Page 20 of Road Trip
He shrugged and looked down at me over his shoulder. “I’m pretty careful, but yeah. Mind if I bring that with us?” He took the tube from me, rubbed some on his face and over his scalp since his hair was cut really short on top, then he stuck the tube in one of the deep leg pockets of his cargo shorts. He was wearing his black work boots as well. I loved all the black on him; he looked as if he was going to fit in fairly well here. There was only one thing missing.
“So no tattoos, huh?”
He smiled down at me in amusement. “I think you have enough for the both of us. Besides, they’ll all be looking at you anyway. You are much more interesting.”
“Never wanted any, or don’t like them?” I was curious. People tended to have opinions about people with tattoos. I hoped he didn’t.
“They’re not my thing. You saw me in the hospital. I don’t need any unnecessary needles.”
I figured that was the best I was going to get and tried to let it go, still wondering what he thought. I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed him, still deliriously happy he was here with me.
“So how’d you end up with an extra ticket?”
Ah, time for the story.
“I bought them months ago, when the show was first announced. My roommate was going to come along, but she got this new girlfriend and she didn’t approve of her coming down here, blah blah blah. She’s a little jealous of me, I think. I swear, if she keeps bringing her around, I’m out of there. Or maybe she’ll move in with her. Nah, I don’t wish that on her. I hate controlling people.”
“I could see someone being nervous about their girlfriend coming to a show like this without them. A woman could get hurt—”
“And it could happen whether she was here or not. God, you can’t live in fear of what could happen. Calculated risks, remember? I’ve never had troubles at a show. I’m careful.”
“I’m sure you are. You just can’t control what others around you do, that’s all.” He cocked an eyebrow and glanced at where the fight had occurred, and then pulled me toward him, his fingers hooked in my belt loops. “And you can’t control the effect your actions will have on other people.” He spoke those words dangerously close to my ear. His breath hit that sensitive spot there and had me giddy over the idea that he seemed as into me as I was to him. We kissed once more by the car, and I felt more of the tension fall away from him.
“I like this effect,” I said with a devious smile. He groaned as I took his hand and led him toward the gates.
We made our way through the security lines pretty quickly and then I pulled him over to the first food booth so I could get a hot dog and a big soda. He laughed at me, shoving the hotdog in my face. He’d opted for a rice bowl.
“Omigod, this is soooo good,” I moaned.
He just laughed and shook his head. “I am enjoying watching you eat it,” he murmured, and I blushed a little. Then I took advantage of his attention to lick the ketchup off the side, then off each of my fingers.
He reached out with his thumb and wiped my lower lip. “You are such an erotic eater. I never thought a hotdog could be so sexy.”
I reached for his hand before he could pull it back from me and sucked the mustard off it…slowly, and with lots of tongue. He groaned and pulled me closer, kissing me thoroughly.
“Abra! Is that you?”
We separated in time for a woman to barrel through Kelly, give him a lewd look, and hug me tightly.
“Holy shit! It is you! How you doing, girl?”
“I’m great, Shayla,” I answered in a tone devoid of excitement.
Kelly straightened up and his face lost that relaxed look. He was on guard once again. Shayla could have that effect on people. She came on strong and didn’t take no for an answer most of the time.
“Shayla, this is Kelly. Kelly, this is Shayla. She used to date my roommate, Jilly.”
Shayla looked between us like she wanted to be right in the middle of us, with fewer clothes. I’d never been attracted to her, but she had come on to me several times, which was why she wasn’t dating Jilly anymore.
“Where is Jilly, anyway? I thought she was coming with you?”
“Nope. Jilly decided to stay home with Sarah. Sarah didn’t want Jilly to come without her, so she bailed.”
Shayla rolled her eyes. “Fuck. I knew that would happen if she kept dating that fucktard.”
“Yeah, well, there are advantages to being with someone who has your full attention. Sarah might be controlling, but at least she’s faithful.”
Shayla looked at me innocently, and then at Kelly briefly with a raised eyebrow. “Right. Faithful. So, where are you—”
