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"I need to pee."
Luca doesn't even blink.
"I said, I need to pee," I speak louder and firmer this time.
"I heard you,” he answers firmly.
I stare at him in disbelief. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Well, are you going to stop so I can go to the bathroom?”
There is a prolonged pause before he finally answers, “There is a gas station a few miles up the road. I will stop and fill up the car. You can go then."
"I'm hungry too," I add.
"Do I look like a vending machine to you?"
I can't help my mouth from widening in shock at his jerk level. "I meant when you stop for gas, I would like to eat something," I clarify.
"Well, then you should have said that."
Grr. I let out a long-frustrated sigh. God, he is such an ass!
It's sun up by the time we pull up at a gas station. Luca turns his head to me for the first time in three hours.
"Do I need to explain the rules here, red, or was I clear enough earlier about what will happen if you try anything stupid?"
I glare back at him with my best bitch face on. "No, asshole, you made it clear."
"Good, leave the cat with me. I'll fill up the tank and watch him while you go do your business." He hands me a gold credit card. "Go to the toilet, get some food, and pay for the gas. If you are not back in five minutes, whiskers here is roadkill."
I wanted to argue about the lack of time he's given me, but I know I'd be wasting my breath. Luca Valsetti does not strike me as the bargaining type. Snatching the card from his hand, I make out like I am about to walk off, but I turn back quickly and take Pumpkin out of the box, putting him on the ground. “Run, Pumpkin, go!” I shout. The stupid cat meows at me and rubs his head against my leg. “Go!” I yell again, giving him a gentle push away, but he just turns around and rubs himself against the tire of the car. I breathe out a breath of frustration, shaking my head.
Luca chuckles, amused at Pumpkin's lack of cooperation and, no doubt, my pathetic pleas for him to run away. Shaking my head, I storm off towards the bathroom.
“Five minutes, red,” I hear Luca say out from behind me. I keep walking but turn slightly, flipping him the bird.
Precisely four minutes and thirty-six seconds later, I am back in the SUV. I have relieved my bladder and have a few water bottles, a packet of Cool Ranch Doritos, and two Twinkies sitting on my lap.
Luca screws his nose up as he looks at my lap. "Did you get any real food?"
I laugh at him. "What gas station do you know that sells real food?"
He gives me a prickly look before snatching the bottle of water from my hand. Unscrewing the cap, I watch him bemused as he drinks the entire bottle without taking a breath. I try to hand him a Twinkie, but he just glares at me.
"Where's Pumpkin?' I ask, looking around the car, my heart starting to pick up the pace with impending panic. When Luca doesn't answer, I look over at him, and he is frowning at me.
"The cat," I explain.
"He's in the trunk!"
“What?” I scream out. “You can't put him in the trunk. That’s animal cruelty.”
“Relax, red, he is behind your seat.'' Luca laughs. Suppose you could call it that. It was more like an evil sadistic cackle. I narrow my eyes at him. His lips form a straight line as he raises his eyebrows. “I put the box on the floor, so it doesn't slide all over the back seat like it has the past three hours.” I turn in my seat to make sure he’s telling the truth as he starts the car and pulls out onto the road.
"Can I PLEASE have the radio on?" I ask as nicely as I can manage. I know he won't respond to me if I am too pushy.
