dry. His hands are full with the rest of the bags. I lay my key on the kitchen counter and follow Tillman out the front door. He heads for the trunk of his car as I close up the house. As he closes the trunk, he looks over at me. “Are you hungry?” he asks.

For something I shouldn’t be,is the first thought in my mind. After the eye candy I just saw at the pool it’s hard not to be, but my common sense returns and I reply, “Yeah, I could eat. I’ve got some food back at the hotel.”

He looks at me. “No, we’re going to go somewhere and eat. It’s great, you’ll love it, I promise.” Mentally, I try to count the money in my wallet without actually pulling it out and going through it in front of him. I’m really not in the mood to embarrass myself. It’s easy to tell that Tillman has money. One look at the car he’s driving and it’ll answer that question. I may not know much about cars, but I know this one cost a pretty penny. I’d be lucky to ever see the amount of money he has invested in this car and that’s if he hasn’t made any modifications to it. However, considering that he’s into street racing I’m sure he’s made some modifications. It seems like a necessity for them. I’m trying to come up with a valid excuse to get me back to the hotel when he moves to open the passenger door. “Stop counting and get in here.”

“What?” I ask.

Tillman gives me a knowing look. “I’ve done that enough to know what you’re trying to do. I give you credit you’re pretty good at it, discreet enough but I offered so I’m paying.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Trying to play it off might be even more embarrassing than just admitting I was trying to mentally count money.

He smirks. “It’s a good thing you want to be a nurse and not an actress because you’d be a bad one,” he says with a chuckle. I try my best not to be offended by his comment. However, I feel the blush creep over my skin, heating it as it roams. I hate that I blush so much around him. For some reason I can’t seem to help it. Once we’re pulling out of the driveway, I take a moment to watch the house disappear in the side mirror. I’m not sad to see it go but I feel the need to say goodbye. When we reach the end of the block Tillman glances at me, I can feel it the minute his eyes land on me. “If I made you feel bad or embarrassed you in any way, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. There’s been plenty of time I’ve had to stop and try to think how much I had in my wallet. I didn’t want you to worry about it.”

I scoff. “By the looks of things, I’m going to have to call your bluff on that. I mean your car alone speaks volumes.”

He shakes his head. “You have no idea. I spent years in the same position as you. Hell, I was basically homeless for a portion. What I have now, is not where I came from. This hasn’t always been my life. Not too long ago I was very much like you and your family but without the other two puzzle pieces you have. I was alone and homeless and so damn hungry.”

An uncomfortable silence takes over the atmosphere of the car. Finally, I apologize. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed I knew what your life was like.”

After a few more moments of silence, he takes a deep breath and releases it. “It’s okay. I know it’s probably what most people assume about me.”

“You said you were homeless,” I comment.

Tillman nods. “Yeah, but we’re almost there. Let’s get some food then you can ask whatever you like.”

When we pull into the dirt parking lot of some place called Pike’s I’m not sure if I should run or just refuse to get out of the car. The building looks to be in terrible condition. There’s no way I can eat anything they serve. I’m not even sure how the building is still standing. It looks as if the next gust of wind might blow it right on over. “I’m not that hungry,” I blurt out.

His laughter is the last thing I hear as he gets out of the car. When his door shuts, I take a moment to try and come up with another excuse, but I have nothing. My mind is completely blank. Tillman opens my door and he stands there waiting expectantly. “It’s not as bad as it looks, I promise.”

“I’m not sure you should be making promises you can’t keep.”

He brings one of his large hands up to scratch at the five o’clock shadow that covers his jawline. “It’s a promise I can keep.” He extends his hand out to me. When I don’t budge, he smiles. “Trust me.”

Those two words catch me off guard. After a few more moments of debating, I place my hand in his. In this moment I’ve never felt anything so right before in my life. It’s like my hand has always belonged in his, missing puzzle piece, perfect fit. The reaction my heart has is wild. It speeds up while missing beats simultaneously. My skin feels like an electrical current is making its way through my body, lighting up every part of me. I would say he doesn't feel a thing if it weren’t for the fact his eyes widen. Tillman’s hand closes around mine as he helps me out of the car. Once I’m standing, with the car door between us, I tell him, “I don’t just give my trust to anyone so don’t make me regret this.”

Something I can’t quite explain hangs in the air between us. His eyes are intense and ice blue, never wavering from mine. When he speaks, his words cut and tear at my soul. “Don’t get your hopes up. I tend to be a regret from the start.” I shake my head. “I’ll end up letting you down,” he admits, finally looking away.

My hand tightens around his. The confident, commanding man I’ve been seeing has a softer side. I like seeing behind his walls—and now it’s my turn to pick up one of his pieces. “You won’t let me down.”

After that, we head across the dirt parking lot. When they say don’t judge a book by its cover, they are literally talking about this place. For everything the outside lacks, the inside more than makes up for it. It’s retro with a flare of modern and I love it. Tillman looks over at me, his hand still wrapped around mine. I can’t help but wonder what people see while looking at us. It’s a thought I’ve never had before. Most of the time I believe I fade into the background, but with Tillman I feel front and center. It’s slightly intoxicating. “I hope you like Root Beer floats.”

“I’m not sure I could trust someone who didn’t.” He smiles at my reply before leading us to a booth.

Once we’re seated, he looks over his menu at me. To be honest I’ve been staring at it without actually reading it. Everything today has gone from low to high like I’m on some sort of roller coaster. I don’t even know the man sitting across from me, yet I trust him. I’m sure his past is scary considering what I have learned, but it doesn't scare me enough to stay away. “How much trust do you want to give me?”

It’s a simple question and the answer is easy, but I can’t give him a fully honest answer.All of it, is what I’d like to say, but we’re not there yet—whatever this is between us. Instead, I decide to play around a little, lighten the mood the best I can. I scrunch up my nose, twisting up my mouth. “I’m not sure. I mean you did earn some points for this shocking little place.”

“You should try the spicy chili burger. It’s the best thing.” Before I can answer Tillman, the waitress appears to take our order. Tillman orders the spicy chili burger with a glass of tea and Root Beer float for dessert. The waitress eyes him. I can’t blame her. He really is something, but I have this feeling he doesn’t see it. When she finally looks my way to take my order, I order the same thing. When the waitress disappears, Tillman leans in on the table like he has a secret. “So, you do trust me…” he teases.

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