AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fuck me.” His voice was low and strained.
This was a good sign. At least he sounded concerned and a bit distraught.
“We’re at the rest area just past mile marker seven. The last sign I saw was for Ghosttown, but I don’t know if it’s some kind of joke or not. I’m not from here.” She racked her brain, trying to remember the last highway sign she saw on her way here.
“No, you’re good, I know exactly where you’re at,” he said before she heard muffled voices in the background.
She looked over her shoulder. The old man was sitting on the curb with his knees bent and his forearms resting atop. He was staring down at the pavement. Sadness tugged at her heart. Alzheimer’s was a horribly sad disease and one that took everything from its victims. Everyone should be able to live out their lives with their memories and dignity intact. For some people like Marissa, memories were all she had. A small sliver of unease penetrated her heart. What if someday this happened to her? What if she lost her memories? She swallowed the lump in her throat, grinding her teeth together, trying to not feel.
“Lady?” The man’s voice had her blinking away her impending tears. She focused back on his voice and took a deep breath.
“Marissa,” she whispered without thinking. Her gaze darted over the road, and she blinked erratically. What the hell? She never gave out her name except when she absolutely had to.
“What?”
She closed her eyes. She had no idea what possessed her to blurt out her name. But it was too late to turn back now. She swallowed, glancing up at the sky. “My name. It’s Marissa.”
His breath hitched over the line, which seemed out of place and odd. “I’m sorry. Here you are helping my dad out, and I’m being a complete dick.”
There was a moment of silence. As much as she appreciated his apology and could sympathize with his anger out of concern, she certainly wasn’t going to disagree. He had been a dick.
“My Pop,” he paused. “He’s sick. It’s been awhile since he’s had an episode and wandered.” His voice faded, and she could sense something she knew all too well. Guilt. She bit her lip, trying to come up with something to say, but she was at a loss.
“Look, I know I don’t have a right to ask you for a favor, but can you stay with him until we get there? I’m about ten minutes away.”
She nodded, which was odd since he couldn’t see her. She brushed her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I’ll stay with him.”
“Thanks. I’ll be there in ten.” He spoke in such a rush, she didn’t doubt he was on his way out the door. The line went silent.
She looked over at the old man and blurted, “Hey, wait.” Too late. He must have hung up already. “Damn.”
“Marissa?”
She fluttered her lashes in surprise. It had been forever since someone used her name with such a sweet tone, almost an endearing whisper reserved for a couple. Odd.
“Yeah, one more thing. What’s his name? I’d ask him, but I don’t want him to get upset if he can’t remember.”
His voice was soft. “His name is Jack. Thanks again.” He hung up before she could say anything else.
They spent the next ten minutes waiting for Jack’s son. Marissa introduced herself, but he said nothing. She sat down next to him, ignoring the stench of piss as they sat in silence.
Every now and then she could feel his gaze shift toward her. She met his stare with a small smile. Hopefully, it was reassuring.
Her ears perked up when she heard the rumble of a loud engine. Or two? She leaned back past Jack, and two black motorcycles approached them. Maybe it was her view from the curb, but they seemed larger than average. The bikes rode in side by side. In the dusk, with the headlights beaming at her, she couldn’t make out their faces. She squeezed her eyes shut, turning away from the bright glare.
“Little fuckers,” Jack sneered under his breath, but being so close, she heard it. Marissa leaned forward past Jack and stared at the male figures. Neither one pulled into a designated spot, though it didn’t matter. Besides her car, the lot was empty.
She hadn’t given much thought to what Jack’s sons might look like, but if she had, these men wouldn’t be it.
Those are his sons? The jerks? Neither one wore a helmet. Safety was obviously not a concern for either one. Marissa remained seated next to Jack, who hadn’t moved a muscle. She eyed them carefully. The larger of the two pulled off his sunglasses and drove his hand through his long brown hair. It reached just past his shoulders. Maybe it was because she was sitting down, but he looked enormous. Definitely over six feet. His boots crushed the loose gravel as he stalked over. It was hard to tell which son this was, the first one she spoke to or the second. One thing was absolutely clear. He was livid.
His jaw was set tight, and if she had to guess, he was clenching his teeth. His eyebrows were furrowed, driving a deep, hardened crease between his brows. It was hard to say whether he was good looking or not. There was too much anger taking over his features.
His narrowed glare was set on Jack. She was prepared for him to start yelling.
“Where is your car?” His tone was even but with a small bite, though she guessed he was holding back and trying to reel in his anger. Thankfully, he seemed more patient with his father than he’d been with her earlier.
Marissa jerked her head to Jack. He sat silent, ignoring his son. She lifted her gaze through her lashes, careful not to draw too much attention to herself, but she was able to get a glimpse of him. She recognized the voice. He was the first guy she spoke to. A ring of smoke haloed around his face as he took a drag of his cigarette. His lip curled, which took away from his full top lip. He had a week’s worth of scruff marring his face, though it worked for the biker persona, she gathered. He jerked his head which gave her a full view of his profile. She remained deadlocked on his attractiveness. It was hard to tell since his face was somewhat distorted in rage. Jack’s lack of response seemed to infuriate his son.
