Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Them,” I corrected automatically.
“What?”
“Them. Jesse is nonbinary.”
Curtis raised his eyebrows as he nodded. “Understood.”
I jogged to the restroom and called out to Jess when I stepped inside. Only one stall was occupied. “You good?”
“Yeah,” they groaned. “That burrito went right through me.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Literally,” they complained. “I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.” They paused and then groaned again. “You may not want to stay for this.”
I chuckled as I walked back out of the bathroom.
Curtis was standing outside the truck, checking on the boxes in the back, when I reached him.
“I told you they’re secure,” I pointed out.
“Just wanted to be sure,” he replied, turning toward me. Easily, as if he’d done it a hundred times before, he reached for my hand and used it to tug me closer. His other hand went to the side of my neck, his fingers tangling in the hair at my nape.
“What are you doing?” I asked softly, allowing him to tip my head back.
“Four cars pulled in after we did,” he said, leaning down to run his nose alongside mine. “All men. No families.”
“You think one of them is David’s?”
“No clue,” he said, brushing his lips over my jaw. “Could be.”
“You’re way too good at this,” I muttered, inwardly cursing as my heart began to pound.
Curtis chuckled. “I’m just actin’ how I would if we met at the bar last night,” he said with a grin. “It’s not a chore to be affectionate.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“Baby, I wouldn’t need to know you to bring you home.”
“Oh, Christ,” I said, pulling back to scowl at him. “You’re a complete whore, aren’t you?”
His arms yanked me against his chest as he tipped his head back and burst into laughter.
“Mom?” Finn called, throwing open his door.
“I’m right here, bud,” I answered, turning toward him. “You need to go to the bathroom?”
“Yeah.” He hopped down from the truck and looked back and forth between Curtis and me.
“Come on, pal,” I said, reaching for his hand. “I’ll take you.”
I brought him into the bathroom where Jesse was still fighting for their life, and he immediately started fake gagging and laughing.
“Just pee,” I ordered, forcing myself not to react. “Hurry up.” I looked under the closed stall door. “You good, Jess?”
“Yeah,” they replied miserably. “I’ll be out in a sec.”
“No rush,” I said, even though I wanted to get back on the road again.
“It stinks so bad in here,” Finn said, still giggling as he walked over to put some sanitizer on his hands.
“Shut up, Finn!” Jesse yelled back.
“What? It does!”
“Out,” I ordered Finn, walking him back outside. “Leave Jess alone. They’re not feeling good.”
“Obviously,” Finn snickered.
“Hey,” I shoved him gently, making him stumble. “How would you feel if Jess was making fun of you for having a stomachache?”
“Sorry,” he grumbled.
I yanked him back against me and slung my arm over his shoulders, bending to kiss the top of his head.
“Your friend seems nice,” he said, sliding his arm around my waist.
“You think so?”
“He thinks his son will like me,” he informed me like I hadn’t been in the truck for that conversation.
“Everyone likes you, Finn. You’re awesome.”
“Not true.”
“So true.”
“Hey, wait up,” Jesse called from behind us. We paused so they could catch up, and I gave Finn a reminder squeeze so he wouldn’t start mouthing off about the bathroom stink again.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Yeah,” they replied, swiping their hand over their forehead dramatically. “That was rough.”
“And in a rest stop bathroom, no less.”
“I never want to think about it again,” they muttered.
When we got back to the truck, Curtis tossed me the keys and jerked his head, indicating that we should get in. I helped Finn into his seat, and as soon as I’d closed his door, Curtis was there, opening the driver’s door for me.
“I’m gonna take a leak,” he said quietly, crowding me in between the door and the frame. “Get in and lock the doors while you wait, yeah?”
“Why? Did you see—”
“Just to be safe,” he said, cutting me off.
He waited until I’d done as ordered before jogging toward the restrooms.
“So, what’s the deal?” Jesse asked, leaning forward until their arms were folded on the back of the seat. “Who is that guy? We don’t even know him, and we’re going to live with him?”
That was the moment. The one where I’d either lay it all out, explaining what the play was, or tell them the story that Grease had concocted. On the one hand, I knew that Jesse was old enough, had a firm grasp on what we’d been dealing with, and the maturity to keep the story straight. On the other hand, not only was Finn not old enough for any kind of details, but it would also freak him out more than he already was after coming home from school to find our townhouse packed up for a move out of state. There was no right answer, not really. I’d either be lying to them about something pretty huge or telling them an unwelcome and scary truth.