Page 76 of Quarter Miles (Runaway 3)

The passenger door to the Cadillac popped open and Aria stepped out, rounding the trunk to join us. “Hi, Cash.”

“Hi, Aria.”

“How fast were you going to catch us?” she asked.

He grinned. “Fast enough.”

A semitruck blazed down the highway, the noise so loud it reminded me that we were essentially on the side of the road. “Should we head back to the hotel?”

“I’ve got a better idea.” Cash shook his head and walked past me to the Cadillac. He leaned inside and when he stood, he held up the quarter I’d left in the tray. The quarter Carol had given me. “How about we start this adventure over?”

Drive wherever the quarter intended. Explore the countryside with the man I loved. Share hotel rooms and sleep in each other’s arms. “Yes, please.”

“Would you take the Cadillac?” Cash asked Aria.

“Of course.” She stepped closer and took me in one of her fierce hugs.

I clung to her, holding her close. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Thanks for coming to find me.” She let me go and leaned back. “I’ve missed you.”

We didn’t need to voice that we’d see one another again. We didn’t need to say call me or text. Now that I’d found Aria again, I wasn’t going to lose her.

“Nice to meet you, Cash.” She held out her hand.

He shook it, then pulled her in for a hug. “Don’t be a stranger. Come see us in Montana.”

“Will you teach me to ride a horse?”

He chuckled and let her go. “You got it.”

“Will you be okay driving to Arizona alone?” I asked Aria as Cash went to collect my suitcase and belongings from the Cadillac.

“Of course, but not today. I’m going home. I have to work on Monday.”

“What?” My mouth fell open. “But the trip—”

“Oh, I figured he’d catch up with us after about an hour or two.” She winked at Cash as he slammed the trunk.

“How’d you know?”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “That man loves you too much to let you go.”

I cast a glance at Cash, where he was hauling my purse from the backseat. And I loved him too much to actually run away.

Aria and I shared one last hug, then she waved goodbye to Cash and climbed in the Cadillac, flipping it around and disappearing down the highway.

“Think we’ll ever see that car again?” Cash asked, pulling me into his side.

“No.”

That car had taken me on the trip that I’d needed, just like it had with Londyn and Gemma.

Cash led me to the passenger door of the SUV, closing it for me once I was inside. Then he jogged around the hood and slid behind the wheel, holding the quarter up between us.

I took it from his fingers and gave it a flip. “Heads left. Tails right.”

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