Page 34 of Don’t Look Back

“Did you get rid of that thing you told me about?”

I nodded. “On my way here.”

“Good.” Charlie’s hand squeezed, and I relaxed—slightly. The gesture made me feel safe; protected. “Seriously Genie, don’t think about what’s going on back here. Have fun and text me when you get there.”

“I will,” I murmured. “Thanks Charlie.”

To avoid anyone seeing us leave together, I picked Ryan up once it was starting to get dark, hoping that the few hours’ drive would help shake my lingering nerves.

At that time of night in the middle of nowhere, there wasn’t a lot of light to illuminate the cab of the truck. I couldn’t gauge Ryan’s emotions by his facial expression. Once we passed city limits, I dropped a hand to my leg, hoping he would reach over and take it. There hadn’t been a sound aside from the soft music and the roar of tires on the asphalt. The sound of Ryan’s voice startled me.

“This lifts up, right?” he asked, fidgeting with the edge of the console.

“Yeah, why?”

“It’s stupid,” he said, forcing a laugh.

“No, tell me.”

Ryan groaned. “I’m so glad you can’t see my face right now.”

“Out with it, Ryan…”

“Every country song I’ve ever heard mentions sliding over in the front seat of a truck. I… I kind of wanted to try it.”

Oh, please do. I lifted the console, transforming the seats into a bench. “Get over here then.”

“I wouldn’t be making you uncomfortable?”

“No. Nervous, small-town Jay was getting annoying. I left him with a sitter who, with any luck, can beat him into submission.”

A flash of light allowed me to see Ryan’s smile before he unbuckled. Swiftly sliding over, I let him tuck into my side after he refastened his seatbelt.

“I won’t lie to you Ryan,” I confessed. “I may have left nervous small-town Jay at home, but I don’t think it worked.”

“I know,” he admitted. “I expected you to be nervous. It’s completely normal. Just know that if I do anything that makes you uncomfortable, you can tell me.”

“You’ve been the same person for twenty-one years. Why should I expect you to change your behavior for me?”

“You don’t expect me to, I’m offering to respect your boundaries because I like you. Besides, if you’re going to experiment with men, I want it to be with one of the good ones.”

“And that would be you?” I teased. “You’re a good one?”

“I like to think so. I was raised by a single mom, and I made it a point to become the type of man that my dad never was.”

With that, Ryan curled into my side. With his early wakeup call, he easily drifted off to sleep, but I didn’t mind. I enjoyed it.

It was late by the time I pulled into the hotel parking lot. Not having the heart to wake him, I killed the ignition and, feeling bold, let my arm slip from the back of the seat and drape over his waist. He stirred, but only settled closer with his hand on my knee. His palm seemed to burn through the thick denim, searing into my skin.

It wasn’t long before he realized we weren’t moving anymore and his eyes fluttered open. “Where are we?” he yawned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

“We’ve been sitting outside the hotel for ten minutes.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You looked so comfortable.”

Ryan bundled up the blanket he’d been using before he jumped out of the truck. He was really getting the hang of it. And damn, he looked good doing it.