Page 35 of Road Trip
She giggled, wiped her mouth, then got faux serious.
“I think, Mr. Graham, that I would like to ride roller coasters until we puke, eat ice cream and cotton candy and hamburgers and those huge turkey legs, and I would like to hold hands with you on the haunted house ride.” She nodded once, proud of herself, and ate another bite of Sunny’s head. I could watch her eat forever. I loved the way her lips pursed over her fork.
“Your turn,” she said, nibbling some more at her bacon.
“Would it be weird if I said I wanted to watch you eat all day?”
She paused with her fork full of eggs in the air.
“Too weird. Okay. Um,” I said quickly, although she was giggling now. “Well, I’m not too sure about the big roller coaster. I’m kind of chicken about going upside down. I do love the Swiss Alps. Is that roller coaster enough for you?”
She pouted.
“No? Fine. We can ride the big roller coaster.”
“Yay! I’ve never been to California Cruisin’ before. Do we have time to do both parks?”
I loved the playfulness and genuine excitement in her voice. She wasn’t just trying to make me feel less dorky for wanting to come.
“We can do whatever we want,” I said quietly. “You told me that. But are you sure? I mean, it’s not as cool as your music festival.”
She jumped up and plopped back in my lap, this time straddling me. Her lithe legs didn’t even come near touching the floor.
“Babe,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t think I’d ever come here again. I didn’t really care if I did or not, but now that we’re here? I want to do it all with you. I don’t care how corny or cheesy it is. Let’s do it!” Her smile slipped and she looked away.
“Hey. What is it?”
She blew out a breath. “Nothing. I just didn’t have a great time here before. I—”
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand and her eyes went wide. She stared down that phone from across the room with a look of sheer panic on her face. What was that all about?
“Are you going to get that?” I asked. It could have been a call for me, but her reaction had me thinking she knew what that call was about and dreaded answering it.
The buzzing stopped and she exhaled, seeming relieved.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. They’ll leave a message. Come here,” she said, her mood swinging from terror to temptress at the drop of a dime.
“Abra?” I asked, pulling back from her a bit. Who could be calling that would give her that kind of a response. “Don’t you think you better check your message?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “It’s probably just my roommate calling to bug me. She texted me last night and seemed pissed that I picked up a hitchhiker. She’s probably making sure you haven’t killed me and chopped me into pieces yet.” She laughed and rocked against me. Her movements sent a pleasurable jolt down my spine.
“If I answered I’d have to tell her you got me naked and had your way with me.”
“You’re killing me, doll. Come here,” I coaxed, kissing her neck gently. Something felt off, but I’d let it go for now.
“Mmmmm, Kelly,” she groaned. She arched her back, which caused her to rock against my erection.
I cried out against her neck, and she breathed a laugh.
“Does that feel good?” she asked, pressing against me once more.
“Oh, cheese and crackers, Abra, you’re killing me. I want…Abra, can we—”
“Yes, yes, we can,” she said, her hands reaching down toward my lap.
“No! I mean, can we talk, for just a minute?”
She pulled back, her expression hurt.
“Abra, I want you so bad. But I’m just worried. I told you I get all up in my head, and I know this is supposed to be our getaway, but I’m just afraid I’m not really in a good headspace for this right now and—”
She put her fingers over my lips and smiled down at me. “Kelly, I get it. In a way I’m kind of glad you said something. I think you are conflicted about this and I totally understand given your situation. I think we’ve agreed that we’re enjoying getting to know each other, and you know what they say about relationships founded on a traumatic event…let’s make a deal. Let’s spend these three days here together. No intercourse. If at the end of these three days we’re still this much into each other and you’ve had some time to think about how you’re feeling, maybe share with me, maybe then we can do something about it. What do you think about that? I’m game if you want to wait. I can’t guarantee I won’t keep touching you, though.”
She was right. Perhaps that was why I couldn’t just make that leap into bed. I needed to get it together. I wanted to be whole when I made love to her, not on the verge of a breakdown.
