by Jamie Begley
“You’re okay, Gavin. I’m here. Sleep, baby, sleep. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again,” she promised, through tears in her eyes from his moans.
His chest started rising and falling so fast, she was afraid his heart wouldn’t be able to take the pressure he was exerting. It was painfully obvious why he wasn’t sleeping.
When his thrashing around knocked her hand away, Ginny didn’t know what to do. Then she remember what she and Leah used to do after they watched a scary movie.
Lying down next to him, she wrapped her arm around his waist, snuggling up against him. “Shh … Sleep, Gavin. I’m here. I’m never going to leave you.” Using her free hand, she reached for his other pillow and placed it under his head. Finding a spot on his shoulder, she rested hers.
Gavin stopped moving around, his body becoming heavier under hers, as if his tense muscles were relaxing.
Ginny closed her eyes, snuggling closer to Gavin. Dozing off, she woke up every so often when Gavin started to toss around again. At one point, Ginny threw one of her legs over his to hold him still, and placed her head on his chest, using her body weight to show him that she was still there.
“I’m here, Gavin. I’ll always be here for you. Sweet man, sleep … I love you.”
Each reassurance she gave him made his breathing easier and seemed to comfort him into staying asleep.
“I’m never going to leave you ever again. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I always will.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ginny lifted heavy lids to see sunlight filtering through the bottom of the curtain. Lying still with the steady beating of Gavin’s heart beneath her ear, she was determined for him sleep as long as he could.
She lovingly memorized each of the tattoos visible to her to pass the time ticking away. At ten a.m., she propped her chin on his chest to relieve the pain in her neck, discovering a ridge on his nose, which must have been broken at one time. Laying her head back down, his hands caught her eyes. She liked his hands. They were strong, with callouses on his fingertips.
At eleven a.m., she distracted herself by talking to God, telling Him she was still angry with Him, but if he could take the pressure off her bladder for a little longer, she would work at forgiving Him, but she wasn’t making any promises.
By twelve, Ginny guessed it wasn’t good enough, because her bladder was at a four-alarm stage. The next thirty minutes were spent regretting the two sodas she drank yesterday. When they hit the drive-thrus today, soda was off her list.
At one, Ginny knew she couldn’t hold out any longer.
“I love you, baby, but I gotta go.” Whispering so she didn’t wake Gavin, she began slowly moving away from him one deliberate movement at a time. With each movement, she watched him carefully to make sure he wasn’t waking up before making another movement. It was time-consuming but worth it when she was standing over the bed and Gavin remained sleep. Ginny didn’t know what to thank more—that he was still asleep or that he hadn’t woken to find her in his bed.
Going to her open suitcase set on the chair, she picked out a pair of jeans and a scooped-neck purple top. Tiptoeing into the bathroom, she closed the door without letting it click closed, afraid the small sound would wake Gavin.
Seeing the toilet, she thought about giving a Hail Mary, relieving herself and trying not to tinkle too loudly. When she finished, she laid two towels over the tank before flushing, satisfied at the muted sounds coming from her savior.
Proud of herself for making minimum sounds when she dressed and brushed her teeth, Ginny stepped out of the bathroom and into hell.
Gavin was pacing around the hotel room, wild-eyed, trying to tear his hair out.
Terrified, Ginny froze, but it was too late. He had already spotted her.
“What did you do to me?” he roared at her so loudly that Ginny was afraid the cheap pictures hanging on the walls would fall off.
“What?”
“It’s one o’clock!”
“I know. Are you mad I let you sleep in?” Trying to figure out why he was so furious, she was frightened he knew she slept beside him.
“I don’t sleep for nine fucking hours! Did you drug me when I was sleeping?”
Her mouth dropped open at the accusation. “Of course not—”
Ginny found herself lifted off her feet and tossed onto the bed.
Leaning over her with his hands planted beside her head on the mattress, he snarled into her face, “Tell me what you gave me!”
Trembling, she stared up at him. “I didn’t give you anything. Gavin, you were exhausted ….” Frightened, she was about to admit she slept with him, choosing to tell him the truth versus having him believe she drugged him, yet he didn’t give her the opportunity.
“I’ve been exhausted much worse before and never slept for nine fucking hours!” Pounding a fist on the mattress beside her head, Ginny knew she had to calm him down. As frightened as he was making her, it was nothing compared to the terror he was going through.
Reaching for every ounce of courage she possessed, Ginny suddenly twined her arms around his neck, using all her strength to rise up against him and turn, forcing him to turn with her until she was the one on top. Plastering herself against his hard body, she buried her face in his neck, giving him her full weight.
“Calm down, sweet man. I didn’t drug you. I swear I didn’t. I wouldn’t do that to you. I love you, Gavin,” she whispered into his ear, feeling his body shaking under hers. “Sweet, sweet man, I love you …,” she repeated over and over until she felt his shaking stop and he lay limply, not straining away from her. Lifting one hand, Ginny raised her head to smooth down his tumbled hair. His wild eyes were unfocused, staring up at her.
“I love your tattoo here.” Using her thumb, Ginny rubbed the tattoo under his earlobe. “Did it hurt?” When he didn’t answer, Ginny rubbed the one right below. “This is my second favorite. The only thing I don’t like is your earring. You need something else. I don’t know what yet, but when I do, I’m going to buy it for you.”
“To remember you by?” His beautiful eyes were becoming clearer.
“No. So every time you look in a mirror, you’ll know you’re mine,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Gavin closed his eyes, then reopened them, shaking his head at her. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope. I’m a mountain woman—I don’t know how to give up.” Ginny rubbed her cheek against his chest, satisfied his heart was beating normally again, before lifting her head to meet his eyes. “I didn’t drug you.”
He closed his eyes again, nodding.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
When he still didn’t open his eyes, Ginny reckoned he was still trying to convince himself that she hadn’t.
“Are you sure?” she asked doubtfully.
“I’m sure.” His lying eyes remained shut.
Ginny grinned. She had never been afraid of a challenge. Well, she had, but she never let anyone know it.
“Then prove it. Can I kiss you here?” She brought her thumb to his jaw.
His eyes sprang open. “No.”
“It’ll be short and sweet, just to prove you believe me,” she wheedled. “I can give you one like I give my brothers.”
“No.”
“I knew you didn’t believe me. I guess we’re going to have to stay here all day, because I’m not—”
“I said I believed you.”
Were his lips twitching? Ginny started worrying about her own heartbeat skyrocketing out of control at the beginning of a small smile.
“Prove it,” she wheedled again. “Short and sweet … for a sweet man—”
“Jesus, just do it!” he shouted. “Just shut u—”
Ginny didn’t give him the opportunity to take back his permission. Giving him a quick peck on his cheek, Ginny then jumped off him, going to the floor to pick up her scattered pajamas that she dropped when he tossed her
onto the bed.
“That’s it?” Gavin rose up on his elbows to watch her as she repacked her suitcase and zipped it closed.
Pasting a pretend frown on, she put the suitcase on the floor before turning to face him. “Too long?” Faking misunderstanding him, Ginny rolled her suitcase to the door.
Gavin sat up on the bed, his long legs hanging off the side. “I need a shower before we go.” Getting up from the bed, he removed the belt from under the door. “Stay here while I get my clothes from the car.”
“Why didn’t you bring them in last night?”
“I wanted my hands free in case someone tried to jump us. Your stalker won’t take a chance of losing you with you on the move. I wanted to be prepared if he made a last-ditch effort.”
This time her frown was sincere. “Was that why you didn’t offer to help me with my suitcase last night?”
He frowned back. “When it comes to your safety, being a gentleman comes last.”
“You could have told me. A woman needs to know these things.”
“Ginny, what feelings you have for me … we’re traveling in two opposite directions.” Gavin uncaringly said, as he burst yet another bubble of hope that he was ever going to love her the way she loved him.
“Gavin, I can carry my own suitcase.” Her forehead creased in irritation as she set her hurt feelings aside. “I don’t know what women you’re used to dealing with, so I’m going to give you a free clue where I’m concerned. I don’t need you to carry my weight when I’m more than capable of carrying it myself. What I should have said, since you misunderstood me last time,” Ginny spoke clearly and succinctly, “is it would have been nice to have been forewarned that you expected us to be jumped when we got out of the car.”
“I should have told you,” he admitted grudgingly. “But—”
“No buts. Next time, just give me a heads-up. I don’t scare easily, and I can take it when you tell me I need to be careful. What I can’t take is you thinking I’m a nincompoop with no concern for my safety. You may be here on Viper’s order to protect me, but don’t you ever forget this is my life we’re talking about, and if I screw up, the final result could end in not just me being hurt, but you as well, and that thought is unfathomable to me.”
Gavin reached for the handle of her suitcase. “You just don’t stop. I’m going to go get my clothes and load your suitcase in the trunk. Don’t unlock the door for anyone.”
Ginny’s hand went to her suitcase, stopping him. “I don’t play games,” she stated. “I love you, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t.” Her voice became gentler yet was just as firm. “We may be going in opposite directions, but we could both end up in the same place. I can wait for you to get there.”
Gavin gave a bitter laugh. “I was engaged to a woman who promised she would wait for me. Taylor didn’t. What makes you so fucking different?”
“Gavin, when you figure that out, you’ll have your answer.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“There’s a gas station at the next exit.” Wiggling in her seat, Ginny saw the lighted sign ahead.
“We can’t stop there.” Gavin’s firm refusal had her pleading with him.
“I told you six exits back that I have to go,” she complained. “I’m hungry, and we’re almost out of gas.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes, this is the last road trip I take with you,” she complained.
“A road trip we wouldn’t have been on if you had kept your ass in Nashville.”
“You just had to bring that up, didn’t you? For the thousandth time, I regret it. You have no idea how much.” Tapping her fingers on the door beside the window, she leaned forward, seeing a lighted sign. “Can we stop there? They have a gift shop with homemade taffy—”
“No. Besides, the gift shop will be closed.” Gavin unapologetically sped past the exit.
“The sign said it was open twenty-four hours,” she corrected him. “I love taffy. I’ve never tasted homemade.” Ginny unhappily saw the brightly lit store sign glowing invitingly from the interstate as they drove past. The sign was screaming at her to “come here.” I want to, she replied in her head, but meanie over here won’t let me.
“Did you say something?”
“I said I’m never going on a road trip with you again.” Folding her arms against her chest, she wiggled in her seat, trying to relieve the pressure on her bladder. They hadn’t stopped since they had started this afternoon. She was thirsty, hungry, had to pee, and dammit, she had wanted that stupid taffy.
“How many times do I have to tell you where we’re stopping? A brother is going to meet up with us in four miles with gas and something for you to eat and drink.”
Ginny stared at him suspiciously when he left out the most important part. “Does he have a restroom on his motorcycle, too?”
“No, but there will be trees and plenty of privacy.”
Her head fell back to the headrest. Then she straightened at seeing another exit sign.
“Can’t we—”
“No. Ginny, it’s just not safe. I don’t even want you to get out of the car until after Jesus leaves.”
“This illness is worse than you’re telling me, isn’t it?”
“I’m telling you …” Exasperation on Gavin wasn’t a good look. His cheeks were bulging out like a beaver as if he was thinking of chewing off … her head. Then a long-suffering sigh escaped Gavin, nearly parting her hair. “I don’t want to take any unnecessary chances. Jesus’s sister came back from a cruise. We’re just being precautious. Can that be good enough for you?”
“Of course.” She bopped her head to a new song coming on the radio. “I’m not a child. I’m only complaining to take my mind off having to use the potty. I’m sorry. Do you want to play another game?”
Gavin looked like he stepped on a rotten egg. “I’m gamed out. For a woman who hates games, it’s amazing how many car games you know.”
“I learned them when I traveled on the road with the band. I might not enjoy playing them, either, but it’s not like you were giving me any stimulating conversation when I tried to talk to you. You even complained about the light on my phone bothering you when you’re driving. And now you’re complaining about playing games, which—” Ginny paused to take another breath. “—I don’t understand, since you won four out of five of them.”
“I had to because when I let you win, you gloated for twenty fucking miles. I had to win to shut you up.”
“You let me win?” Ginny scoffed. “I was the one who let you win all those games.”
“Yeah right,” he scoffed back.
“Sweet man, you’re about to get your comeuppance,” she warned, ruining the effect by wiggling in her seat.
“Can you stop doing that?”
“Then pull over. I haven’t seen a car in ten miles.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, I lost my pride four exits ago.”
Gavin slowed her car, gradually pulling off the road near an out-cropping of trees. Ginny eagerly unfastened her seatbelt. then opened the glove box to take out a plastic container.
“What’s—”
“Handi Wipes. They’re for when I—”
“I know what they’re for,” he snapped. “For God’s sake, just hurry.”
Her hand stilled on the door handle. “Do you have a gun?”
Gavin lifted his head off the steering wheel. “Why?”
“To protect yourself while I’m gone.”
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Yes. I don’t want to be worried about you when I’m trying to go. You might not know this, but if a woman is nervous, it makes it hard to—”
Gavin put up his hand to stop her. “I have a gun.”
“Handy? The gun won’t be any good if it’s in the back seat.”
Gavin twisted on his seat, his hand going behind him. “If I give it to you, will you shoot me and put me out of my misery?”
“You don’t
have to be so melodramatic.” She snorted, opening the car door.
Shutting the door, she used her cell phone’s flashlight to make her way to the closest tree. Making sure there was no little furry critters around, Ginny took care of her business. It didn’t take long before she was coming out from behind the trees to see the flashing lights behind her car. Gavin was going to kill her.
She nearly tripped, she hurried back so fast. Then Ginny froze when a bright flashlight was pointed at her.
“Freeze. Put your hands in the air. Approach the back of the car.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gavin was so going to kill her.
Walking to the back of the car, Ginny waited as the officer talked to Gavin, who had his hands hanging out the window.
“Officer,” Ginny spoke up as a car sped past them, “I can explain.”
“Shut up.”
She shut up.
Ginny could only make out every other word as oncoming cars whizzed past.
“License … Registration … Stolen ….”
Ginny grimaced at that one. She was dead meat.
“Don’t move.”
She jumped as the officer walked past her to return to his squad car. Keeping her gaze glued to the flashing lights, she would rather go blind than look to see how Gavin was reacting. She was debating asking for protective custody when the officer got out of his car and walked past her again to give Gavin his license back.
Her lips tightened when she heard the officer laughing as he casually leaned against her car door. Edging to the end of the trunk, closer to the driver’s side, Ginny could finally hear what the officer was saying, then wished she hadn’t.
“My wife would divorce me if I didn’t pull off for her to use the restroom.”
Gavin told the officer what she had been doing! She was never going to let him win Name the Celebrity again.
