A low laugh rumbles through me. “I promise there was no torture involved. And it ain’t like this was my first brawl leading to a stay behind bars. Just my first in a long time.”
“But I shoulda been the one to spend last night in a cell.” She taps her chest. “Islapped Trevor first.Istarted the fight.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t put him on his ass with one punch and knock out his tooth. Pretty sure his ego took the worst of the blow. He had me arrested cause I humiliated him.”
Tally turns beet-red, shaking with anger. “And what the fuck was he talkin’ about…memakin’ a move onhim? That’s insane! He said something about a message from me, too.”
I shrug. “Must be one of those crazy fans who see a singer for the first time and get obsessed, reading into lyrics and shit.”
She lights a cigarette from her purse and her features relax when she takes a deep drag. “Whatever. Fuck. We ain’t stayin’ much longer.”
She puffs out a cloud of smoke and gestures to the parking lot where Yolanda’s glossy red paint shines in the sun.
“I dropped by the pharmacy and stocked up on painkillers. Reckoned if your head is poundin’ like mine, you’ll need some. I packed our stuff at the motel, but I haven’t checked out yet so you can grab a shower if you want.”
“Thanks, Trouble. You’re the best.” I wrap an arm around her shoulder as she offers me her cigarette. Leaning down, I take a mouthful of smoke.
“Let’s leave this town before Trevor gets any more ideas and I gotta kill another man. On purpose this time,” she grumbles.
Somehow, I don’t doubt her.
“Alright, Bubblegum Outlaw. We’ll satisfy your primal craving for crime soon, I promise.”
When we get in the truck, I notice a small wicker basket on the bench seat. A ribbon is tied around the handle and a dish towel covers the top. Curious, I pull it back and find a stack of food containers. A note is taped to the lid of one.
‘From Erin and the Boot Scootin’ Seniors Dance Crew.’
Tally giggles. “Oh right! I forgot. Erin came by the motel earlier to drop this off. She said she texted Mrs. Bloom about your arrest and the ladies wanted to make sure we had food for the road. They all got together bright and early at Mrs. Mullen’s house to cook.”
“That’s really sweet. We oughta thank them.”
“Way ahead of you, Big Guy. Erin gave me Mrs. Bloom’s number and I sent a thank you text for her to read to the others. Apparently, she’s the only one who has acellphone.”
“The real mystery is how they found out about my jail stint.”
She lifts a shoulder. “Sometimes I swear these small towns have a gossip group chat with everyone in it. But I guess there were enough witnesses in the honky-tonk last night.”
I dig around in the basket and my mouth starts to water. “Do I see homemade biscuit sandwiches there?”
“They’re delicious. I might’ve already tried one. We got breakfast burritos, sausage hash-brown casserole, and fruit salad, too. Erin also added a thermos with coffee and some energy drinks for later.”
I drum on the steering wheel. “Alright, first order of business, breakfast at the motel. Then painkillers and a shower and we’ll hit the road.”
With a full stomach,we kick off the next part of our journey.
Tally sets up the GPS on her phone and promptly falls asleep, her head dropping against my shoulder. If heaven can be found on earth, it’s in the small palm of her hand sleepily searching for mine. It’s in her slow breaths and the hum of wheels on asphalt.
Paradise is right here in the cabin of my old truck.
We cross the state line into Texas, but I don’t wake her. She clearly needs the rest. Even when her phone buzzes on the dash with a text from Erin, she doesn’t flinch.
Minutes later, the screen lights up again, this time with a call. When I read the contact name I see red.
Rex Dalton.
In a mindless rage, I pull over to the shoulder. I grab the phone, not realizing what I’ve done until I’ve alreadypressed the green button to take the call and Dalton shouts in my ear. Quickly, I turn the volume down.
“I told you to check in with me every day, but I didn’t get a single message from you! Forget what I said about a week. I want you in Calitonight. You’re getting on the first flight out to LA!”
