Page 3 of Rider Daddies
Questions start to drift through the atmosphere, but I can’t answer any of them. I descend the hill and barge into the reception area to steal Tristan’s car keys.
His Corvette will make a decent ride.
I pop the car door and collapse into the driver’s seat, tires screeching as I get the hell away from the wedding venue and Tristan…
And California.
Ten minutes later, I cross the border into Nevada.
I sort of get why Mamma moved when she caught Papa having an affair.
You tend to associate places with people.
Although I still associate Mamma with California, my life this past year has been solely Tristan. I work with him. I share a bed with him every night. Everything about California reminds me of him. He always went on about how proud he was to live in the state, about how he’d never move.
The redwood trees are starting to thin out, the ground becoming paler in color. I’m heading into the desert, which could be a bad idea—but hey, at least it’s not California.
I navigate over to the radio, thumbing random buttons until something turns on. None of the radio channels have any signal. All that plays through the speaker is static.
I hit the wheel. Goddammit. I can’t be alone with my thoughts right now. They’re gonna consume me.
I need music.
I need a distraction.
I pull over onto the side of the road and take out my phone. I forgot to charge it last night because I was too excited about everything. Bad idea. I only have three percent left on my battery.
“Ugh.”
I yank down the glove box, fishing for a charger. There isn’t anything in here but a car manual.
I check my notifications.
Mamma: Running away won’t solve anything.
Mamma: Come back. Let’s go for a spa day.
Mamma: I know you’re hurting, but this is a bad idea.
I poise my fingers over the screen and get ready to text back.
Me: I just need to get away for a while. I’ll be back. My phone is on 3% but I’ll find a charger and give you a call.
Other messages come through from other guests. Everybody knows what happened. Apparently Tulip, the bridesmaid whowent looking for my veil, ended up putting her karate skills to use and knocked Tristan unconscious.
I laugh into the screen. That makes me feel satisfied…
But only for a short while.
What the fuck am I supposed to do about work? I can’t go back to the office, not with Tristan there. He’s senior management.
I’ve only been there a year.
Employed byhim.
I guess I’ll find something else…
But even the thought of practicing law makes me sick to my stomach. It has his name written all over it. My career, the one thing I wanted to make mine, has been destroyed by a man.
