by Nicole Dykes
“How did they end up with a goat as a pet in California?” Melody asks with a lot more tact than Blair.
I see Adele smiling as she answers. “Well, they actually met on a trip like this one. Cross-country to California, and they almost hit the poor thing. My sister-in-law, Aubrey, thought they had because the goat collapsed on the side of road.” We’re all listening, even if some are pretending not to be interested (i.e., Blair and Rhys). But how can you not listen to a story like this? “Anyway, Aubrey insisted on taking the goat to the vet where they found out he was actually a fainting goat. He was just frightened.”
“So, they kept him?”
Adele nods her head at Mel’s question with an odd sense of pride. “Of course. He’s a part of the family. The beginning of their love story.”
“A fucking goat.” Jesus, Blair.
“Yes, a goat named Pixy.”
I laugh and turn to look at Adele. “Are you fucking with us?”
“Not at all.” She pulls her cellphone out and shows me a picture of a goat with a collar on, sitting between a man who shares a resemblance to Adele and a pretty woman who must be her sister-in-law.
“Well, alright then.”
Melody looks at the picture, and I glimpse a smile on her face before turning back around to look at the open road.
“That’s quite a story.” I hear Melody’s sweet voice, and I swear it makes me physically ache, the guilt of what I did to her years ago still eating me alive.
“That it is, but it worked for them.”
“So, is that what you’re doing on this trip . . .” I notice Blair’s eyes on Rhys as she asks her bitchy question, “Looking for your own love story?”
Adele laughs at that. “God, no. I’ve had plenty of that. They all end up being tragedies.”
I didn’t pry last night when Adele stayed over. I have no idea what spawned this whole cross-country trip, but I recognize the sadness in her eyes now.
“I know the feeling.”
My eyes lock with Melody’s in the rearview mirror, her statement a message for me and one I feel to my core.
I am her biggest regret.
“Jesus. Where the hell are we?” Blair stretches her long legs in front of her in the crowded SUV.
Rhys opens the driver’s door, not looking back to answer. “Middle-of-fucking-nowhere, Missouri.”
“Christ, how long have we been in this fucking car?”
“Are you going to complain the whole fucking time? Or just the first half of the trip?”
“Fuck off.”
Rhys and Blair are lost in their own argumentative world, but I don’t miss the slight, and I mean very slight, smirk that passes over Rhys’s lips. “Quit being a pain in the ass. It’s only been about two hours, but I’m fucking hungry.”
Sean opens his door. “I’m fucking starving.”
I look at the large convenience store we’re parked in front of. We took an exit marked “rest stop” and this is literally the only thing on the entire exit.
Several gas pumps are out front, and the letters on the front of the building spell out “GAS and FOOD” in large capital letters. There are several semi-trailers parked along with numerous travel-trailers.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Ah, nothing like truck stop food.” I turn to Adele, who seems quite enamored with the idea of eating here.
We left Kansas City around nine this morning. But the rush hour traffic was brutal, and it doesn’t feel like we’ve come very far. I think Rhys is off by an hour on his estimate because it’s nearing noon.
We all pile out of the vehicle, and as Sean, Rhys, and Adele start toward the busy truck stop, Blair and I hang back.
The building is vibrant, painted yellow and orange, and there are people buzzing around everywhere. A small child is having an epic meltdown by the entrance, I guess not wanting to go inside, and I feel a small connection with him.
The building shouldn’t be scary, and to most it’s probably not, but we’re both frozen. I mean, we’ve gotten our own gas before, we aren’t that freaking spoiled. But neither of us has been to a place like this in our lives. Out in the middle of nowhere.
Rhys pulls open the door and huffs when he sees us still by the car. “Come. On.”
I look over at Blair. Is she going to just do what he says again? I mean, that seems to be her thing now. But she stands firm. “Maybe we’ll stay out here.”
The men stare at us like we’re completely insane, but Adele bounces over to us. “You cannot go wrong with a truck stop, ladies. I mean, during the daylight anyway.” She slips one arm around mine and then another around Blair’s, gently guiding us toward the door. “I will be your happy guide.”
Blair looks over at me. “Are we really going to do this?”
“It’s a fucking truck stop. Quit being such a fucking princess.”
That comes from Rhys, and it’s directed right at Blair, who places one hand on her hip. I can tell she isn’t going to take his shit. “We aren’t as used to lowbrow places as you are, Rhys.”
“As if you have a hard time coming down to my level, Blair.”
Her eyes narrow, and I swear she’s going to kill him. What the hell does that mean? “Fine. We’ll eat at your little truck stop like heathens.”
He rolls his eyes and walks inside, leaving us all confused as Blair untangles her arm from Adele’s and follows right after him.
“Huh, I have a feeling there’s a lot more to that story.” Adele shrugs and leads me through the door Sean is still holding open.
I try to ignore the intoxicating scent coming from him as I pass. He smells the same as he did our first night together. All man, mystery, and fantasy bottled up in a softly scented cologne.
My heart beats a little faster in my chest just smelling him, and I fight my body’s reaction.
I look around the surprisingly clean building. There’s a convenience shop that looks like a typical gas station, but then there’s an open room full of t-shirts and collectibles, a large sign with an arrow pointing to the restrooms, and a fast-food restaurant all inside the massive building.
“Wow.”
Adele’s laugh is sweet as she releases me and gestures widely in front of her. “You can get anything you need here. All-in-one shop.” She points toward the fast-food counter. “Greasy, totally unhealthy goodness.” She points toward the gift shop. “Trucker’s hats, shirts telling people where you’ve been, keychains, and I believe they even have bobbleheads.” I smile. Adele is growing on me, which is frustrating, considering I have no idea if she’s currently sleeping with Sean. She points to the gas station section. “And lots and lots of road snacks.”
I smile, thinking about the original trip I had planned with Blair. “I think I’ll start there.”
She nods. “That’s a good choice. I have to use the facilities, but I’ll meet you there.”
I smile and nod, looking to see Sean browsing through a rack of t-shirts, but his eyes are on us. Is he watching her? Or me?
He quickly looks away, and I glance around, looking for Blair. I find her next to Rhys, standing by a shelf full of trinkets. They seem to be talking, but I can’t hear them.
His lips actually turn up in a quick smile, something I’ve never seen from Rhys. Before he walks away, his hand runs down her bare arm, slowly and definitely intentionally. And she doesn’t kill him.
She smirks, and her eyes follow his ass as he walks away.
I stare at her, dumbstruck. She looks away, seemingly forcing herself to do so. I walk over to join her. “What the hell was that?”
Her eyes meet mine, a silent threat in them, but I’m not afraid of Blair. “What was what?”
“Don’t play with me Blair. I saw him touch you, and he still has his hand attached to his body.”
She rolls her eyes and glances at the novelty bobbleheads of notable people on the shelf in front of her. “It was nothing. Why the hell are you spying on me anyway?”
“Spying on y
ou? Seriously, Blair.”
She takes a deep breath and turns to face me. “It’s nothing.”
It’s definitely something. “Did something happen between you and Rhys?”
Holy lord, please don’t let that be true. Rhys is . . . well, Rhys. He’s angry and quiet. I swear, he could be a hit man or something. I mean, he has no emotions. “Grow up, Mel. It was really nothing.”
“What is it, exactly?”
Her shoulders shrug as she turns back to the bobbleheads, picking one up and examining it. “This is really fucking stupid. People actually spend their money on things like this?”
I take the toy from her and place it on the shelf. “Don’t change the subject.”
Her head lifts, and her eyes meet mine. “It is sex. Just sex. Nothing else.”
I stare at her, my mouth agape. She’s had sex with Rhys? “Sex?”
She expels a frustrated breath. “Yes, Mel. Sex. I know it’s been awhile, but I think you remember.”
Ouch. “Bitch.”
She smiles at that. “Sorry.”
It has been a long time since I’ve had sex or even kissed anyone. After everything with Sean, I decided absolutely no more one-night stands. From then on, I had to be dating a guy in a real, committed relationship before I’d have sex with him. And that’s been challenging. “When did this start?”
“It hasn’t started, Mel. It’s sex. When we feel like it, when I come back from college and he’s around.”
“But when was the first time?” She’s my best friend. We tell each other everything. I want to know how long she’s been keeping this secret from me.
“Christmas Eve.”
I stare at her in shock. “That’s why you left the party early?”
She’d sent me a text that she wasn’t feeling well and would see me the next day at my parent’s house. “Yes. We had sex, and I dropped him off at Phillip and Gillian’s. It was no big deal.”
That was months ago. “If it wasn’t that big of a deal, then why didn’t you tell me?”
Her focus slides to Sean and Rhys, who are standing by the t-shirts. “Because you’d had quite a night, and I didn’t want you to make a big deal about it.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “I know sex means a lot to you. To me, it’s just a good time, keeps me from committing homicide.”
I fight a smile. “I mean, I get it, he’s hot as hell.”
She bites her bottom lip and is almost breathless when she says, “You have no idea.”
I can’t imagine Rhys being intimate at all but shrug it off as Adele approaches us.
“I want more details later.”
“Fine, but not around the weirdo.”
“Blair, be nice.”
“No promises.”
Adele approaches, and the boys signal us over to the food counter. And, for whatever reason, we follow directions.
I guess we’re just leaning into this whole experience.
“You gonna tell me what’s going on with you and Blair?”
Rhys takes the cap off the gas tank and pumps gas into the black SUV as the girls sit inside the car. We ate, they bought some shit from the gift shop and some snacks before we came back out to fuel up and get our asses back on the road.
Two hours later.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
I smirk. “I saw your little arm stroke in there. I was prepared to defend you from the fire-breathing demon, and then I saw her fucking face. She smiled. You touched her, and she fucking smiled, man. What’s up with that?”
I didn’t address it then because I knew I had no shot at an actual explanation with others around.
“Nothing. Drop it.”
“Bullshit, man.” I smile and smack him on the shoulder. “Did you finally get laid?”
“Why are you so concerned with my sex life?”
“Because you don’t have one.”
It’s true. I’m pretty sure he hasn’t had sex since he and Quinn broke up, and that was a really fucking long time ago. I’ve been trying to get him to get laid since, but so far, he hasn’t wanted anything to do with it.
Rhys has a complicated relationship with sex.
“Don’t worry about it.”
I turn back toward the SUV, its windows are tinted, but I can make out the shadows of the girls in the back seat. “Blair? Really?”
“Sean . . . I’m warning you.”
“Did you fuck her and then your dick fell off? Is that why you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Jesus Christ.”
I don’t bother to fight the laugh. Fucking with Rhys and his seriousness is one of my favorite pastimes. “You can tell me, buddy.”
“Please don’t make me kill you.”
I laugh again. “Okay. I guess we’re more alike than you thought.”
“No, we aren’t. I didn’t fuck her because she’s rich. I fucked her because she may be as twisted as me.”
That’s quite an explanation, coming from Rhys. “Is this an ongoing thing?”
I watch him swallow and his throat bobs as the pump clicks and he puts it back, screwing the gas cap back on. “It’s not a thing. It’s fucking, when we want to, and it’s not a big deal.”
I shrug. “If you’re happy, I’m happy, man.”
“I’m never happy. Don’t get it twisted.”
I roll my eyes and take the keys from him as I climb behind the steering wheel and he climbs in the passenger seat. “According to the GPS, we have three hours until we get to Iowa City.”
“Piece of cake.” Adele says from her seat in the back between Melody and Blair.
Melody seems fond of Adele already, and even Blair seems to be warming up to her. Melting the ice queen, that’s a fucking feat.
“Jesus Christ, how long is it after that to Chicago?” Blair whines from her spot behind Rhys.
“Four more hours.”
“Fuck!” She looks over at Melody, who shakes her head and shrugs.
“It’s an adventure, Blair.”
I want to ask her so many things. I want to find out what she’s been up to in the nearly six years since our first meeting, but I know she doesn’t want to talk to me.
She made that very clear at the Christmas Eve party.
You mean nothing.
Her cold words still haunt me.
“This is a long, uncomfortable adventure, Mel.” I start the car and start driving toward the highway.
“Well, if you all are completely exhausted when we reach Iowa, you can stay with me tonight.”
“No.” The response comes from Rhys and Blair at the same time.
“Why don’t we just play it by ear,” Melody offers, and in the rearview mirror, I see Adele smiling.
Quinn’s show isn’t until tomorrow night. Staying one night in Iowa is doable, and it might be needed.
I’m not sure how many hours we can all survive in this car without stopping, trapped together.
It was almost six when we drove into Iowa City about thirty minutes ago. Adele’s grandma’s house is actually in a much more secluded town, and when we finally stop driving, my ass is completely numb. We’ve been in the car far too long, only stopping a couple of times to use the restroom.
I’m starving and so sick of being in the car.
Sean follows the GPS and parks in front of a two story, simple house. It looks slightly rundown but quaint with a white picket fence around it. There are only three other houses on this block in the quiet, country town.
I’m now sitting between Blair and Adele, and I watch the Aussie’s face as she looks up at the home, a look of pain and nostalgia on her pretty face.
“Have you been here before?”
She turns to me. “Once, but I was quite young and don’t really remember it.”
“It’s nice.”
She smiles and opens the door, bouncing out with a hop back in her step. Nothing seems to keep her down for long. “You all want the tour?”
“Yes, of course.” I ans
wer quickly before Rhys or Blair can shut her down. Sean is already opening his door to join her, my unlikely ally.
Sean is quite fond of Adele. I feel a pain slice through my chest, wondering just how close they are. I still have no details about their relationship. I haven’t seen them kiss or even touch yet. But let’s face it, being in the car all day doesn’t leave a lot of room for PDA, especially with her in the back and him up front.
I follow her out and turn to Blair, expecting her to argue, but surprisingly, she’s opening her door and climbing out.
Rhys is the last to join us at the curb, and thankfully, he does.
Adele rummages through her bag and grabs a set of keys. “Okay then, let’s go.”
She seems hesitant, and Sean wraps an arm around her shoulder, leaning in a whispering something into her ear. Suddenly, I’m not so fond of the Aussie stranger.
Shit.
Grow up, Melody. You have no claim to Sean, and it’s not her fault.
I straighten my shoulders and force myself not to be that girl, one who blames another woman for liking a single man, because Sean is not mine.
He never was.
Blair stands by my side, and I can feel her offer silent comfort. We all walk up to the front porch. Some boards on the porch are starting to decay, and it’s clear the home needs some work. She unlocks the front door and pushes it open.
When we walk in, the home is decorated in an early nineties motif and is still fully furnished. The small living room has a brown sofa, one chair, and the television, which seems to be the only thing from the last decade.
She flips a light switch, and the light comes on.
Sean looks around the room. “The electricity is still on?”
Adele nods her head, moving to the kitchen and looking around at the white appliances, all fairly clean. “When my grandmother and mum passed, Chance rented it out to a nice family. They just moved out last week, so Chance took over the utilities until he figures out what he wants to do with it.”
“So, there’s running water?” Blair crosses her arms as she stays put by the door.
“Well, let’s see.” Adele walks over to the kitchen sink and turns the knob. Instantly, clear water pours from the faucet, and she looks over at Blair with a wide smile. “I would say so.”