“I was about to head out, actually. I have an early morning.” The lie rolls out as smooth as silk.
“I do too,” she says huskily and moves closer to rest her hand on my chest. The heat is warm and sends messages to parts I’m fighting to ignore. “I’m actually out for a bachelorette party. The wedding is tomorrow morning.”
“That’s probably all the more reason not to slum it with me and rejoin your friends.” I use my thumb to tug her puffy lower lip from between her teeth. “You don’t want to be the one who ditches her friend on her pre-wedding night.”
She gives a one-shoulder shrug. “It’s actually my cousin.”
I roll my lips between my teeth, suppressing a chuckle. “Another time. I promise you’ll catch me around.” With a wink, I let her waist go and sidestep by to remove all contact. Her pout makes it that much harder to ignore my brain and take what my body wants instead.
She sneaks back to her group with a little less bounce in her step.
I’m accosted twice more on my way out the door, but as soon as I’m safely enclosed in my Jeep, the relief doesn’t come.
A part of me wants to jump out and walk back into that bar.
The other part, the one I try so hard to suppress and ignore, says I’m dangerously on the edge. How many drinks did I have? And how many more before all reason gets thrown in the trash?
I glance up into my rearview, noticing the dark rings beneath my eyes.
Alcohol and mirrors, man. Makes it easier to look at ourselves.
4
Evie
The first hue of pink on the horizon peels open my gritty eyelids. Without much else to do at this hour, I leave Ghost asleep, lock my car, and trudge into the service station with my small tote and flip-flops. The weary cashier doesn’t reveal whether he’s worked the overnight or just clocked in when I pass over my five-dollar bill for a hot shower.
“Round the back,” he grunts and slides over a key attached to a weathered paint stick.
“Thanks.”
Two eighteen-wheelers are parked along the far side, and I pass by without a glance as I tread carefully to the shower. I don’t want to inadvertently attract unwanted attention.
The shower is hot, albeit short, and I wander back inside with a T-shirt wrapped around the wet curls on my head.
Step one of living out of your car? Not giving a single fuck what other people think.
I select two packs of peeled hard-boiled eggs and a banana for breakfast. The junkier options call to me, but there’s plenty of time to gorge on a greasy burger for dinner. Besides, eggs are one of Ghost’s favorite treats.
My cell jangles my brother’s ringtone from my tote, prompting me to hurry through returning the key and paying for my measly food. Juggling the tote in one hand, I hang the plastic bag from my wrist and dig out my phone.
“Hey, bro.” I inject as much faux cheeriness into my voice as I can to ward off the questions.
“It’s actually me,” Caiti says. The sound of my beautiful sister-in-law’s voice cinches a string around my heart.
“Even better. How’s it going, babe?”
Her snort shackles me. “I should be asking you that. How’s it going, babe?” she mocks. “Are you freaking kidding me right now?”
“Whoa.” I find the willpower to unlock my feet and return to my car. “What did Eric tell you?”
“That’s exactly the problem! He’s told me nothing because, according to him, you’ve told him nothing.”
“I’ve told him all I can right now.”
“Oh, really?” I easily conjure the image of her with her hand on her hip and her shiny, jet-black hair swaying as she shakes her head at me. “Tell me where you are then.”
“I’m currently at a gas station getting breakfast. After I feed Ghost, I’m finding a store so I can get my supplies and start finding clients.”