Page 59 of Road Trip
Chapter Fifteen
Abra
Back at the hotel, Kelly took a quick shower, and I made sure we could get tickets for the show in Vegas. I booked a room at the Hard Rock and texted Stevie we’d be coming. Kelly dressed in his last pair of shorts and a pirateT-shirt I just had to get him, then packed up the rest of his stuff into his Target bag and frowned.
“Don’t worry, babe. I’ll bring it in my car.”
He thanked me and made some calls on his new phone that luckily was delivered early. He booked his flight into Oakland and planned to take BART, and then a cab. Poor guy was going to be up all night. He called his sister to let her know he was coming home, but when he reached her, she wasn’t at the house. He talked to her for a few minutes and his frown grew deeper. When he hung up, I hurried over to him.
“She said she left to stay at our grandparents’ house because there were guys parked outside my house just watching. She had Dad come pick her up. Damn,” he said, and this was too serious of a situation for me to be excited about his cursing.
“It’s bad enough they are messing with my house, and my sister. Man! I can’t believe this.” He stepped away from me and took a few deep breaths before speaking.
“Look, doll, promise me you will be safe? You’ll text me when you are on the road and when you arrive? I’m worried.” He seemed far away, as if his mind was spinning with possibilities that his sister could have been hurt. I couldn’t imagine the level of guilt he would have felt if anything happened to her.
“I will keep in touch with you, babe. I promise. I’ll be fine. Just take care of you and in another day we’ll be in Vegas together, where we can continue our running away.”
He already looked beaten down. I hated this so much for him. I thought to myself that this might just be closer to the real Kelly I hadn’t totally experienced yet. I wanted to help him carry some of this weight.
“Come here,” he said quietly, reaching out his hand.
I stepped into his embrace and hugged him for all I was worth. He kissed me with purpose, then leaned back and held my face in his hands.
“Doll, you have affected me in so many ways. I am so grateful you found me so we could do this together.” He looked like he wanted to say more.
I wanted to hear more, but honestly if he dropped the love bomb right now, I’d freak the fuck out.
“Me, too. Hurry up. I miss you already.”
That seemed to lighten his mood. He kissed me once more before stepping out into the hall.
“Lock this deadbolt behind me. I’m going to take care of everything with the hotel. I’m sorry…”
“Just go already,” I said, laughing. “The sooner you go, the sooner we’ll be together, now move your fine ass.”
He chuckled as he walked down the hallway. Of course I watched his fine ass all the way down to the elevator.
Then I was alone. In a huge bed. With lots to think about. I thought about calling Jilly or Stevie to get some perspective, but I didn’t want to let anyone in on this yet. I worried that if I talked about it, my fantasy with him would be tarnished, maybe even ruined. I didn’t want to justify myself to anyone. Jilly would tell me I was crazy for pinning my hopes on a guy and remind me of how terrible that had been for me in the past. If I called Stevie, she’d encourage me and say that things would be fine and this was meant to happen…but I just couldn’t believe that something this good would happen to me. So instead of facing reality, I pulled out one of Kelly’s shirts and curled up with his pillow. I did allow myself to go back in time to the moment I found him. Tears welled up in my eyes and I pulled my knees up to my chest, curling up in a ball. If I had been five minutes later, he might have been torched on the side of the road. If I had been earlier, I might have missed him altogether. I wasn’t a hugely religious person, but even I had to believe there was something bigger at work here.
I let my mind drift to thoughts of our more intimate moments. Memories and sensations hit me and plastered a smile on my face. When it came down to it, Kelly just made me happy. If I could turn off all of my worries and insecurities, I could allow myself to believe that he was real and that meeting him, even in the dire circumstances in which I had, was most likely the best thing that had ever happened to me.
I turned on my iPod and connected it to a cord attached to the alarm clock radio thingie. I put on a playlist that was sensual and attempted to fall asleep. It felt like it took a long time for me to drift off, and then I was jolted awake by my phone buzzing.
Hey, doll. At airport. Miss you like crazy already. Can still smell you on my clothes. Please be safe. Can’t wait for Vegas.
I felt giddy like a damn teenager! I texted back right away.
I smell you because I’m in your shirt. You be safe. Vegas…what do you want to do first?
I figured he’d send back something sweet.
You.
Whoa.Had I managed to corrupt my sweet farm boy already? Oh, this could be fun. And possibly a really good distraction for him.
How?
I wondered how detailed he’d get. I had no idea what was going on his innocent little mind.
