“Do what?”
“Let’s drive there ourselves. You can be my copilot.”
“I don’t know.” A case of nerves took over in her stomach, and her mind raced to all the reasons she couldn’t go. “All the money I brought is for when I get to the beach. I don’t have extra for gas or food for a road trip.”
“I’ll pay. It’s my fault we’re in this mess anyway.”
“That’s true.”
He gave her an amused look.
She simply stared at him, not sure how to answer.
“What do you say?” His eyes pleaded with her to say yes.
“You aren’t a very safe driver, Colton. My parents would never allow it.” Dad. The biggest and most important reason to say no.
“You’re eighteen, right?”
Natalie nodded.
“Well, then you can do whatever you want.”
She looked as uncertain as a beginner skydiver about to take a leap for the first time.
“They don’t have to know you didn’t catch the bus,” he said.
Her mouth fell open and a little huff escaped. “You want me to lie to my parents?”
“Do whatever you want. I’m going. With or without you.” He walked to the back of the car, leaving the door ajar, and started talking on his phone to someone.
Natalie’s head was pounding. She couldn’t think straight. She grabbed her purse and rifled through the contents until she found her bottle of ibuprofen and popped a few, hoping it would take the edge off the pain.
She stared out the window at nothing in particular. Could she do this? Could she really take this trip with Colton? She brought up Google Maps on her phone and typed in Virginia Beach. From their high school in the little village of Middleville, Michigan, it was a thirteen-hour drive.
Part of her was terrified at the idea of riding another minute in a car with Colton. The other part got a thrill just thinking about spending hours alone with the guy she’d had a crush on since she was six years old.
Her phone chimed then with a text from her best friend, Olivia, asking where she was.
Colton climbed back into the car and looked at her. “What do you say?”
She had never done anything crazy like this. Ever.
“You in?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
Natalie took a deep breath. “I’m in.”
2
Second-Guessing
So you obviously know my name, but you haven’t even told me yours.”
Natalie was still annoyed that he didn’t remember her, and she wasn’t going to give up her name so easily. “You never asked.”
“Right.” Colton turned into the corner gas station and pulled up to a pump. “So …”
“So, what?”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Natalie gave a mischievous grin. “Nope.”
“That’s not your name.” He smirked.
“If you can’t remember my name after going to school together for thirteen years then, I’m sorry, but I’m not telling you what it is.”
“What can I say? We have a big class. I can’t be expected to remember everyone’s name.”
“I know the name of every person in our class.” It was true. She had always been good at remembering names. And their class wasn’t that big—less than three hundred students. How hard was it to remember a few names? But then he had always been wrapped up in sports and his own little group of friends, so she shouldn’t have expected much else.
Colton pursed his lips and got out to fill up the tank.
Natalie startled as the door slammed behind him. She was second-guessing the trip already. They were practically strangers. What did she actually know about him? And he really could use a refresher in driver’s safety. Would she even survive the trip?
Her thoughts turned to her dad. If he knew what she was considering, he would be furious. And he didn’t get angry very often. Colton was definitely not the kind of guy her dad would want her to spend time with. The word heathen came to mind.
Colton opened the door and leaned down to look at her. “Go in and grab whatever you want. I’ll be there in a minute.”
She went inside and browsed the aisles of the gas station convenience store, settling on a couple cans of Arizona Raspberry Tea, a bag of Salt & Vinegar Kettle Chips, and … what else did she want? Hmmm. Something sugary maybe to keep her awake. Her eyes scanned the candy display in search of Strawberry Twizzlers. Just as her fingers closed around the last bag, another hand reached in and yanked it from her grasp.
“Hey! I had those first.” She spun around, smack dab into Colton.
He gripped her arms and stopped her from tumbling backwards into the display. “We can share.”
A slight nod was all she could manage with his strong hands still in contact with her arms. He towered above her, the center of his broad chest level with her eyes, and she forgot to breathe for a moment.
The electronic chime sounded as more customers entered the store. Natalie caught sight of a couple junior girls from school walking in their direction.
“Crap!” She pulled away from Colton’s grasp and grabbed his arm, tugging him around the end of the aisle and into the next.
“What?” He glanced over his shoulder.
“I can’t be seen with you.”
Shock and disbelief crossed his face. “Why not?”
“I’m supposed to be on the bus right now. And so are you.”
“So.”
“So, somebody could tell my parents. This is a small town. Word tends to travel …” Natalie peeked past Colton and saw the girls head away from them toward the potato chip aisle. “… fast.”
Colton laid his hands on her shoulders. “Just give me your stuff and go get in the car then.”
“Good idea.” She shoved the drinks and chips at him and snuck out to his vehicle, ducking down and covering her head with the first thing she could find—Colton’s sweatshirt. She inhaled the scent of him left on the soft cotton and sighed.
The door opened not long after, and Colton laughed. “You look crazy.”
She peeked out from under the shirt. “Maybe I should just call my parents and tell them what happened.”
Colton started the engine and cranked up the volume on his premium sound system. He gave her a conniving grin. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. The radio was too loud.”
“Maybe you should take me home.” She tried to speak above the music, but he turned it up louder as he took off down the road.
“What was that? I can’t hear you.” He laughed, clearly thinking himself clever.
Natalie reached over and turned the volume all the way down.
His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. “Hey! Hands off my radio.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“And you’re a chicken.”
Her mouth fell open this time.
“Why does it matter if those girls saw us?” He looked back and forth between her and the road several times, waiting for her answer.
“I don’t want to get into trouble.” She exhaled an exasperated breath. “Things just aren’t going according to plan.”
“You always have a plan, don’t you?”
“Most of the time.” Actually, all of the time, but she didn’t want to sound like some kind of control freak. “This was supposed to be a fun trip with my best friends.”
“It’ll still be fun. I mean, have you met me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I realize you’re the life of the party.”
“No, I mean, seriously … have you met me? Because I don’t remember ever meeting you.”
Funny guy. “We’ve met.”
“I think I would’ve remembered.” His tone was smooth and flirtatious.
“Apparently not.”
“You do look kind of familiar,” he told her. “At least give me a hint.”
She thought back to first grade, climbing on the jungle gym together, holding hands on the bus. He
had told her she was his girlfriend and that one day he was going to marry her. But they were six. He couldn’t possibly remember that. Or that he’d broken her tiny little heart when he got a new fiancée at recess the following week.
Their only other contact was a few classes they had shared over the years. But they hadn’t really spoken since that elementary school proposal, so it was no wonder he didn’t remember who she was.
“You don’t know me, Colton.” Her head hung a little. “You never have.”
He quieted for a few minutes of silent driving.
She was very close to asking him to drive her home, when he finally spoke again.
“Tell me one thing about yourself, one thing you love.”
That’s easy. “Gymnastics.”
Colton’s eyes lit up as if he had solved a piece of the puzzle. “Oh, right. You’re the gymnast.”
Her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” He smirked.
She was about to ask again when her phone signaled a text—another message from Olivia along with two she had missed.
Livvy:
Are you OK?
Why aren’t you on this bus?
Why aren’t you responding?
Natty:
Got in an accident this morning.
I’m OK, but I missed the bus.
Livvy:
Obviously.
Glad you’re OK.
So, what? You’re not coming?
Natalie paused with her thumbs over the screen. Stay or go? She made a quick mental list of pros and cons. Asking Colton to drive her home, missing out on the trip, and forfeiting all the money paid went under one column, while risking life and limb to get to Virginia Beach and going behind her dad’s back to do it occupied the other. The safe choice versus the choice Dad would surely see as immature and irresponsible. A wave of nausea hit her at the thought of lying to her father. Or was it from the whiplash?
She peeked over at Colton and chewed on her bottom lip. He was staring ahead, tapping his hand against the steering wheel, bouncing his knee to the beat of the music, oblivious to the battle that was raging inside her mind.
Livvy:
Hello?
Natty:
Yeah, I’m coming. Getting a ride.
Livvy:
With who?
Natty:
Colton Daynes.
Her phone rang immediately.
“Hey, Liv,” she answered.
“Colton Daynes?” Olivia shrieked. “Did I read that right?”
“Shhh! Yes.” Natalie glanced over at Colton, who had obviously heard because he was smirking again.
“Are you with him right now?”
“Yes.”
“In my dream car?” Olivia was in love with Colton’s car, even more than most girls were in love with its driver.
“Yes.”
“How did this happen?” Olivia asked.
“Hang up, and I’ll text you.”
“Oh, right. You can’t talk because he’s sitting right next to you. I get it.” She was all giggles.
“Right.”
“This is crazy. You do realize that, don’t you?”
“I know.” Natalie was very aware of how unexpected and unbelievable this situation was.
“Lexi’s going to flip.”
Lexi. Why hadn’t she thought about how Colton’s girlfriend would react to them traveling together? Her name should’ve topped the cons side of the list.
“Please, don’t say a word,” Natalie begged. “To anyone.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
“I’m gonna go so you can text me. Livvy out.”
“Na … out.” Normally she would’ve said “Natty out,” but she didn’t want to give Colton any clues to her identity. Leaving him in the dark was way too much fun.
As soon as they hung up, Olivia started in again with the texts. Natalie barely had a chance to tell the story without being interrupted with a hundred questions. When she had finished telling Olivia the events of the morning, she glanced over at Colton then back at her phone.
Natty:
Where are you right now?
Maybe we can still catch up to you.
Livvy:
What? You mean you don’t want to ride with him?
Natty:
I don’t know.
Livvy:
Have fun! And I want to hear every detail when we get there.
Natty:
OK.
Livvy:
Livvy, out.
Natalie tucked her phone into her purse and stared at the road ahead.
“Who’s Liv?” Colton asked.
Crap. “My best friend.”
“It’s one of the Olivias then.” He looked pleased with himself for finding another clue. “Is it Olivia Strauss?”
“No.”
“Olivia Benton?”
“No.” She glanced over at him then back at the road.
“Olivia Fenmore?”
Double crap. She paused before her reply. “No.”
“Ha! It is! You suck at lying.”
She rolled her eyes. “You remember all of their names, but you don’t remember mine?”
Colton appeared to be deep in thought for a moment. “Olivia’s best friend is Trinity Collins.”
“Yes, Trinity is our other best friend.”
“I didn’t know they had another best friend.”
“That’s because I don’t go to parties with them,” she replied. “I’m usually training.”
“For gymnastics?”
“Yes.” She was proud of how hard she worked at the sport she loved.
“You should come to more parties.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re missing out.”
Her laugh came out as more of a snort. “What, on a bunch of underaged drunks making idiots of themselves? I’m good.”
“You are good, aren’t you?” He seemed to be sizing her up.
She looked over at him. “So what if I am.”
“Good is boring,” he declared.
“Gee, thanks.” The second-guessing began again.
“I’m not saying you’re boring. I don’t even know you … I’m sorry, what was your name again?”
She tried not to smile. “Nice try.”
“I will get it out of you. The road is long, and my will is strong.” He raised a fist in the air as if to demonstrate that strength, and Natalie’s eyes locked on his bicep.
Look at the road. Look at the trees. Look at the dead raccoon on the side of the road.
“Oh my gosh, you’re a poet.” She was surprised she could form a coherent sentence. “You’re just full of hidden talents, aren’t you?”
“And I’ve got the queen of sarcasm in my car. This oughta be fun.”
“I can be fun.”
Colton laughed out loud. “Oh, I bet you’re loads of fun.”
“You’ll never find out now. I’ve decided to be boring for the rest of the trip, just for you.”
Colton looked over at her and smiled, a glint in his vibrant green eyes. “I look forward to a very boring trip then.”
And her sarcasm melted away.
“Want some ice cream?” They had traveled maybe thirty miles when Colton veered off of the road into the parking lot of MooVille Creamery.
Natalie glanced at the clock on the dash. “We haven’t even been on the road for an hour and you want to stop already?”
“This place is my favorite. And did I mention ice cream?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “If we stop every time you want ice cream, we’ll never get there.”
“So, you don’t want any?” He climbed out of the car.
“I didn’t say that.” She followed him toward the entrance, past the picnic tables and benches, and into the large white building with the cartoonish cow logo above the door.
“Hey, Colton,” the woman behind the counter greeted him. “Do
you want your usual?”
“You bet,” he replied with a smile. “What do you want?” he asked Natalie.
She perused the menu. “Small chocolate shake is fine.”
Colton shook his head at her. “Boring.”
Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Or is it?”
He laughed.
Minutes later, the woman handed Natalie her shake and Colton a bowl of ice cream with crumbles of Oreo sprinkled over the top and gummy worms hanging over the edge.
Natalie couldn’t contain her laughter. “Are you kidding? That’s your usual?”
“Mhmm,” he replied with a gummy worm hanging out of his mouth.
“You really are a big kid, aren’t you?”
Colton nodded as they walked outside and took a seat at a picnic table. The air had warmed at least fifteen degrees since she climbed out of her Accord and into Colton’s car. Natalie removed her beloved jacket, folding it nicely and laying it on the bench beside her. She looked up to find Colton watching her with a crooked grin on his face.
“What?”
“Boring and a neat freak, apparently.” He scooped ice cream and Oreo chunks into his mouth.
“It was my dad’s.” The jacket had become like a security blanket over the years and made her feel close to him whenever they were apart.
“Your dad was in the military?”
“Army. Before I was born.”
“Did he see any action?” His eyes lit up like a little boy excited to play with G.I. Joes.
Natalie almost laughed at the look on his face. Boys. “He wasn’t in during war time. Just peacekeeping missions in Bosnia.”
“Oh. That’s cool.”
Natalie sipped on her shake. It really was good. She took another sip and looked up at Colton, who was watching her again with amusement.
“What now?”
“An ice cream cone would’ve been a lot more fun to watch you eat.”
She gave him a disapproving look. “Good thing I’m boring then.”
“Not good for me.” He winked at her.
He really was an unforgivable flirt.
“We should set some ground rules for this trip,” Natalie announced.
18 Hours To Us Page 2
