by Grey, Chloe
“How about we fill up at the edge of town and grab a coffee at Bob’s Diner. I can use a little caffeine for this trip.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Chase agreed.
During their short meeting at the diner, they decided to share a place in San Diego. If they had to, they could live out of a hotel room until the right apartment came along. They had no other real choices. They decided to make quick rest stops where Jennifer had recommended, and stay in a hotel right away once they got to San Diego.
“At least that way,” Meaghan explained, “we can get some sleep before we make any big decisions. We should get there before late afternoon, and can start checking out the rental magazines and websites.”
He looked down at the Google map printouts. “Yeah. This could work.”
“I think you have it well in hand. You’re good at this stuff, Chase. But before we go anywhere, I’ve got to hit the ladies room.”
“Yeah, me too. Meet you outside in five.”
Chase paid the bill and they both walked to their respective restrooms. Meaghan stepped inside and went to the mirror before going into a stall. She checked her makeup and reapplied some lipstick. She didn’t notice it at first, but there were panting sounds coming from the end of the long row of restroom stalls.
She didn’t want to be too inquisitive, and for a moment, she felt it may not be safe to stay inside. Instead of relieving herself, she stepped back to the entrance she came in from. It was too late. The door of the far stall opened, and a man and women spilled out, giggling and squealing. The woman’s hair was disheveled and fell over part of her face, and the man’s pants were around his ankles.
She was about to turn and leave, but there was something about the woman that caught her eye. She turned back and looked closely. It was Wanda! And the man was not Meaghan’s dad. She froze at the door for a moment, but then found herself and hurried outside.
“Okay I am so glad we’re leaving now,” she said to Chase when she got outside.
“Why?”
“I don’t think even you would believe it.”
“Believe what?”
“I didn’t get to pee in there.”
“Why not?”
“A man and woman were in the stalls. I think they had just—they were just—they were doing it in there.”
“Oh,” he said and shrugged his shoulder. “Why do you think I wouldn’t believe you?”
She hesitated, and looked up into his eyes with eyebrows raised. “Because it was Wanda and some strange guy.”
“What?”
“Wanda. And not my dad.”
“Shit. That’s interesting. I wondered what Jennifer meant last night.”
“I think our parents are officially crazy.”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head,” Chase agreed. “My dad didn’t even care that I was leaving. He was too drunk to care. And now we know Wanda is crazy and a cheater. But you know what, Meaghan? Fuck it. Fuck her and fuck this crazy backward town. You know I don’t curse much. But this really has been a fucked up life. Now we get to leave it behind. You with me?”
“I’m with you, Chase.”
“Good,” he laughed. “Now get back in there and pee in that stall like you own it. They’re the ones who should be hiding from you. I’ll come with you, and will stand right outside to make sure you’re okay. Deal?”
“Deal.”
They went back inside. When she was done, she exited the restroom, looking pleased.
“All good?”
“Great. I think they left when she saw me the first time.”
“And good riddance to her.”
He took her hand in his, and they walked back. Chase helped her onto the back of the bike. She put on the helmet he handed to her, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Their future was waiting in San Diego. It wasn’t going to solve all their problems. There was no guarantee they’d be able to find an apartment when they got there. Jobs might be scarce. Despite all the odds against them, both of them knew it was better than staying.
“And now, we ride.”
“Woohoo!” she screamed. “I always wanted to do that.”
Chapter 6
Chase turned off the key in the ignition after they parked at a truck stop in Gila Bend.
“How are you feeling,” he asked as they took off their helmets.
“That ride was exhilarating!” she said. “I feel awesome. And I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”
“I’ll fill up with gas, and you can order us something. How’s that?”
“Good plan. See you inside.”
Meaghan ordered a big lunch for the two of them, and asked the waitress to hold it until Chase got inside. She couldn’t help thinking about how exciting it felt, riding on the back of the bike. When she had first sat on it at Jennifer’s house, she could barely believe how it made the ground tremble underneath them. It was raw power, and Chase was so confident taking control.
As she thought of Chase, the image of them riding together kept resurfacing. Her arms around would reach around his waist, and feel the sharp ridges of his stomach. He was so strong, and so cut. And when her head would sometimes rest on his muscular back, she would breathe in deeply to take in his masculine scent.
What she enjoyed the most was the contact she made with him between her thighs. Several times, she would feel her stomach clench, and heat rise up to her chest from the feel of his body between her legs.
As much as she could see them being together, she knew Chase would never make the first move. He had seen too many failed relationships to even try. His birth mother was somewhere out there, and Meaghan knew he felt abandoned because of it. And now, even with Aunt Jennifer’s encouragement, she knew he still wouldn’t try.
“Hey,” Chase said, sitting opposite her at her window booth. “What are you thinking about so intently?”
“Huh? Nothing, really. Just thoughts.” She wouldn’t dare tell him about what she was really thinking. “Ready to eat?”
“God, yes,” he answered. “What are we having?”
“Your favorite. Bacon double cheeseburgers, fries and lemon soda.”
“I can’t wait.”
Meaghan called the waitress and she brought over their meals. They ate quietly. For some reason, thoughts of home came flooding back.
“Everything okay?” Chase asked.
She nodded, but said nothing for a while. “I think I’ll feel better once we’re settled in San Diego.”
She could feel herself getting teary-eyed and blinked it away before they started. She refused to lose any more tears over what happened.
***
Chase noticed after a while that Meaghan was beginning to pull herself together. It was better to remain quiet and let her work through her feeling than to say anything. Everything that needed to be said had already come out. He knew how hard it was for her. He was leaving behind less than she was. She still had to come to terms with cutting ties to her dad, and would eventually realize it didn’t mean she loved him any less.
As he ate, he looked at her tiny hands poking her burger and picking at the fries. His mind wandered to those hands holding on around his waist. He touch was so soft, yet she gripped onto him so snugly. He could barely think at first when her legs would tighten on his as he rode.
And God, every time she rested her head on his back, he could stop the bike and take her into his arms. Thank goodness she was behind him on the bike, and not in front. There would be no way for him to hide how hard he got through his pants from just her touch.
Somehow, when Jennifer gave them that talk last night, a shift happened in his mind. He would never have tried to change what he and Meaghan had, because of their friendship. But maybe Jennifer was right. Maybe they could be both.
“I’m okay now,” she said, pulling Chase from his thoughts. “I admit, I was second guessing myself again for a minute, but this is the right thing for us to do. I know that. I just…even though the place hasn’t been h
ome for a while, I’m still going to miss it.”
“I know. I am, too.” Chase had no doubt they were doing the right thing, but he understood that believing it didn’t make it any less terrifying. “We can do this as long as we’re together, Meg.”
“Of course we can. The two of us are far better together as a team. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you, Chase, so thank you. I would still be on the porch, clinging to Aunt Jennifer, because I’m not ready for this…and I don’t think I ever will be. This isn’t what I imagined I’d be doing right now. This isn’t what you imagined you’d be doing, either, but you seem all right.”
“You need the support, Meg, so I’m keeping it together for you. I’m probably just as worried, but one thing I’m sure of is we’re heading in the right direction.” He reached over and squeezed her hand gently in reassurance. “Once you’re strong again, you can support me for a little bit, because none of this has been easy for me, either. I thought leaving my dad behind would be a walk in the park, and it’s not. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I—I feel like I’m just as bad as my mom. She just upped and left us Meaghan. She left my dad and she left me, her own kid. Just like that. And she was good to us before she left, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah. She was kind and soft-hearted.”
“I know it’s been a long time since she left. But what kind of mother does that? What kind of kid could I have been for her to leave me like that, huh?”
He put his head in his hands. He didn’t think he could still feel this upset after all those years, but those feelings made it seem like it was yesterday.
“Come on, Chase. Don’t say those things. You know your mom was struggling with some other demons.”
“Yes, maybe,” he answered, looking out the window.
“We talked about this in first year, remember? She was depressed. It’s a disease, and no one knew how to help her. Maybe it’s better that she left. Maybe she made it somewhere and got herself some help.”
“You’re right, I guess. But what about my dad? I just gunned it outta there, and I’m sure he doesn’t even realize I’m gone. I keep wondering if I could have done more to help them. Could I have dragged him out of the alcohol-induced stupor long enough to get him to understand what he’s still doing to himself?”
“No, Chase. People like your parents—and my dad too, for that matter—need to decide they want help. They’re the adults who should have cared for us. But they’re sick—just like my mom. Yes, I know she died of breast cancer, but alcoholism and depression are just as much of a sickness. In fact, it’s worse, because society expects alcoholics and people with depression to just snap out of it.
“No one expected my mom to snap out of her cancer. The hospital worked hard to treat her. But I don’t know one place in Oro Valley that your mom and dad could have gone to for help. Not even one place, Chase. And it’s just because of how stupid society is. We want to label everything and judge it, and put it into boxes of good and bad.
“Then, we focus on the good and neglect the bad. Or worse, we create horrible rumors about things labelled bad or wrong. Can you remember when your mom divorced your dad and married the guy next door, what the people in town would call her? Even their kids would follow us around in school, and call her a whore and a slut. And they would call you a freak. For what? Because she stopped loving one man and started loving someone else? For trying to be happy?
“And even if she did something wrong, what did you ever do wrong, Chase? Why were you suddenly a freak? Why did they like to snicker and whisper about you being a bastard. Why was it okay for those kids in town to label you in the process, just for being their kids? That’s why I say society is stupid. They create labels and judge people, and give ignorant people a reason to hate. So no, Chase, I don’t blame your parents for the past. And you shouldn’t either.
“The only thing I’m sometimes disappointed about is they didn’t grow up enough to figure all this out. My dad included. And maybe I’m upset about how they’re handling the present. Now that we’re adults, we don’t have to go the same route. There’s also more help available for them. Now, they can reach out. But we can’t force them. If they wanted to change, they would have to find the strength to get up and raise their hands.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
“You’re my best friend, Chase. We’ve done the right thing. It’s the right thing for us.” She placed her napkin on her plate and stood up, her hand outstretched toward him.
“And one more thing.” She stepped out of the booth and went around to his side. Getting on her tiptoes, she placed her hands on his chest, and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
“What was that for?” Chase asked, still giddy from her surprising move.
“It’s to remind you how much you mean to me. Now let’s get back on that bike. And this time, I want to hear you roar.”
***
The stop in Mexicali was uneventful, and just as they planned, they hit the San Diego city limits after two in the afternoon. They rode to the motel that was ten minutes away from their college campus, and rented the cheapest room. If they were going to find a decent place, they would need to hang on to as much of the cash Jennifer had given them.
“The room has a single queen bed with a fold out couch,” the motel attendant said. “There’s a toaster oven and minibar fridge too. And it has its own bathroom with shower.”
“Fine,” Meaghan said, turning to Chase to make sure he was in agreement. “We’ll take it.”
They paid and got two key cards from the attendant, and went back to the bike to park closer to their rooms.
“We can take turns on the couch,” she said to him.
“Definitely not. I’ll take the couch until we find a two bedroom apartment.”
“Come on. It’s only fair,” she said as they unlocked the room door and walked in.
“No, Meaghan. You’re not sleeping on a couch. Not when I’m around.”
They looked around, and the place wasn’t too bad. They took off their riding jackets and she hung them up in the closet close to the bathroom.
“We could always share the bed, too,” she suggested shyly. They had slept in the same bed many times when they were kids, and even as teenagers. Nothing ever happened then, so she didn’t think it would be too big of a deal. Even if she did feel a strong pull of attraction to him now. That kiss was just the beginning.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Um—I—I don’t know. Well maybe. Let’s see if it’s comfortable.”
“I’m too tired to think!” she said loudly, walking to the bathroom to check it out. “I’m wired and exhausted at the same time. And I still feel like my butt is rumbling from the motorcycle engine. Feel like a nap? We could get up later and get started on the apartment hunt.”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s sleep it off a little.”
Meaghan smiled. She could get used to it being just her and Chase. She used the bathroom and came out to find Chase already sleeping on one side of the bed. She crawled in beside him and snuggled into his arms. Soon, she too was asleep.
***
“Mmmm.” Chase heard Meaghan moan in her sleep as he woke up. He was still on his back. She had coiled her arms around his neck and chest, and was turned toward him. He could feel her breasts pressed up against his ribs, and one of her legs had made its way over and rested on his cock. She was intoxicating. She looked amazing, but she was asleep.
He tried to gently pull himself out of bed without disturbing her. He had almost made it, but she stirred when her leg dropped to the bed. She turned on her back and slowly opened her eyes.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” he said.
“Hey,” she answered, reaching her arms out to stretch. “What time is it?”
“A little after five. We haven’t been sleeping long.”
“We should probably get started with apartment hun
ting,” she said sleepily. “And while we’re out, we can do dinner.”
“Yeah, we could do that, but before we do, I packed us a little surprise.”
“What?”
“I brought one of the game consoles. I figured it would give us a fun distraction from everything.”
“Really? You’re a genius, Chase!” She jumped out of bed and kissed him on the cheek.
“Now you’re being melodramatic,” he teased.
“I’m not. I haven’t played since before we left for college. Which game did you bring?”
Chapter 7
As she created her character in the fantasy role-playing game, she thought back to the summer evenings the two of them used to spend playing it.
“This brings back memories,” she said.
She remembered how they’d spent hours honing their skills to fight the biggest bad-asses, and were then forced to switch their focus to school. Chase had put the game away. She hadn’t complained, as her urge to play for hours on end faded with the amount of homework she was given. One day, she’d stopped thinking about it altogether. The following summer, instead of playing videogames, they’d discovered a love for hiking.
“This was one of my favorite games to play with you. I couldn’t get rid of it.” He glanced at her. “You were so competitive with everything else, but we were always able to play this game cooperatively.”
“I admit, I was a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah, that’s why you ended up breaking one of my controllers.” He shook his head, and she found herself blushing. “That’s one of the reasons I like you so much, Meg, and don’t ask the silly question that’s going through your head. I know what you’re thinking. I liked your competitiveness. I liked how involved you got with everything. I brought this game because I thought it would be a good way for us to let go some of the tension, and go back to the few good times, that summer when we didn’t have to worry about anything monumental.”
“Remember how we crushed that evil wizard in the first part of the game?” She asked.
“Only to find there was a bigger, more cruel one after him.”
