Reid takes the drink and puts it in the cup holder as if he is going to stay for a while. The soft leather of the passenger seatcreaks beneath me as I nudge him. “Shouldn’t you get back to your van?”
He swallows hard. “Uh yeah, I guess we should get on the road.”
Reid hops out of the van. Climbing over the center console, I take his place and readjust the seat back to my height. Reid only sat here for two minutes, why did he have to customize it to his size? Part of me wants to withhold his coffee for that.
“Where do you wanna stop next?”
“We could camp outside of Jackson and try to find a hot spring?”
“You don’t wanna go downtown with the boys?”
Of course he wants to go out with his friends. I’m not sure why he’s pretending to debate it. Reid knows people all over the U.S. and somehow seems like he’s best friends with all of them. Jackson, Wyoming is one of his favorite places, and his friend Kai lives there. Kai is a raft guide on the snake river. Reid talks about their river packing trip from a few years ago all the time. He’ll want to go party at a cheesy bar or in a mountain shack. I’m sure of it.
Sparing him the decision, I reply, “Let’s go straight to Jackson. I could use a good burger.”
The door clangs shut, and I swear he looks a little sad as he walks back to his own van, but I’m certain that’s my imagination. Reid is an extrovert—an extreme extrovert in fact. Why would he want to stay at some secluded campsite with just me when we could park next to all of his buddies and go party in Jackson?
Reid starts down the road ahead of me. I love when he leads the way. It makes me insanely self conscious whenever he drives behind me. Every time I somehow forget how to drive, just because I can see his van in my rear view.
We’ve been driving for about an hour before my podcast is interrupted by a phone call. It’s Reid. Of course it is. “Addie.”
“Reid.”
“We have to stop up ahead.” His tone is serious.
“For…?”
“There’s this little dinosaur museum.”
I shouldn’t be surprised—if there’s a tourist trap or even just a weird landmark, Reid is going to make us stop. It’s in his nature.
“Fine. Where is it?”
“Eh I don’t know. Somewhere up here on the left. We’ll see it.” I can hear his smile through the phone.
At least this time he called. Usually, he simply pulls over, and expects me to follow. I don’t mind though. It’s nice to have a reminder to slow down sometimes.
6
The dinosaur museum is hardly a museum. It’s more like a hobbyist’s office, and it makes me think we’re going to be murdered. Reid is fascinated by the fossils. I genuinely can’t tell if he actually cares or if he’s just putting on a stellar performance. Either way, the old man is enjoying every second of it.
“No one ever stops! Maybe I need a bigger sign.”
I’m fairly certain the sign isn’t the issue, but I offer the man a smile. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Well, they’re missing out,” Reid interjects as he slings an arm around my shoulders. “Aren’t they, Addie?”
I wish he hadn’t told this man my name. A big part of me is still worried this little detour will land us on a true crime podcast.
The old man hands us a dusty notebook. “You two are such a cute couple. Will you sign the guest book?”
“Oh we’re not a c?—”
“We would love to,” Reid says, cutting me off as he grabs the notebook.
Reid signs the book. He etches an “R” and an “A” and draws aheart around them. It makes my heart flutter, even though I know it’s all for show. The last entry before ours was in 2020. It makes me a little sad. Clearly the man is lonely and wants people to appreciate his rocks.
Reid narrowly avoids purchasing an XXL t-shirt that features a T-rex as we meander our way back towards our vans. We’re almost in the clear before Reid stops in his tracks and blocks me from escaping. “Wait!”
