the country. He said some day I might need to drive him home if he got hurt. I was always like, I’m sure.”
“Good. Then you drive. Stay at or below the speed limit. Take the next exit that has some kind of lodging. Okay?”
“Like, no probs.”
Scott looked at her, raised eyebrow, as if he were an English teacher. “Ashley, please do not use ‘Like’ anymore. You seem to be a bright girl and it makes you sound like an idiot. And besides that I hate it.” She nodded.
They both got out of the car and traded places. Before Scott had his seatbelt fastened, the rear wheels were spinning in the gravel and the Charger fishtailed onto the road in a billowing cloud of white dust.
“Jesus Christ, Ashley! You can’t drive this car like Daddy’s old pickup.”
“Like relax. I’m just getting used to it. I’ll be fine.”
Scott put his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
Chapter Thirteen
Scott had fallen asleep in the car while Ashley drove and wasn’t sure where she’d stopped. He knew when he checked in that they were at a Best Western somewhere in Missouri and that was good enough. He got two keys for a room with two beds. You’re welcome to the other bed he told her handing her the second key. He paid no attention to the you dirty old man look of disdain the desk clerk gave him when Ashley took the key. The headache had exhausted him and all he wanted was a bed.
While sitting at the desk in room 218 he estimated that between the car and the room he had slept for about twelve hours. He hadn’t slept twelve hours in a single day since high school.
The room was dark but for the luminescent glow from his laptop screen and a dull hue from a desk lamp. Scott was dressed only in black boxers, he had a towel around his shoulders, and his hair was still damp from the shower. Ashley slept while he checked his e-mails, which were all non-issues. Most were congratulatory praise from his boss and co-workers. A note to say his dog Max seemed to be missing him. Thomas checked to see what he thought of the Charger. A few thank-you notes from clients and the last a potential client inquiring about a Lamborghini.
He spent most of the time just staring at the screen. His mind was going over the previous two days. That smelly fuck from Detroit, just a homeless guy, that’s all he is. He wasn’t pumping gas, or walking through the streets of Forest Glenn. He wasn’t driving the truck Ashley jumped out of and he definitely wasn’t chasing us down the road swinging a baseball bat. He was still in Detroit panhandling for change. Maybe he would hit up that pompous ass Thomas for change today. Funny thing, Thomas hadn’t really done anything to offend Scott but Scott didn’t like him much just the same.
About to do some online research on a new contact in the UK. Scott heard a rustling sound to his left. He turned to see Ashley get out of bed and walk into the bathroom. The light in the room was very dim but she appeared to be wearing nothing but a T-shirt. The loose fitting garment hung almost to her knees. It was much too big to be hers; maybe it belonged to her father or a boyfriend. The fabric seemed well-worn and draped her every curve in a provocative fashion. Scott’s conscious mind was telling him she was much too young, but some inherent animal tendency deep inside prevented him from breaking his gaze until she closed the bathroom door.
The sight of the cotton fabric clinging to her curves woke all his senses. The AC sent a chill down his exposed torso, the air smelled faintly of tobacco, and he realized he hadn’t eaten for thirteen hours. When the girl came out of the bathroom he said, “I’m going to get some breakfast, are you hungry?”
“Huh! Oh. Shit, is it even morning yet?” She was squinting at the laptop then yawned. She didn’t notice the way Scott’s eyes seemed to be locked on her body. She stretched her arms out, arching her back and standing up on her
“Good. Then you drive. Stay at or below the speed limit. Take the next exit that has some kind of lodging. Okay?”
“Like, no probs.”
Scott looked at her, raised eyebrow, as if he were an English teacher. “Ashley, please do not use ‘Like’ anymore. You seem to be a bright girl and it makes you sound like an idiot. And besides that I hate it.” She nodded.
They both got out of the car and traded places. Before Scott had his seatbelt fastened, the rear wheels were spinning in the gravel and the Charger fishtailed onto the road in a billowing cloud of white dust.
“Jesus Christ, Ashley! You can’t drive this car like Daddy’s old pickup.”
“Like relax. I’m just getting used to it. I’ll be fine.”
Scott put his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
Chapter Thirteen
Scott had fallen asleep in the car while Ashley drove and wasn’t sure where she’d stopped. He knew when he checked in that they were at a Best Western somewhere in Missouri and that was good enough. He got two keys for a room with two beds. You’re welcome to the other bed he told her handing her the second key. He paid no attention to the you dirty old man look of disdain the desk clerk gave him when Ashley took the key. The headache had exhausted him and all he wanted was a bed.
While sitting at the desk in room 218 he estimated that between the car and the room he had slept for about twelve hours. He hadn’t slept twelve hours in a single day since high school.
The room was dark but for the luminescent glow from his laptop screen and a dull hue from a desk lamp. Scott was dressed only in black boxers, he had a towel around his shoulders, and his hair was still damp from the shower. Ashley slept while he checked his e-mails, which were all non-issues. Most were congratulatory praise from his boss and co-workers. A note to say his dog Max seemed to be missing him. Thomas checked to see what he thought of the Charger. A few thank-you notes from clients and the last a potential client inquiring about a Lamborghini.
He spent most of the time just staring at the screen. His mind was going over the previous two days. That smelly fuck from Detroit, just a homeless guy, that’s all he is. He wasn’t pumping gas, or walking through the streets of Forest Glenn. He wasn’t driving the truck Ashley jumped out of and he definitely wasn’t chasing us down the road swinging a baseball bat. He was still in Detroit panhandling for change. Maybe he would hit up that pompous ass Thomas for change today. Funny thing, Thomas hadn’t really done anything to offend Scott but Scott didn’t like him much just the same.
About to do some online research on a new contact in the UK. Scott heard a rustling sound to his left. He turned to see Ashley get out of bed and walk into the bathroom. The light in the room was very dim but she appeared to be wearing nothing but a T-shirt. The loose fitting garment hung almost to her knees. It was much too big to be hers; maybe it belonged to her father or a boyfriend. The fabric seemed well-worn and draped her every curve in a provocative fashion. Scott’s conscious mind was telling him she was much too young, but some inherent animal tendency deep inside prevented him from breaking his gaze until she closed the bathroom door.
The sight of the cotton fabric clinging to her curves woke all his senses. The AC sent a chill down his exposed torso, the air smelled faintly of tobacco, and he realized he hadn’t eaten for thirteen hours. When the girl came out of the bathroom he said, “I’m going to get some breakfast, are you hungry?”
“Huh! Oh. Shit, is it even morning yet?” She was squinting at the laptop then yawned. She didn’t notice the way Scott’s eyes seemed to be locked on her body. She stretched her arms out, arching her back and standing up on her
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