Mei took the spot beside her. "I liked the nineties, actually. Back then, we all thought the world was moving the right way. We had all the cool new toys, the best music, and it felt like hate only happened elsewhere. We still had just enough of a bubble to believe that we lived in utopia."
"Yeah," Dahlia agreed, "the nineties were pretty good. The two-thousands weren't bad either. I liked the old days too."
"Before we used years like this?" Mei asked.
Dahlia nodded. "Life was simple. The land was wild, the world was a mystery, and we didn't know what we didn't know. Sure, it was hard sometimes, but a stranger's first reaction was usually to help."
"When men were men, and women were seen and not heard," Mei teased.
Dahlia scoffed. "Where I was from, we were heard. We weren't quite equal to men, but we had a lot more rights than women did in your time, and it lasted for centuries."
"Would you go back if you could?" Mei asked.
"No," Dahlia said softly. "I want to see the next century, and the one after that. I want to grow and adapt. I want to walk the lands where I was born and look at the buildings that spread across the open fields I remember. What about you?"
"Never," Mei told her. "Although, I would go back to the nineties."
Dahlia laughed and bumped her arm just as a silver sedan pulled into the parking lot. A second later, Mei's phone beeped with a notification. Both of them stood, but this time Dahlia grabbed the backpack. Then she gestured for Mei to go first.
"You here for Keiko?" Mei asked.
"I am," the driver assured her. "I'm guessing that's you, huh? Where to in Carrollton?"
"A hotel," Mei told him. "It's been a long night, and we just want a safe place with no assholes."
"Well, let me know if you have a preference," the man said as they piled into the back. "Looks like that asshole roughed you two up a bit?"
"Wanted a threesome," Dahlia grumbled. "Didn't want to take no for an answer."
The driver eased the car back onto the road. "Well, bear with me. I'm going to have to make a few laps to get going back the way we need. This intersection is the worst, but I promise I'm going to get you to a safe place. You looking for quality rooms, or more budget?"
"Budget," they both said in unison.
The man chuckled. "Ok, well, there's a nice Motel 6 in Farmers Branch. Just next to Carrollton, if that's what you're wanting."
"Sounds perfect," Mei agreed.
"Not even gonna update the trip," the driver assured them. "You two look like you need something to go your way. Sit back, relax, and I'll get you there safely."
Dahlia just lifted her arm, and Mei immediately leaned over to cuddle against her. For this moment, they were safe. They were going to be ok. They almost had enough money to get the hell out of Texas, and then everything was going to be fine. They'd made it this far, so clearly nothing could stop them.
"Until the sun no longer shines," she whispered against Mei's hair.
Chapter Twenty-Four
THANE
"Thane." A hand patted his face.
Thane groaned, turning away from the pressure, but the patting came again. Before his brain kicked in, Thane pushed at the hand, trying to make it go away. The person caught his wrist, then patted his cheek one more time.
"C'mon, man. Open your eyes. Time to wakey-wakey."
"Fuck off, Laird," he grumbled - then immediately sucked in a breath and opened his eyes. "Laird?"
"Yeah, we're alive." His brother dropped onto his ass beside him. "How's your head?"
"I don't even know yet," Thane admitted, trying to sit up.