“Me too,” she mumbles, clearly pissed that she’s not getting rid of me that easily.
With a frustrated sigh, she pushes open the door to the ladies restroom and storms inside.
We could still be sitting in an airport with our parents right now. Surely even she can see that my idea was better than that.
I do my thing before resting back against the wall a little down from the restrooms to wait for her, only she never appears.
I wait a little longer, thinking that maybe she’s doing her makeup or some other unnecessary shit but eventually my impatience gets the better of me and without so much of a second thought, I push the door open.
“Excuse me, this is the ladies restroom,” some woman snaps the second I step inside.
Ignoring her as I slam my hand down on the cubicles. “Ruby?”
I’m met with silence.
“Fuck’s sake,” I mutter, walking back out as fast as I entered.
Forgetting about her disappearing act, I head deeper into the store to grab a few things.
It’s not until I’m walking back to the car that I find her resting on the hood of Dad’s car eating Twizzlers.
“Where the fuck did you go?”
“Uh... I’m right here, asshole.”
“Good to know that sugar does nothing to sweeten you up,” I mutter, dropping my bag into the back and pulling the driver’s door open.
“Oh, I’m plenty sweet. I thought you already knew that.”
The memory of having my head between her thighs and her taste on my tongue hits me.
“No idea what you’re talking about, little one.” I drop down into the car with a smirk on my lips as she silently fumes.
“Are you getting the fuck in, or shall I leave you in whatever shithole town this is?”
“I really hate you,” she snaps.
“I know, part of me is even starting to like it.”
“You’re weird.”
“You’re the one stuck in a car with me. What are you doing?” I ask when she avoids the passenger door and instead climbs into the back seat.
“Getting some sleep, as you suggested. I’m hoping it’ll make the time go quicker so I can get away from you.”
She takes her hoodie off, before rolling it up and placing it under her head like a pillow.
She’s wearing a white tank beneath that does little to hide her tits, and I can’t help my eyes lingering on their fullness.
“Stare all you want, you’re not seeing them ever again,” she snaps, proving that she knows exactly where my focus is despite the fact she’s got her eyes closed.
A wicked smile pulls at my lips. “Don’t need to. I’ve got evidence, remember?”
“The second you fall asleep, I’ll find it on your cell and wipe it.”
I chuckle. “You think I’m that stupid to leave it lying around for just anyone to find. You underestimate me, little one.”
“Stop calling me that,” she snaps. “It’s annoying and I’m not little.”
“You are. Well...” I say, my eyes returning to her tits in the rearview mirror. “Parts of you are.”
“Just drive, Ashton.” She shifts onto her side and rests her hand over her cheek.
I put my music back on as I pull out of the parking lot, but I keep the volume down seeing as I actually need her to sleep so she can take over driving in a few hours. It annoys me that I’m being thoughtful, but I’d rather we both didn’t die in this car before we get to Seattle.
“I’m cold,” comes from the back a little over an hour later.
I look down at the heat, it’s higher than it needs to be and it’s already beginning to make me sleepy. I can’t turn it up any higher and Ruby doesn’t look like she’s going to be taking over any time soon.
Reaching behind my head, I pull my hoodie off and pass it back. “Here, use this.”
She blindly reaches out and tugs the fabric over her bare arms.
“It smells like you,” she whispers.
“Well, yeah. It was on me.”
“I like it.”
My chin drops at her admission. “Little one, are you awake?”
I get no response. With a smile, I turn the music up a notch, crack the window a little in the hope the fresh air will keep me awake, and I continue driving while she lightly snores behind me.
13
Ruby
Rustling wakes me up. I blink a couple of times against the darkness, trying to figure out where I am and why it feels like I’m moving. Then I realize that I am.
The events following our brief visit to the airport slam into me.
I sit bolt upright, hoping like hell that I’m dreaming and that I’m not really stuck in a car with Ashton.
“Ah, she’s back with us.”
“Who are you even talking to?” I mutter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and setting about sorting my hair out.
“Glad you woke up in a better mood.”
“I’m stuck in a car with you and your shitty music. What do you expect from me?”
“I thought you were a peppy cheerleader. I hate to say it, little one, but I’m not seeing much pep.”
“Fuck you,” I grumble, unfolding my hoodie and tucking it under my arm as I climb between the front seats and drop down into the passenger one.
“Is that what you were dreaming about because I swear at one point you moaned my name.”
“That was probably just me saying goodbye as I killed you in your sleep.”
He laughs, but despite the fact, his amusement should piss me off. It doesn’t. Instead the sound of him actually happy makes something warm me from the inside out.
I turn to look at him, needing to see the smile that goes with the laugh, but my breath catches in my throat.
“W-why are you half-naked?” I splutter like a fool.
“Because,” he says, looking over at me and giving my body the same treatment my eyes just did him. “I gave you my hoodie as a blanket. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“O-oh so that’s why I woke surrounded by the scent of manwhore.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t happen again, you clearly didn’t appreciate it. Could I get it back?” He holds his hand out as if I’m going to pass it to him, but all I do is stare at him. My eyes run down his corded forearm, all the way to his chest, down his cut abs, and to the bulge I was staring at a few hours ago behind his sweats.
My mouth waters as I take him in. He might be the world’s biggest douchebag, but he’s certainly been gifted in the body department.
“Ruby?” he snaps.
“I think I prefer you like this,” I admit. “It distracts me from the shit that comes from your mouth.”
His eyes flick to my chest briefly before he focuses back on the road.
“I am more than down for a topless rule inside the car if you are.”
“N-no that’s not...”
“Exactly, now pass me my hoodie.”
Reaching back between the seats, I stretch to grab it.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Ruby. Wanna shove that any closer to my face?” He’s trying to sound pissed off, but the hint of amusement in his voice betrays him.
I try to move, aware that I really do have my ass in his face but I don’t go anywhere.
“I would, but I’m stuck.”
“Oh really?” He chuckles. “What an unfortunate position to be in?”
“Just focus on driv—Ashton,” I shriek when his palm connects with my ass cheek.
“You really should have worn that little skirt you had on the other day.”
“You’re a fucking pig,” I grunt, trying to twist myself free.
I finally manage to get some leverage to push myself out of the gap I was stuck in, dragging his damn hoodie and my bag of goodies from the store with me.
“Here,” I bark, throwing the fabric into his lap.
“Thanks. Don’t eat any of that.” His words make me pause with my hand halfway to the chips I was about to open.
“Why? Are you going to try telling me that I’m fat next or something?”
He laughs. “No, little one, I can assure you that there’s nothing wrong with your body.”
“Oh?” I turn to look at him.
“There’s a pizza place. I was going to take you for dinner.”
“Oooh. Well, that’s... nice of you.”
“Yeah, don’t get used to it. It might be the only time it happens.”
“Good to know,” I mutter, pulling the visor down to check my appearance before gracing other humans with my presence.
Ten minutes later, and Ashton is fully clothed once again and we’re sitting in a booth at a quiet out-of-town pizza place.
I’ve no idea where we are, just somewhere hopefully between home and Seattle if Ashton set up the GPS right. That little screen still shows an insane amount of both miles and hours to go. But I’m finding it hard to stay mad about it when all Ash wants to do is ensure he’s at his mother’s funeral. Can’t really fault the guy for his attempt.
I look up at him, twisting his glass of soda around on the table before running his finger through the condensation as we wait for our food to arrive. He’s deep in thought with his brows pulled together and his lips pressed into a thin line.
My heart aches for him, he might be an ass, but he’s hurting.
“Wanna talk about it?” He startles at my question as if he’d forgotten I was here. “Want to talk about her?” I offer.
It takes a couple of seconds, but eventually, his eyes lift from his glass. The darkness in them makes my breath catch, but something tells me that all his hate and anger isn’t going to be taken out on me this time. This is different.
“No, not really.”
“It... it might help,” I suggest.
“Nothing is bringing her back. That’s the only thing that could help right now.”
I open my mouth to respond, but thankfully I don’t get a chance to say anything because two huge pizzas descend on our table.
His eyes light up a little at the sight of our first real food since the airport, God knows how many hours ago now, but his sadness still lingers, and I fear that it’s only going to get worse the closer we get to his home.
We eat in almost silence, just a few words passing between us.
Ashton pays the bill once we’ve finished and after both making use of the bathrooms, we head back out to Stephen’s car.
It’s significantly colder here compared to home, and I fold my arms around myself in an attempt to keep warm.
“It’s okay,” I say when Ash goes for the driver’s door. “I can take over, you get some rest.”
“It’s okay, I can—”
“No,” I say sternly, making his eyes widen a little. “Get in the back and get some rest.”
He nods at me, but still, he doesn’t move to the back of the car, instead just walks around the hood to the passenger side.
“Why do I get the feeling you don’t trust my driving?” I ask when we’re both in with the engine—and more importantly, the heat—running.
“Because I don’t,” he mutters, sliding his chair back and stretching his insanely long legs into the footwell.
“I’ll have you know that I’m a very good driver.”
“Just try not to kill me, I don’t need—” He cuts himself off, but this time, I don’t prompt him for more. I only know the basics of what happened with his mom. I know he was in the car at the time, and I can only imagine what he went through.
“You’re in safe hands. Get some rest.”
I sync my cell, amazed that he’s not beat me to it, and find something quiet and relaxing before setting off on my first leg of the journey.
Ashton stays awake beside me for the longest time just staring out of the window. Every now and then, I feel his stare turn to me, but I don’t take my eyes off the road. As much as I might like to know what he’s thinking every time he does so, another part of me is happy to just let him brood. It’s less exhausting than fighting with him.
Eventually, though, his breathing gets heavier and when I do risk a look over, he’s fast asleep with his arms crossed over his chest and deep frown lines still marring his brow. I want to take his pain away, making it a little easier to bear, but I have no idea how I’m supposed to do that. Not that I’m sure he deserves it after what he’s done to me, but the need still tugs at me. He’s hurting and despite the fact I don’t like him, I hate to see it.
I find myself almost in a trance as I drive through the night. I thought I’d get tired, that my eyes would get heavy, but I actually find the empty roads and the darkness weirdly relaxing.
Ashton wakes a few times, but he always drifts back to sleep and leaves me to do my thing with just my quiet music and his soft snores for company. The only time he so much as looks at me is when I pull into a gas station to refill the car.
By the time he fully wakes and puts his chair back upright, the sun is beginning to rise on the horizon.
“Shit, did I really sleep that long?” he asks, staring at the clock.
“Yup.”
“Huh.”
“Why’s that so weird?” I ask, glancing over at him and wishing I hadn’t. He looks all sleepy and sexy with soft eyes and messy hair.
“I’ve just barely slept since... it’s just weird that the first time I do is while traveling.”
“You’re probably just exhausted.”
“You hungry?”
“Uh...” In all honesty, I’m not. That pizza last night was freaking huge. But I could really do with getting out and stretching my legs, so I find myself agreeing. “Sure. I’ll stop at the next place we find.”
It turns out that we’re in the middle of nowhere and that the next place isn’t for another three hours, and by then, I’m starving.
“There,” Ashton points out. The urgency in his voice makes me chuckle. “What? I really need a pee.”
“You could have said, I’d have pulled over.”
He looks at me and I have no choice but to turn to him.
“You’d do that for me?” he asks teasingly.
“Yeah, if it meant you didn’t piss yourself and I had to spend the next few hours surrounded by the smell of it.”
“Nice.” He laughs.
“What, it’s true.”
“Sure, come on.”
Ashton makes a beeline for the bathroom as I find us a table and order coffee. Now I’ve stepped out of the car, exhaustion is hitting me hard.
“Thanks,” he mutters, dropping down across from me and pulling the mug toward him.
A weird tension settles over us as we sit there in silence both sipping our too hot coffees.
“So...” I say, needing to break it. “What did you want to do today?” I ask with a laugh.
He looks up at me from over the rim of his mug and my breath catches. He really shouldn’t be quite so beautiful, it’s disarming. Especially when I’m sure I look like a hot mess.
“I was thinking about going for a drive.”
“Oh yeah? Going anywhere nice?” I regret the question the second it falls from my lips.
“No.” His eyes hold mine, and I can’t help the feeling that he’s warning me of something. My stomach clenches and I have to fight to swallow the lump that crawls up my throat.
“I-I’m just going to go and freshen up. If the waitress comes back, just order me pancakes and bacon, yeah.” I slide from the booth. “Oh, and another coffee.”
He nods once and after grabbing my purse and the bag I brought in with me, I practically run for the bathroom.
I’d picked up the necessities in the store yesterday, so I make quick work of freshening up and changing my panties before attempting to do something with my hair. I debate putting some makeup on to hide my tired eyes, but in the end, I figure that there’s no point. We’re just getting back in the car, and I don’t really give a crap if Ash thinks I look a mess.
He’s still quiet and tense when I get back to the t
able, although that doesn’t stop him running his eyes down the length of me as I approach. I hate that tingles erupt wherever his eyes touch, but it seems I have little control over it.
“You look tired,” he says as I drop down, banishing the heat that had started to fill my veins under his stare.
“Thanks,” I mutter. “Probably something to do with driving all night while you snored beside me.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Right. Whatever. I assume you’re taking over after this.”
“Yep. The back seat is all yours.”
“Great.”
Things don’t get much better as we eat. I’d hoped he might be in a better mood after almost a full night’s sleep, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Where are you going?” he barks at me the second we emerge from the diner, and I bolt in the opposite direction of the car.
“The store. You want anything?”
“Fuck’s sake,” he mutters, turning around to follow me.
“It wasn’t an invite. I could have got anything you wanted while you sulked.”
“I’m not sulking.”
“Oh really. You could have fooled me.” I roll my eyes at him and head inside.
Thankfully, they have exactly what I wanted. A pillow and blanket. There’s no way I can sleep again while surrounded by him. It just can’t happen.
“Comfortable?” Ash asks, watching me in the rearview mirror as I get settled in my new bed.
“Yep, and bonus, it doesn’t smell like boy.”
He shakes his head at me and looks back to the road.
“Sleep tight, little one.”
14
Ashton
Seeing her wrapped up in a blanket instead of my hoodie really shouldn’t matter to me, but as I force my eyes away from her, I can’t deny that it pisses me off.
I blame the fact I’ve been stuck inside this confined space with her for the past twenty-four hours. Her constant presence is doing stupid shit to my brain. Although, I can’t deny that using my imagination for all the things I want to do to her in here is a hell of a lot better than thinking about my reality and what I’ve got to face when we finally roll into Seattle.
FURY: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rosewood High Book 6) Page 10