He raised an eyebrow as he slurped ice cream from his spoon. “Such as?”
“No funny business.”
He chuckled. “Can you be more specific?”
“Flirting with me won’t work, so don’t bother.” She took another sip, and his eyes fixed on her lips.
“The same goes for you then.” The corner of his mouth angled upward.
She immediately pulled the straw from her mouth with a soft pop. “I’m not flirting with you.”
“OK.” His sarcasm matched hers from earlier.
“We’re just two people traveling to a common destination. That’s all.” She nodded resolutely.
“Agreed.”
“And once we get there, you can go back to not knowing me again.”
His eyebrows scrunched together. “What if I want to know you?”
“You won’t. I’m boring, remember?”
“Right.” His smile made her insides melt faster than her milkshake.
Colton finished off his sundae in record time and walked around the building to the little petting farm filled with baby goats, calves, and lambs.
Natalie grabbed her jacket and followed, drinking the remainder of her shake as quickly as she could. “Ow!” She gripped her head. “Brain freeze!”
He chuckled as he began petting one of the baby goats. “Come pet this little guy.”
She wandered over, glancing at her phone to get the time. “It’s almost ten-thirty, Colton. Shouldn’t we get back on the road?”
“What’s your rush?” He meandered over to the calves. “We can get there whenever we want.”
“Well, I’ve got friends who are waiting for me, and I’d like to go. Maybe we can catch up with the buses when they stop halfway at the hotel.”
“You don’t want to stay in a hotel room with me tonight?” His eyebrows bounced up and down a couple times.
“Colton,” she warned. If he kept saying flirty things like that, she might give in to her urge to flirt right back.
He patted her on the arm. “I’m just messin’ with ya.”
“Well, don’t.”
“All right. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
Natalie grimaced. “I hate it when people say that.”
“Well, calm your butt then.”
“Oh my gosh.” She turned on her heel and headed toward the car.
He caught up to her as she dropped her cup in the trash.
“Lighten up … you.”
A giggle escaped. It was fun keeping her name from him. She wondered if she could keep it up for the entire trip.
Her phone dinged in her pocket, and she pulled it out and stopped in her tracks at the text.
“What? Who is it?”
“It’s my dad.” Her heart rate accelerated.
“What’d he say?”
“He asked if I made it to the bus.” She had never lied to her dad before, and she didn’t want to start now.
“Just tell him you did.”
“I can’t.” Her throat constricted. “I can’t lie to him.”
Colton leaned back against the passenger side of his car. “It’s not too late to go back. If that’s what you want, I’ll take you home.”
She didn’t want to go home. Every part of her wanted to go on this trip … with Colton.
“But just so you know …” His eyes locked with hers. “I really want to go on this trip with you.”
His smile made her forget all the reasons she shouldn’t go. Her mind whirled with the options.
After standing frozen to that spot for several long minutes, she finally typed a message back to her dad and tucked her phone in her pocket. “OK. Let’s go.”
Colton opened her door for her, and she climbed in.
When he was back in his seat and all buckled in, he turned to look at her. “I have to ask. What did you say?”
“I told him we’re on our way to Virginia Beach.”
3
Names
It was a partial truth. A little white lie. But it was more than that and she knew it, because she didn’t keep things from her dad. She never had. They had always been open and honest with each other, especially after her mother left them, when Dad was all she had to get her through those all-important early teen years. Twelve was too young to be without a mother, but Dad had done a pretty great job of making sure she knew she was loved, that his shoulder was there to cry on, his arms always open when she needed a hug, and that her faith in God would sustain her through it all. It had been just the two of them for three years, until Norma came on the scene.
Ever since her dad remarried, things had been different. Much of his free time was spent with Norma now, and the bond they once shared sometimes seemed like a distant memory. Maybe it was because she was all grown up and didn’t have to rely on her dad so much anymore. But she still wanted to. She wanted to cling to him and the times they had shared together. He had always been her best friend, and she missed that. She missed him. And she secretly envied the time he spent with his new wife.
If Dad found out she had lied to him, it would surely cause more distance between them. Lying was the one thing her father did not condone after all the lies Mom had told him. She knew it, yet she'd done it anyway. And she didn’t know if he would forgive her for it or not.
The text tone on Colton’s phone brought her out of her thoughts, and he motioned for her to read it.
“G-Money again. He wants to know if you’re bailing on the trip.” Another tone chimed. “And one from Sexy Lexi.” She could barely get the name out without gagging. “She says she will never forgive you for ditching her, and you better write her back right now or you’re through.”
Colton rolled his eyes.
“Do you want me to respond to these for you?”
“Tell Grant I’m on my way.”
“Grant is G-Money, I assume.”
“Yeah.”
“What about Sexy Lexi?” She said the name in the best valley girl voice she could conjure up.
Colton smiled, revealing his perfect pearly whites. “I’ll text her later.”
Another string of texts came in from Lexi, and Natalie read them aloud.
Sexy Lexi:
Baby, I don’t want to do this trip without you.
I miss you already.
Where are you?
The bus is so lonely.
What happened?
She read the messages to Colton. “I probably shouldn’t be reading these.”
“Tell her I’ll see her in Virginia Beach.”
Natalie did as he asked, but it wasn’t the end of Lexi’s messages.
Sexy Lexi:
Yay! Are you driving there?
Who’s with you?
If you’re alone, be careful.
Don’t fall asleep at the wheel and crash and damage that hot bod of yours.
“I can’t handle many more of these,” Natalie admitted.
“Just turn the ringer off for now.”
She clicked the switch on the side and flipped his phone screen-side down.
“Sorry. She can be a bit much sometimes.”
“I know. We used to be friends.”
“You and Lexi?” He said it like it was the most outlandish thing he had ever heard in his entire life.
“Yeah, a very long time ago.”
“When?”
“Until seventh grade when she got boobs and boyfriends and I didn’t. Apparently, that made her too cool for the likes of me.”
Colton nodded. “Sounds like her.”
“What do you see in her?” The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“You mean besides the obvious?” he replied with a twinkle in his eye.
She found no humor in his response. “Are you really so shallow?”
“What if I am?”
Natalie shrugged her shoulders. “I guess it just confirms what I already thought about you.”
“Which is?”
�
�You and your friends live to party and date only the prettiest and easiest girls in school.”
His eyes were fixed on the road, and he gave no reply.
“You don’t take life or your relationships seriously. And you couldn’t care less about school or your future.”
“Now, hold on. You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Oh, do I?”
“I would do anything for my friends. Ask any of them. I would drop whatever I’m doing and be there if they needed me. And they would do the same.” His volume level had risen. “We’re more like brothers at this point.” He looked pointedly at her then back at the road. “And I care about my future. I’ve got a football scholarship—”
“To MSU.” Natalie finished his sentence. “Yeah, I know. Everybody knows.”
“So don’t lump all of us together like one great big stereotype,” he insisted.
She raised her hands in surrender. “All right. I’m sorry.”
They rode along without speaking through the current rap song that was playing.
She could feel him glancing over at her, and she finally gave in and looked at him. Their eyes met just as every other word of the song seemed to be a four-letter expletive, which made them both laugh.
Colton reached over and tapped the button to skip to the next song.
“So …” Natalie decided it was time for a subject change. “Are you going to let me drive at some point?” She thought she saw him cringe at her question.
“Are you a good driver?” he asked.
That made her laugh. “You’re asking if I’m a good driver?”
He stared blankly at her.
“Of course, I am.”
“Because she’s my baby.” He practically cooed.
“Oh no, you’re not one of those guys who names their cars, are you?”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “If you tell me your name, I promise to name my car after you.”
“Oh, right.” She rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious.”
She shook her head. “You’re not naming your car after me.”
“You can’t stop me. Besides, Lucy is a great name for a car.” He looked at her hopefully.
She giggled. “My name’s not Lucy.”
“Jennifer?”
A subtle shake of her head.
“Chloe?”
Back and forth for another no.
“I feel like it’s right on the tip of my tongue. Like I almost remember you, but I can’t place where I know you from.”
Natalie shrugged. “I can’t help you.”
“What good are you then?”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Anyway … should we take driving shifts? Like every couple hours we can switch and the other person can rest up. I can sleep first if you aren’t ready to switch.”
“Are you tired already?”
“I was up extra early this morning getting ready for the trip. Plus, riding in cars makes me sleepy.”
“Me too.” He pretended his eyelids were heavy.
She smacked his arm. “Stop!”
“Stop? Right now?” He tapped the brake.
She rolled her eyes. “You are such a pain.”
He squared his shoulders. “I pride myself on that.”
Natalie shook her head. “Wake me in an hour and we can switch.”
“I thought you were supposed to be here to keep me awake on our long journey.”
“I’m here because you made me crash into another car this morning. So you better not fall asleep at the wheel and kill us both.” She leaned her head against the head rest.
“Sweet dreams,” he said as he lowered the volume of the radio for once.
She peeked over at him and smiled before closing her eyes again, the motion of the car lulling her to sleep.
4
Remembering
Natalie!”
She jumped awake with a start. “What? What is it?” Her eyes darted to the road in front of them.
Colton’s palm smacked the steering wheel. “Natalie! Ha! You’re Natalie Rhodes.” He seemed extremely pleased with himself. “Gah! That’s been driving me crazy for the last hour.”
She rubbed her eyes. “Congratulations.”
He glanced over at her. “It’s all coming back to me now.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“We were engaged once, you know.”
Natalie’s mouth dropped open a little. “Is that so?” She played it off like she didn’t know what he was talking about so she could see how much he actually remembered.
“Oh, yeah. I think we were five, maybe six. We climbed up that jungle gym on the playground, and I told you I wanted to marry you.”
Natalie laid the back of her hand against her forehead and faked a swoon. “So romantic.”
He gazed in her direction, those hypnotic green eyes reflecting the sunlight outside. “You were my very first girlfriend, you know.”
Her stomach fluttered at the look in his eyes, but she pushed it aside. “And I obviously made a lasting impression on you.”
He nodded. “Hey, at least one of us remembered that very romantic proposal.”
She chuckled, but still didn’t let him know that she remembered. That she had never forgotten.
“You snore, by the way.”
Natalie looked at him, her mouth agape. “No, I do not.”
He laughed. “Uh, yeah, you do.”
She wiped at her mouth, realizing she may have drooled a little in her sleep.
“It’s a cute snore. Like this little muffled breathing sound. Kind of like a puppy.”
“You’re comparing me to a dog?” Her icy blue eyes widened.
“It’s a compliment, Natalie.”
Her name on his lips caused a warmth to spread over her.
Natalie looked out the window as they drove past fields of newly planted corn. “Where are we?”
“Ohio somewhere.”
They passed by a sign for I-90 East. “Wait, are we on the turnpike?”
“Yeah.”
“No! We were supposed to keep going south. That’s the route the bus is taking!”
“I followed the GPS, and this is the way it took me. It’s the fastest route.”
Natalie searched for the email the school had sent about the trip. “The hotel where the bus is stopping is in Charleston, West Virginia.”
“So, put it in the GPS.”
Natalie fiddled with the screen until she was able to enter the address of the hotel.
“Recalculating,” the device said. “You will arrive at your destination at 5:52 P.M.”
Colton activated his blinker and exited the highway. “In the meantime.”
“Where are you going now?” Natalie was annoyed that Colton seemed to do whatever he wanted and go wherever he wanted without so much as considering her. But since he was paying for this little road trip, she didn’t feel like she should complain.
“I have to pee.” He paid at the toll booth and headed to the nearest gas station.
She too felt the urge as soon as he pulled in.
“Will you top off the gas for me?” he asked as he climbed out.
Natalie exited the vehicle and watched him swipe his credit card at the pump. “You’re not the only one who has to go, ya know.”
“You can’t hold it for two minutes?” He was practically hopping up and down.
“Fine. Go.” She waved him away and tried not to laugh as he sprinted across the parking lot.
She rounded the car and began pumping the gas. Through the driver side window, Natalie noticed Colton’s phone light up with a new text. She opened the door and looked at his screen.
Sexy Lexi:
I’m missing your kisses right now.
She groaned and went back to watching the numbers on the gas pump rise.
“Your turn,” Colton called from across the parking lot.
As he strolled up, she stepped right to move around him, only he moved in the same d
irection. She stepped left, but he moved too.
“I didn’t know you could dance.” He chuckled.
A nervous laugh escaped her as she attempted another step, but Colton stopped her with a gentle grip on her upper arms and rotated them ninety degrees so she could pass. She looked up into his eyes, and he gave her a slight smile—enough to reveal the dimple in his right cheek—before releasing her.
Her pulse danced and her arms tingled from his touch, but she checked herself. Get a grip. She walked on toward the building, glancing back over her shoulder to see if he was watching her, which he was.
“You have another text from your girlfriend, by the way.”
“Great.” There was nothing but sarcasm in his tone.
She thought about his response the whole time she was in the restroom. Shouldn’t he be happier to hear from his girlfriend? Were there problems between them? That certainly wasn’t the impression she got from Lexi’s texts.
When she returned, Colton was in the driver’s seat again.
“Still not going to let me drive?” she asked as she buckled in.
“I’m not tired yet.” He pulled out onto the road and turned right, passing by the highway on-ramp.
“Why aren’t you getting back on the highway?” Natalie pointed at the GPS.
“I’m starving, and I know a great restaurant right on the water.”
“On the water?” They were nowhere near a lake. “How far out of the way is it?”
“Not far.” He winked.
Why did she not believe him?
5
Out of the Way
The miles kept adding up as they headed in the direction of Lake Erie, at least thirty minutes away from the road they needed to be on to get them to the bus. “We could’ve just eaten a hot dog from the gas station.”
He scrunched up his nose. “This is better.”
She rolled her eyes. He clearly thought he was in charge of the entire trip. “So, you’re too good for gas station hot dogs?”
“Hey, I’ve eaten my fair share. I’m no food snob, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“If we had eaten hot dogs, we would be closer to the hotel right now.”
“You’re really in a hurry to get there, aren’t you?” he asked.
18 Hours To Us Page 3
