by Gemma Weir
“So, The Hamptons in the summer, Vermont in fall and Montana in winter, what about spring?”
“Spring, I usually just pick a small city halfway between where I’ve been for the winter and where I plan to go in summer and take whatever job I can find, usually bar work, occasionally in a factory or office, I’m not picky, work’s work.”
“How long have you been living like that? Moving every few months?”
She shrugs again, and I’m starting to hate that dismissive little gesture. “Five years, I guess. I don’t mind moving around, I’ll be on my way again as soon as your brother figures out what’s wrong with my RV this time.”
“This time?”
She laughs and it’s the first real, honest sound she’s made. Her laugh is nothing like her deliberately toned down voice. It’s high and free and real, and my dick twitches in my pants just from the sound.
“The engine’s pretty much shot, but I just keep getting it fixed and it keeps plodding along. I don’t actually know what I’ll do once it dies for good.”
I part my lips to speak just as Tasha arrives with our food. Placing it in front of us, she checks we’re good, then leaves to tend to the rest of her customers. “You could always get a job here, we’re not as big a ski town as Big Mountain, but we have plenty of tourists up here in the winter and I could ask around to see if there’s any jobs going.”
She shakes her head so fast I worry she’s going to give herself whiplash. “No. No, that’s fine, as soon as my RV’s fixed, I’ll be leaving.”
A ball of fear and anger lodges in the center of my chest. She can’t leave, if she does I might never see her again, and now I know she exists there’ll never be anyone for me but her. When she tentatively starts to eat, I slide my cell from my pocket and type out a message to Bay.
Me: I don’t care what you have to do, make sure that RV won’t run. I can’t let her leave.
Lifting my burger, I take a bite, not reacting when my cell buzzes beside me. After a moment, I place my burger back on the plate, wipe my fingers on a napkin, then open my cell, smiling as I read his reply.
Bay: Not a problem, engine’s fucked anyway, could have done a temporary fix to get her going again, but no saying how long it would hold. Best she stay in town and I’ll do a complete overhaul on it. Could take months