“That sounds nice,” she says reluctantly.
“There are wineries. We can swim in the hotel pool. Go hiking. Do yoga. Cross country ski.”
Her skeptical expression shifts to anxious. “Uh…”
“What’s wrong?”
Her mouth pinches together. “I… it’s winter.”
“Yeah…”
“There’s snow,” she says in a low voice.
Ohhhh, fuck. “There is,” I say gently. “Let’s check the weather forecast.” I pull out my phone and bring up the weather for the town of Afton. I show her. “It snowed yesterday, but the weather’s clear today, and for the next few days.”
She nods and looks up at me, still skittish.
“I’m a good driver,” I tell her. “Even in snow.”
She swallows. “Okay.”
“Go pack your bag. Is there anything you need from your place? I could go get it.”
“I don’t know…” She still seems a little apprehensive. “I’d need a swimsuit, I guess?”
“Not for the Japanese soaking tub in our room.”
Her eyes widen.
“But for the hotel pool, yes. Maybe some warmer clothes for layering? Have you got good boots?”
“I… no. I haven’t hiked for… well, ever, maybe.”
I gasp with dramatic exaggeration. “Well, we’ll make a stop and buy you some. Write down what you need and where I can find it.”
I cruise over to her place a while later. It appears the paparazzi have given up on her; the street is deserted. Other than cars parked bumper to bumper all along the street. It takes a while to find a parking spot.
In her apartment, I follow her directions and find a leather weekender bag which I fill with her requested items. When I open a dresser drawer and I’m confronted with piles of silk and lace lingerie, I pause. I could add a few things to her list. Would that be creepy? I’m hoping for lots of adult fun times at the resort. So I pull out sexy underwear that I really,reallywant to see on her.
I add a couple of bikinis, sweaters, the thickest socks I can find, and a few toiletries she asked for.
As I prepare to leave, I pause at the door to the room I noticed last time, a sort of music studio. My eyes land on a guitar case. Should I? Probably not. But I’m going to. I grab it and carry it to my vehicle as well as the bag. I move some things around in the back of the SUV so I can push the guitar case to the back and hide it behind some hockey gear and an emergency kit. I’ll put my own suitcase in front of it, too. I won’t show it to her until we’re there, so if she freaks out, it’ll be too late.
I gnaw my bottom lip for a few seconds. I don’t want to trigger her. I just have this intense feeling that she needs her music. And I don’t think she knows that.
In the morning, I load up the SUV and then we hit the road.
“How long is it going to take to get there?” Nikki asks.
“Four or five hours.”
“Oh my God.”
“What? The time’ll fly by. We’ll play games.”
She gives me a sidelong look.
After we ride in silence for a while, other than the playlist I put on, she says, “I talked to my manager the other day.”
