Page 17 of Road Trip
“Earth to Boy Scout—hey! Were you in the Boy Scouts?”
“No,” I answered, still trying to remember how to talk.
“Hmmm, you just have that whole honorable thing going on.” She had her hands on her hips and she was looking up at me like she was trying to figure me out.
“I did 4-H. And Junior Cadets.”
She rolled her eyes and linked her fingers around my neck.
“That must be it. So no Boy Scout. Instead, Wholesome Farm Boy. I like it. Ooo! Like Wesley inThe Princess Bride! ‘Farm Boy, fetch me that pitcher,’” she said in a goofy English accent. Luckily I could keep up with this one.
“As you wish,” I said with a little bow.
She squealed and pushed up on her tiptoes to kiss me. I took a moment to breathe and be thankful she’d somehow gone back to her confident self. I still worried her change earlier had something to do with me.
“You are so friggin’ CUTE! Tell me, Farm Boy. Are you having a good time?”
“Do you even have to ask that?” I kissed her once again, deeper this time, playing with her tongue in a light, teasing way. That had the desired effect. She went a little loose-limbed in my arms, and I crushed her against me.
She took my lip between her teeth again and gently nibbled.
“If you keep that up, we’re never going to get out of here.” I was torn. This place was pretty awful, but being alone with her had been such a soothing balm. I wasn’t sure that would continue if we left this room.
She waggled her eyebrows at me and then got serious.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away about the phone call. I thought maybe it was for me, but I listened to the message and it was from your lieutenant. I probably should have told you, but I wanted you to relax.”
“You live in Hayward?” I asked.I didn’t mean it to come out disdainfully, but her disappointed look was back.
She dropped her hands from my shoulders and backed away from me.
“What’s the matter, don’t eat where you shit, or something like that?” She shoved her hands in her back pockets and raised an eyebrow.
“I was just surprised. It’s kind of a coincidence, don’t you think?”
She shrugged. “It’s a big city.”
I sighed. I had some damage control to do.
“I don’t live there, if that’s what you were so eloquently trying to say, but that’s only because I need a little space from the job. Case in point, last night? The more I think about it, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen those guys before.”
My heart jumped in my chest and I swear I caught a whiff of gasoline. I had to step away from her and get myself together.
“Jesus, I’m sorry, Kelly. That was really shitty of me to say that. No, I understand. I work there, too, and it’s always so much fun running into people when you just wanted to sneak off to the store for Ben and Jerry’s at midnight in your PJs. You can’t avoid it.” She moved closer to me, hesitantly. She touched my shoulder.
“You think you recognized those guys? Do you think they followed you?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. They were pretty motivated to follow me all the way down here, though.”
This led to a whole other route of thinking. I shook my head. I didn’t want to go there now. I wasn’t ready.
I exhaled harshly, hoping she really did understand what I meant. This was going to be an issue, her living where I worked. I didn’t like spending time there when I was off duty. But I was getting ahead of myself. We were running away. Although, who was to say we couldn’t keep seeing each other…man. Time for reality.
“Can I borrow your phone, please? I should call in.” I did not want to make this call, but the longer I put it off, the worse it might be, and I didn’t want to end up getting Abra in this any deeper. She handed me her phone, looking worried. I thanked her and stepped outside.
“This is Lieutenant Reynolds.” Luckily my commanding officer was still on duty today. It was her Friday and I was grateful I could talk to her.
“Good morning, Lieutenant. This is Graham.” I heard her cover the phone and speak to someone else before she came back online.
