“I’m trying,” I responded, understanding what he was saying. “But I’m just not a spontaneous person. I can’t do anything crazy. I come from a long line of crazy, and that didn’t work out for any of them.” I thought again of my mother in that moment, probably because she was the exact definition of crazy. She was irrational and impulsive, and I’d wished my whole life that her version of crazy wasn’t genetic. I continued sipping my beer, mulling over the randomness of this guy. I was certain we had two very different lives so far, bringing us to this night.
“But that diner, doesn’t it wear on you? Being treated like that from people who will never be better than the current version of themselves… How do you do it every day?” he asked quizzically.
“It’s less messy than slitting my wrists,” I replied sarcastically.
“Really, a suicide joke? That’s dark,” he said with an amused smirk. “I’m just saying I think there’s more out there for you. That diner can’t possibly be all you’re meant for. I mean, I know nobody’s life plan works out like they think, but there still has to be something better for you.”
“What derailed your train?” I asked, trying to turn the focus back on him. Clearly his life plan wasn’t working out the way he imagined either. “Did Daddy cut you out of the trust fund or something? Unrepressed young adult angst over why people don’t recycle?”
He shook his head smiling, drinking his beer. His look suggested I had read him all wrong, but he didn’t say it.
“So you said you’re going on a road trip. Care to elaborate? Maybe you can sway me with some details,” I asked, shifting the conversation another direction. I wasn’t serious about going anywhere with him obviously, but I was curious to know more about what he really had going on.
“I’m moving to Michigan,” he stated, staring across the street into the crowd gathered in front of the musicians on stage. “My grandpa has a cottage there. I used to spend summers there as a kid. Those are the best memories I have,” he said nostalgically. “We would drive there every summer once school got out, all the way from California. We’d stop along the way at all these different places. The drive out there was one of the things we looked forward to most. And then we’d get there and it would be even better.”
“I think that’s called youth and lack of adult responsibility,” I interjected.
“Nah,” he replied, shaking his head. “I think life can still be like that.”
“Well I think you’ve got the ‘crazy’ part down,” I murmured.
“I’m serious. Come with me.”
“No way, that’s completely irrational,” I responded. “Was that part of your family vacation? To pick up stragglers along the way?”
“No,” he answered with a smile. “Look, I know this is random. But my brother always told me it only takes ten seconds of crazy to change your life,” he said sincerely.
“I think that’s supposed to be ten seconds of courage,” I replied with a laugh.
“No, he had it right. Literally, it’s one quick decision. One thing you say yes to at any given moment. That’s what really shapes you. There’s no courage in that, that would make it logical.”
I stared up at the night sky, my eyes lost in the thousands of stars above me. If only it were that easy to just drive off into the night with a stranger. Most women probably fantasized about it, leaving their life behind for a handsome guy who smiled at them the way Reid looked at me. I wasn’t most women though. I already lived that kind of life. Every three months my mom would follow a new guy to a new place, promising me each time it would be our last move. As soon as I turned eighteen, I no longer let her drag me along. She left me behind in Reno. How I made it an hour away to Mountain Ridge, well, that was on me. And I was crazy for doing it.
“Look, let’s just cut to the chase,” I said with a slight shrug. “You’re not a townie and you said you’re not a tourist. So what are you running away from?”
“A normal, boring life,” he admitted.
Unfortunately that’s the exact thing I’d been in search of all my life. Something normal. Something ordinary.
“I know this seems weird. Some guy you don’t know walking into your diner, asking you to get in his car for a drive across the country. It’s probably the exact thing your mother always warned you about.”
“No, my mom actually encouraged it,” I said dryly. “Which is exactly why I can’t go.” I continued staring up into the night sky, feeling like this conversation was a dream. Did this really happen to people? Maybe it did all the time, and that’s how so many girls ended up kidnapped or missing every year.
“What’s stopping you?” he asked softly.
“My inability to do anything crazy. How do I know you’re even a good guy? You’re obviously somewhat unstable. How do I know you’re not running away from the law?” I mused. It was entirely possible.
“I believe you’re the one who referenced probation records earlier,” he teased. “I have no criminal history whatsoever, not even a single detention in school. You sound like the one I should be worried about. Was that true? What you said at the diner?”
“Yes,” I answered reluctantly. “The one time in my life I actually chose crazy. It didn’t work out so well for me.” I didn’t feel like elaborating.
“So this could be your redemption story,” he suggested with a boyish grin.
“I’ll have to pass,” I replied, shaking my head. I gulped down the rest of my beer. “I should probably head back. I’ve got an early morning.”
Reid stood up as I did, and awkwardly shoved his hands in his pockets again. “Can I walk you to your car?” he asked politely. “Or do you need a ride? My car is right there.” He pointed to a red convertible with a white stripe parked against the curb next to a nearby parking lot. I had a pretty limited knowledge of old cars, but I guessed it was an old Mustang. I could tell the year of the vehicle was old, but it looked like it had been completely redone. The paint looked shiny and brand new. Of course this guy would have an epic road trip car. I knew walking away now would be the only way to keep my mind sane.
“I walked here from home. Don’t worry about it, it’s well lit. I’ll be fine. It was really nice meeting you.”
“So does this mean you’ll think about it?” he asked with a smirk.
“Good luck on your road trip,” I replied, taking a few steps away from him to head back home. I smiled at him one last time, and I hated how much I liked his mouth. It curved up into a slight smile every time he looked at me, and it was making me feel all mushy. He looked like a genuinely nice guy, but something seemed off to me. I slowly counted to ten in my head as I walked backwards, relieved that only normal, rational thoughts filled my brain. A road trip across the country with a guy I just met? That would be stupid. Impulsive. Reckless. Although definitely spontaneous. Possibly romantic. But downright crazy.
I was happy to have passed the ten second mark before any other thoughts like that slipped in.
CHAPTER 3
“I only heard one set of footsteps coming down that hallway last night,” Maria lectured as we crossed the street to the diner just before five-thirty in the morning.
“What did you think was going to happen?” I shot back, surprised she had any other ideas in mind. In the past year, ever since we’d met, I had never once brought a guy back to my apartment.
“I was secretly hoping you wouldn’t show up to work this morning,” she replied, tying her white apron around her waist as we settled in behind the diner counter.
“I can’t achieve my dream of a mediocre life if I’m running off with handsome strangers,” I explained. “It’s just not my style.”
“That boy is anybody’s style,” Maria touted, walking towards the front door to greet our first customers of the day.
The morning passed by slowly, and my mind wandered. I still needed to save up another two thousand dollars before I could afford my fall tuition. So far this morning hadn’t brought me any big tippers. T
he door chimed and Jerry walked in, wearing the same flannel shirt he had on the day before. Great, the two quarter tipper. I sure wasn’t going to get to two grand like this.
He sat down on his usual barstool and I flipped his coffee mug right side up and started pouring. I nodded to the chef, signaling he could start on Jerry’s usual breakfast order.
“Go wipe down the empty tables,” Carl ordered, staring at me with an annoyed expression.
“I already did, first thing this morning,” I replied, unsure as to why he was always so bossy without reason.
“Well do it again,” he demanded.
“I kinda like her standing right here,” Jerry chimed in, raising his brows at me. His messy facial hair had beads of coffee in it. “Although I’d be happy to spin around and watch you bend over those tables.”
“Jerry, enough,” I said sternly.
“Don’t talk to customers like that,” Carl said with an angry tone.
“Did you hear what he said to me?” I asked, confused as to why Carl wouldn’t be on my side.
“He’s kinda right,” Carl snickered, “it’s a nice view.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, completely annoyed by this conversation.
“Do as you’re told and go wipe the tables,” he repeated.
“Nice and slow,” Jerry added.
I looked back and forth at each of them, my face feeling hot with rising anger. I slowly untied my apron, handing it out in front of me to Carl.
“Wipe them yourself with this,” I replied, trying to compose myself. I brushed past Carl and Jerry and walked straight out the front door of the diner. I felt like I needed to hit something.
An old, shiny red car pulled in the parking spot right next to where I was standing as I breathed in the cold morning air.
“You left your sweatshirt in the grass last night,” Reid said, climbing out of the driver’s side of his car with my grey sweatshirt in his hand. As soon as he saw my panicked face, his tone changed. “Are you okay?” Before he knew what was going on, I opened the passenger door, climbing inside. He sat back down, looking completely confused.
“Ten seconds. Let’s go,” I said, feeling like my nerves were on fire.
“Where are we going?” he asked, still unsure of what exactly was happening.
“Eight seconds, just go. Before I change my mind.” I nervously clasped my hands together. “I think I just quit my job.”
“Seriously?” he said, surprised by my statement.
“So here it is. Ten seconds of crazy. Drive me away from my life. Please.” I rested my head on the seat and stared out the passenger window as he pulled out of the parking lot. My mind was racing. Thoughts of courage. Thoughts of remorse.
We drove out onto the main road, and I wasn’t sure if Reid even had a destination in mind at the moment.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked after a few minutes of silence. I watched as cars passed us, trying to keep my mind away from wanting to go back to work to apologize.
“I don’t know, but that was completely unlike me back there,” I explained, brushing some of the blonde hair away from my face. “Jerry started up again, and Carl made it worse. I just can’t do it anymore. I felt stuck. And you were right last night. I’m not stuck. I’m just not going anywhere.”
“So this is a new chapter in your life,” he replied sincerely.
“I hate when people say that. I feel like I haven’t even found the library yet.” I looked down at my pale pink waitress uniform, feeling uncomfortable. “Can we go somewhere?”
“You name it. Anywhere.”
Honestly I wasn’t even sure where I wanted to go. I just wanted out of my crappy life. I wasn’t sure his old car would even travel that far. “I wish you drove a DeLorean,” I muttered, not sure I even said it loud enough for him to hear me. He looked over at me as we stopped at a red traffic light.
“Nope, no DeLorean,” he replied quietly. “But there’s an old phone booth at my friend Bill’s house.” I smiled, appreciative for his subtle eighties movie reference in response to mine. “Do you want to go rafting with me today?”
“Sure,” I replied before I even thought about it. I guess I had a whole lot of free time now. My second job was just dog sitting for one of the diner regulars who often went away on business trips. But he was due in late last night from China, so I didn’t even have that as a current obligation this evening. It finally hit me in that moment that I literally had no income from this point forward.
“You’re going to need a few things,” he said, pulling into a local Stay-the-Nite motel parking lot.
“Like a stale continental breakfast and a black light for the bed sheets?” I replied, staring out at the dilapidated building. It definitely wasn’t one of Mountain Ridge’s nicer hotels. Judging by Reid’s good looks and shiny car, I was surprised to find him staying in a place like this.
“No, I mean for rafting today,” he said with a laugh. “You need a swimsuit and a towel and stuff.”
“Right. Well we can swing back by my apartment and I can grab a few things. Are you really staying here?”
“Yeah, I thought it was just going to be for one night,” he replied, sounding slightly embarrassed. “The raft rentals don’t open until eleven. Do you want to watch TV or something for a bit?”
“My diner skirt doesn’t seem long enough to risk contact with any dense padded surfaces,” I stated as we climbed out of his car. He put the key into the door marked with a four and let us in. The room wasn’t as horrible as I’d pictured from the outside of the building, although it was pretty outdated.
“Don’t worry, no one has been murdered here since the nineties, according to the lobby brochures anyway. So I think you’re safe here.” He set his keys on the old wooden dresser and then pulled out his wallet and phone. “Is it okay if I take a quick shower?”
I nodded, sliding a padded chair from the small glass table over in front of the TV. I clicked the old screen on, not too surprised to find limited options on the six available channels. I heard the shower turn on and the bathroom door closed.
Over the next ten minutes I heard his cell phone vibrate against the dresser top four separate times. I glanced over at the screen on the last ring, curious as to who may be calling repeatedly this early in the morning. The name simply read PARENTS.
As the shower water shut off, I heard Reid moving around in the bathroom. The phone buzzed again. “Reid, I think someone is trying to reach you,” I commented loudly so he could hear me through the closed door. I didn’t want to give him any indication I had looked at the name on the screen, but I didn’t want him to miss the call if it was important.
He walked out into the room with nothing but a towel around his waist. I knew he was in shape from the general outline of his body when he was clothed, but I still wasn’t prepared for the bare skin walking past me. His chest was firm and his arms looked strong, and I think I missed taking a breath while glancing at his abs.
“It was, um, making noise,” I stammered, not getting my words right. “I figured it was important since it was ringing so many times.”
“Eh, it’s just my parents. I’ll call them back later,” he replied nonchalantly, setting the phone back down. Apparently he felt no concern over the five missed calls in a row. “What are you watching?”
You. “Uh, just some local news. There’s not a lot on,” I stated, flipping through the remote channels again.
“Want to grab a bite to eat before we head back to your place?”
“Sounds good,” I answered, sinking back into the chair.
After he was finally dressed, we made our way to a local breakfast joint nearby. I’d worked the breakfast shift for so long that I’d forgotten what it was like to eat somewhere other than the diner.
“So this road trip of yours, you said you have a bunch of stops to make? What for?” I asked inquisitively as we ate our omelets.
“Just a little journey I have planned. It’s the same ro
ute we took every summer to Michigan to see my grandparents. I’m stopping at all of our old usual stops. There’s a place in Utah I need to hit, one in Nebraska, then Iowa. Then one more quick stop in Illinois, then to the cottage from there. A couple more things along the way, and then I’m done. It’s kind of a nostalgic quest for me I guess.”
“And then you’re moving to Michigan? You’re leaving California for good?” I probed.
“Yeah, my grandfather is getting old. My grandma passed away a few years back and he just isn’t the same. He hasn’t been taking care of the cottage, so we’ve made an arrangement of sorts. I’ll help him out around the house with repairs and maintenance and stuff and I’ll finish my last year of college out there.”
“What are you studying?” I asked curiously.
“Engineering. I know, not really thrilling. I took a little time off from school last year, which is why I haven’t graduated yet. My parents weren’t exactly thrilled.” I could tell by his tone that he felt some of their disappointment. “But my older brother, Preston, he finally convinced me to turn things around. I packed up all of my stuff on a whim, which is completely unlike me. And I’m making a change. Just like that.”
The waitress set our bill down on the table, eyeing Reid. She paused for a moment, looking deep in thought.
“Aren’t you that guy on TV?” she asked curiously.
“No ma’am,” Reid said politely, setting a fifty dollar bill down on the table. Our food total couldn’t have been more than twenty. He suddenly seemed ready to leave, despite having a few more bites of food left on his plate. He stood up and I did the same, unable to read the look on his face. “You must have me confused with someone else,” he replied with a blank expression.
CHAPTER 4
“What was that about?” I asked as we climbed back into his car to head towards my apartment.
“I don’t know,” he answered with a shrug. “Maybe I remind her of someone.” His expression still didn’t match the tone in his voice, and I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach that perhaps he was keeping something from me.
Ten Seconds of Crazy Page 2