AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know it will delay things a touch, but we can drive straight on through. Only minor gas and food stops.”
“Guess I can’t say no.”
“You could, but it wouldn’t be very nice. I had to do some serious sweet-talking in there.” There was an unexpected spring in my step. “What do you think? It’s only a couple of hours. A nap, not a full out sleep.”
“Well, then. I say, thank you. I appreciate this. Let me lock the car.”
“Can I grab my bag first?” I intended to freshen up after a quick snooze.
We grabbed our personal effects and walked to the door at the end of the wing. Unlocking it, I stepped inside the tiny space bathed in the 1970s décor I’d completely expected. My foster bedroom had been bigger, but it wasn’t the size of the space that made the breath catch in my throat. It was the lonely bed, barely big enough for two people.
“Well, shit.”
Chapter Eight
My bag fell from my hand and hit the floor with a thud. I swallowed. “Well, I guess I should’ve stated we need two beds.”
Neither of us moved, we just stared at the barely bigger than twin-sized bed.
“Did you call your grandparents?”
He stared and blinked. “What? Oh, yeah. They’re upset but there’s nothing they can do. Grandma asked me to give her updates as I stop.”
“Oh.” Suddenly I was fixated on theIpart. “Does she know you have a navigator or a travel companion?”
He stepped away from my question, walking to the back of the room to peek inside the bathroom. “It’s pretty bare bones, but there’s toilet paper, soap, and a fresh set of towels.”
I didn’t understand where my sudden flare up came from, and I tried my best to keep the pitch out of my tone. “You told her you were travelling alone?”
He sighed and slumped onto the bed. It bounced and creaked with his movement. “You wouldn’t understand.”
My arms crossed tightly over my chest, tipping my head to the side. “I might. Try me.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and stretched out, giving the bed a little bounce, while totally ignoring my comment. “It’s not horrible. Not a cloud or anything, but it’ll work.”
The fire inside of me burned hotter. “You know, if it’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s being someone’s dirty little secret.”
I grabbed my bag off the floor and stomped outside, slamming the door behind me. Surely there was a bus depot or something that could get me out of this place. It had been a bad idea to share a road trip with him, especially since he wouldn’t admit he had company to his grandparents.
“Iris, wait.”
I huffed along, my hair bun bouncing to my stern steps as my flats hit the sidewalk with force.
His hand wrapped around mine. “What in hell is going on? What do you mean, dirty little secret? I never called you that.”
Avoiding his gaze, I instead focused on my shoes. “I need my things, please.”
“Where will you go?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. But I can’t…” A deep ache was building. Part of the reason I was running away from home was because of secrets. “I hate sneaking around.”
“Who’s sneaking?” His brows formed a deep V, and he kept a tight focus on me.
“You.”
“Because I didn’t tell my grandparents?” He pulled a hand over his face and then pinched the bridge of his nose.
I nodded, and my vision blurred. “I can’t stand secrets.”
