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She looks down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting, before meeting my eyes again.
“The little girl was only two.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
I’m not sure what else to say. I regret bringing it up at all. Lucky for me, she fills the silence.
“I’ve seen some weird and fucked-up things too,” she admits.
“Well, that has my attention.” I grin. I’ll be asking you about those later.”“There’s a motel coming up. We should stop,” she says.
I was hoping to drive for at least another couple of hours, but the little sleep I got last night is beginning to take its toll on me. As much as I’m using my mother as an excuse for Julian, I really do want to visit her at the hospital. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, and I feel bad about it, even though it’s out of my control. I’m all she has. Even though there were more low points than highs, growing up, I still love her, and I’ll always do what I can to help her.
“It’s barely seven,” I argue. “I’m fine to keep going—”
“You’re fine, right up until someone like me has to come in to scrape our bodies off the road,” she argues. “What difference does it make if we stop? You’ll still get back for the wedding in time.”
I rub my head. I think she argues for the sake of arguing, sometimes.
Either that, or she does it just to mess with me.
“I’m starting to wonder if you’re trying to get me alone to take advantage—”
“Alone?” She snorts then rolls her eyes in the direction of Lily and Darcy. “What are you going to do, lock the two of them in the trunk?”
“You think I could get away with it?” I grin.
“The way Lily snores, unlikely,” Katie jokes. “So, does that mean we’re stopping?”
“Why not? Let’s see how many of your fantasies I can make come true in one night,” I say, only half joking.
I’m looking forward to seeing what buttons I can push next.I check us in, taking the only room they have left that’s big enough to accommodate all four of us—but only after Katie confirms the trunk idea isn’t going to happen.
The room is nothing special. It’s in desperate need of an update, with its faded bed covers and worn carpet, but it’s clean and I’m fucking exhausted. I think I’m even tired enough to get to sleep quickly, which would be unusual for me—but only after I’m done making Katie squirm.
“Lily and I will take the bunks,” Darcy yells out.
She leads a still very hungover and sorry for herself Lily into their room. I smirk at the exaggerated wink she gives Katie. Could she be more obvious?
I saunter over to where Katie stands in front of the king bed. She stares at it, anxiously chewing on her bottom lip. I stare at it too, fighting to keep the amusement off my face. I raise my eyebrows at her.
“Left or right?”
“Excuse me?”
“Which side do you want?” I ask patiently. “I’m easy. But I should warn you, I’ll end up all over the place. Some people have wandering hands. I have wandering everything.”
“Then maybe you can wander your way out to the car and sleep there?” she suggests. “I hear the trunk is comfortable.”
“Fine,” I say with a grin. “I never expected to share the bed with you.” She looks relieved. “You can have the floor.”
Her eyebrows shoot up so fast I think they’re going to fly off.
“I’m kidding.” I chuckle. “The bed is all yours.”
“Adam?” Darcy calls out.
I’m still laughing when I walk into the other room to see what she wants. She’s on the top bunk, while Lily sits on the floor. I’m surprised to see she’s awake, though she’s looking pretty ordinary.
“Can you help me get her up here?” Darcy asks.
I place Lily’s arm around my neck and grunt as I hoist her up onto the top bunk. Darcy tucks her in while I shake my head. That felt harder than it needed to be.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to put her in the bottom bed?” I ask.
“Easier, yes. But it’s going to be so much more amusing when she rolls out of this one.”
“I can hear you,” Lily grumbles.
“Good.” Darcy gives me an evil grin and I can’t help but chuckle. “I’m kidding. I just thought if she’s up here, then I’ll know if she tries to sneak out.”
Smart.
“I can still hear you,” Lily mutters again. She rolls over in a huff. “I’d be more worried about the vomit shower you’re likely to get with me up here.”
Darcy turns green, then switches her attention to me.
“Hey, maybe I should sleep out there with—”
“Night, Darcy and Lily,” I say, closing the door.
“It’s not even eight,” Darcy protests. “What about dinner?”
Katie sits on the bed, her legs crossed, studying her phone, so I saunter over to the mini bar to see what’s on offer. As it turns out, not much, other than some scotch that looks strangely similar to old tea. I examine the tiny bottle from every angle, the broken ring around the neck the only confirmation I need that drinking it will lead to disappointment and pain.
