The Road That Leads to Us

by Micalea Smeltzer

  “I was looking at our feet.” I shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, you have nice feet, but most people have weird gross looking feet.” Staring at my own, I said, “I always wished I was a mermaid,” I confessed. It wasn’t that shocking of a fact. What little girl hadn’t dreamed of being a mermaid at one point or another? Turning to Dean, I grinned—my face hurting from the force of my smile. “Let’s be mermaids.”

  “Wha—?”

  He didn’t get the chance to finish his question before I was pulling him into the water.

  We tumbled into the water with a huge splash that surely soaked the surrounding area.

  My eyes were open and I searched for Dean through the thick white bubbles.

  I spotted the bright red and navy of his plaid shirt and grabbed at the fabric.

  His eyes popped open when he saw me.

  I crashed my lips to his and his hands grasped at the fabric of my shirt where it tried to float up in the water.

  We rolled through the water, our lips locked, and black dots began to dance behind my eyes from the lack of oxygen, but I hated to surface for air and break this moment.

  Eventually we had to and we both gasped, greedily pulling the air into our lungs.

  Dean shook his head sending water flying everywhere like a dog.

  He grinned at me, his teeth shining in the dark of the night. “Mermaids, huh?” He raised a single brow.

  I nodded, my breaths coming out in sharp pants like I’d run five miles.

  “I.” Pant. “Think.” Pant. “We.” Pant. “Succeeded.”

  A wry half-grin lifted his lips. “We definitely did.”

  He kissed me quickly before swimming to the edge of the pool. He braced his arms against the edge and climbed out.

  I swam over and did the same.

  Soaking wet, we made our way into the hotel.

  People looked at us strangely, but I didn’t care.

  I got to be a mermaid, if only for a minute.

  Dean held my hand as we stepped off the elevator and searched for our room number.

  Once we located it I let out a squeal of surprise when he pushed my back against the door and angled his mouth over mine.

  The kiss was a hundred times too hot for us to be standing in the hallway, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care.

  It was rare for Dean to let himself go like this, and when he did I reveled in those fleeting moments.

  His hand fumbled against my side and I knew he was trying to slide the keycard in the slot.

  He finally got it to work and the door swung open behind my back. Our lips never broke contact, not even for a millisecond.

  We stumbled inside the bathroom and into the shower where he turned on the water. It sprayed down on us ice cold and he fumbled to change it to hot.

  The water began to warm and we tore at each other’s clothes, unable to remove them fast enough.

  My shirt fell to the floor outside the shower with a loud plop and then my bra joined it a second later.

  He rained kisses down my neck and I let out a gasp as my head fell back.

  “Dean,” I gasped his name.

  Water glided over my body and his, soaking us even more.

  He cupped my breasts and my eyes fell closed.

  His hands disappeared suddenly and I opened my eyes to see him removing his shirt. His green eyes were fierce, almost glowing. I knew in my gut I was about to be devoured.

  He grabbed my hands, holding them above my head in his with our fingers entwined. The movement forced me against the wall of the shower.

  He ducked his head and his lips collided with mine.

  His teeth bit into my bottom lip and I gasped, allowing him to sweep his tongue inside.

  I desperately wanted to touch him—to feel the soft glide of his wet hair and the smooth slickness of his back from the water.

  But at the same time, seeing him come unhinged was worth it.

  He let go of one of my hands, but quickly captured it with his other so he held both, and used his free hand to tilt my chin up to his giving him better access to my mouth.

  “I love you,” he growled against my lips, his wet hair brushing my forehead. “You make me crazy. I never knew I could feel this way.”

  I felt satisfaction over his words.

  I’d never been bothered by Dean’s past girlfriends—and it certainly didn’t bother me now—but it was nice to hear that I was different.

  “I love you too,” I breathed and my tongue flicked out to wipe away a droplet of water clinging to my top lip.

  Both of us were breathing heavily and with each exhale our chests brushed together. The feel of his bare skin sent a shiver running down my spine and goosebumps broke out across my skin.”

  Still holding my chin captive, he whispered, “You’re it. It’s always been you.”

  “You,” I echoed.

  And then everything was lost in the feel of our skin, the clash of our lips, and the passion that we ignited.

  Dean

  “One cow, two cow, three cow, four—”

  “This again?” I groaned, glancing over at Willow as she pointed outside the car at the passing cows.

  “You weren’t talking,” she defended with a shake of her head, “and I got bored. So, back to the cow counting I went.”

  I glanced at her open journal in her lap and quickly back at the road. “I see you’re drawing them too.”

  She slammed the journal closed with a huff. “You’re not allowed to look in there and you know it!”

  She had, indeed, scribbled across the front of it in red and black marker for me to KEEP OUT.

  The fact that she thought that would stop me was actually adorable. The first chance I got I was stealing that journal.

  Her phone buzzed where it had fallen on the floor of the car.

  She picked it up and swiped the screen, opening the text message.

  She immediately burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  “What is it?” I glanced over at her like the answer would somehow be written on her face.

  “It’s a text from my dad.” She shook her head. “One of his hedgehogs he thought was a boy apparently surprised him by being a girl, and she gave birth to five hoglets.”

  She turned her phone around and gave me a brief view of the picture he’d sent. He stood grinning, leaning over the cage where you could see a huddle of hoglets. His grin overtook his face.

  “His text said he was a father again, which scared me to death before I opened the photo. I thought for sure he was saying my mom was pregnant and it would be weird to have a sibling twenty years younger than me.”

  “That would be weird.” I agreed.

  “But it’s only more hedgehogs, which is like his dream come true. I think he could have a hundred and still want more.”

  “Your dad is the most un-rockstar-like rock star there ever was.”

  She nodded her head in agreement. “You’ve seen the pictures of my first Halloween costume, right?” She asked me.

  “I don’t think so.” I racked my brain, trying to remember if I’d ever seen photos.

  “He knitted me a hedgehog costume…actually he might’ve crocheted it because he learned how to do that too. Regardless, let’s picture a grown twenty-something guy knitting a hedgehog costume for his baby…like what?”

  I laughed, scrubbing my hand over my mouth. “It’s pretty funny.”

  “He’s insane,” she sighed, tapping a response on her phone. “But I love him. He’s a pretty cool dad.”

  I spotted the sign for Albuquerque, New Mexico and took the exit.

  “Where are we going?” Willow asked when she looked up from her phone.

  “Albuquerque,” I answered. “I’ve always wanted to go.”

  “Oh.” She nodded at this. “Cool.”

  While I drove it was hard to take the time to appreciate the scenery, but I did my best to look around when I could.

  I loved the sweeping mountains that rose up
out of the ground and the desert surround. I never thought I’d be someone who would like such a barren landscape—I grew up in a mountainous area surrounded by trees…lots of trees—but it really was magnificent. It was almost alien in how different it was from home. Maybe that’s why it appealed to me.

  I spotted a small store that had several displays set up outside of Native American art. It caught my eye so I veered off the road and into the lot.

  The exterior of the building looked like shiny oak and the shutters and door were all painted a deep red. The parking lot was gravel and it crunched beneath the tires of the car.

  The car rolled to a stop and Willow eyed the building.

  “Something tells me I’m about to spend all my money.” With that declaration she scurried from the car—her backpack in tow—and into the building.

  Willow had two speeds and that was fast and faster.

  I took my time looking outside at the various wooden sculptures. Most were of animals—no sloths unfortunately.

  Inside the building every surface was covered in something and everything looked handmade. A row of bracelets made from rocks and what looked like shells caught my eye. I picked out two for my mom and sister. I wouldn’t feel right to not bring them back anything. Maybe I’d luck out and find something for my dad and brother too.

  Willow came tumbling around the corner—nearly colliding with a shelf, but managed to right herself.

  “I see you’re fairing well.” I nodded at the large Native American headdress she wore with a plume of teal colored feathers.

  “I’m so buying this,” she declared, holding onto it so it didn’t fall off. “It’s beautiful and the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Looks better than that Big Bird hat you put on at that one place.”

  She stuck her tongue out at me.

  “What’d you find?” She nodded at the bracelets I held and the headdress nearly fell off.

  “Just some bracelets for my mom and Grace.”

  “Ohhh,” she exaggerated the word. “I should probably get stuff for my family too.”

  She glanced at the jewelry and fingered a necklace with a wooden flower charm on the end. “I think Lylah and my mom would like these.” She grabbed two, choosing ones with different flowers.

  We walked down the aisle and she continuously had to reach up and hold the headdress steady.

  She spotted a brown suede bag with detailing the same color as the headdress and picked it up.

  “Yep,” she declared, holding it up to look at it more closely, “this place is getting all of my money.”

  She held onto the bag and continued looking.

  I picked up a bow and arrow set, thinking of my brother and dad, but once I saw the price I said hell no. My parent’s had money, but it didn’t mean I did. I refused their handouts—even though I knew they truly just wanted my bank account to be nice and cushy—because I wanted to stand on my own two feet. I also knew, regardless of my wishes, I’d have access to my trust fund when I turned twenty-five or when I got married—whichever came first.

  I moved on to another shelf of items and picked up a hand carved Native American figure for my brother. It was hand painted and even I could admire the detail work. I chose a bear for my dad because I knew he’d find the choice humorous.

  “Hand me your stuff.” I held out my hands for her items.

  “What?” She clutched it close to her body. “I’m not done looking yet.”

  Looking. Yeah, right.

  “I’m going to put it on the counter so we don’t drop anything.”

  “Oh,” she softened at this, “that’s a good idea.”

  She handed over her items and I walked over to the register.

  “Is it okay if I leave these here? We’re still looking.” I explained to the guy working the register. He looked young, maybe sixteen with long straight black hair and eyes so dark they were nearly black.

  “Yeah, sure.” His voice was higher-pitched, confirming that he was young and probably the son of whoever owned the shop.

  I rejoined Willow at a display of small—I’m talking miniscule—hand-blown glass animals. It didn’t look particularly Native American to me, but what did I know.

  Willow studied the animals closely.

  “I’m looking for a cow and a sloth,” she mused, tapping her lip. The headdress dipped down covering her brows. “Help me look and it’ll go faster.”

  I scanned the animals and quickly spotted the most important one. “Cow.”

  “Sa-weet!” She cried and picked up the tiny item. “You’re mine.”

  We scanned the display for a few more minutes but came up empty on locating a sloth.

  I was so torn up about that fact.

  Not really, but I acted like it for Willow’s sake.

  We looked through the store until Willow found something to take back to her brother—she’d already gotten her dad the hedgehog rock when we first started our trip.

  When we stepped up to the register the guy was gone and an older woman had replaced him. Her hair was a silvery gray and fell halfway down her back. Her face was wrinkled like old leather, but there was something timeless about her. She smiled at us both and I saw that she was missing most of her teeth.

  She dipped her head towards us. “Hello.”

  The words were surprisingly clear despite her lack of teeth.

  “My name is Sihu.” She smiled at each of us as we set our things down.

  “I’m Willow,” Willow introduced herself as she took the headdress off and placed it on the counter as well.

  “I’m Dean,” I replied, shoving my hands in the pockets of my jeans.

  She pointed at herself. “I am a seer.”

  “Oh, wow.” Willow nodded at this information. “That’s cool.” She glanced up at me and the look on her face said she had no idea if she’d said the right thing.

  “I see great things for you,” Sihu reached forward, across the counter, and patted Willow’s cheek. “Great things,” she emphasized.

  “And this man,” she pointed at me, “I see him by your side always. Your protector.”

  “Uh…” Willow glanced from Sihu to me. “Thank you?” It came out sounding like a question.

  It seemed to do the trick, though, as Sihu nodded and began ringing up our items.

  We each paid and headed back out to the car.

  We picked up food and drove around until we found the perfect place to park.

  I grabbed a blanket from the trunk that I’d forgotten about and spread it down on the ground. The whole area was mostly dirt and sand, with a sprinkling of cacti. We had an amazing view of the mountains, though.

  Willow sat down on the ground and began rifling through the bags. She pulled out the box that contained her chicken sandwich and stretched out her legs before setting it on her lap.

  From the car, I grabbed one last thing. I’d spotted it at a store we stopped at earlier in the day and somehow managed to keep it hidden from Willow, but now I wanted to give it to her.

  I sat down and pulled the object from behind my back.

  She gasped at it and reached for it, pulling it against her chest and hugging it.

  “Where did you find this?” She cried with delight written all over her face as she held out the stuffed animal cow to inspect it.

  “That store we stopped at this morning. It was the only one and I couldn’t resist.” I lifted my shoulders in a small shrug.

  “I’m naming her Annabelle.”

  “I’m surprised you’d go with something so cliché.” I grabbed a handful of fries and shoved them in my mouth.

  Her lips twisted at this. “You’re right…Hmm, what should I name her instead?”

  “Winifred,” I suggested.

  “Like the witch from ‘Hocus Pocus’?” She cried. “That’s perfect. It combines two of my true loves.”

  “You have a lot of true loves.” I tapped my finger against her nose.

  “I have a lot o
f love to go around,” she reasoned. “We have to find you a sloth. Then Winifred won’t be lonely.”

  “She’s lonely?” I laughed and reached for my plastic cup of soda.

  “Well, I mean not so much right now since she has us to keep her company, but we’re not always going to be there so she needs a sloth buddy.”

  “Uh-huh.” I grabbed another handful of fries. “Willow?”

  “Yeah?” She lifted her head to look at me and instantly sobered at the tone of my voice.

  “It’s going to be weird being at home. We’ve been with each other this whole time. It’s going to be strange to go home, back to my apartment, by myself,” I spoke softly.

  “I know.” She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “But we have to learn to deal. My dad would shit a brick if we moved in together—” She lifted her hands in defense. “—Not that I think you’re suggesting that or anything. I’m just sayin’.’

  “I know.” I hung my head forlornly.

  Nothing was going to change the fact that Willow and I were together, but things would be vastly different once we got home and we’d have to learn to cope. It wouldn’t be easy at times, but I knew we could do it.

  Her hand tentatively brushed against my jaw and I lowered my eyes to hers.

  “It’ll be fine Dean. Instead of Dean and Willow’s Epic Road Trip it’ll be Dean and Willow’s Epic Life Story.”

  I laughed heartily. “It has a nice ring to it.”

  She pulled her bottom lip in-between her teeth and let it go. “I’m not going to lie to myself or you and say that everything will be rainbows and sunshine. Everyone has hardships and I know our relationship will be no different, but we have something a lot of couples don’t have. Something that will keep us together.”

  “And what is that?” I asked, rubbing the backs of my fingers against her plump cheek—the curve of it stained a pleasant pink color.

  “A past,” she explained. “We have so much history that it gives us a solid foundation to build a relationship. I’m not worried about us crumbling. We’ve got this.”

  I chuckled and my hand fell to the back of her neck. I pulled her towards me slightly and lowered to press my lips to her forehead. A pleased sign passed through her lips and I smiled against her skin before sitting up.