We rush out of the diner and to his truck when I spot a flash on the upper floor of the abandoned motel. Reminded of the light in my face when I get hounded by paparazzi, my heart catapults into my throat.
“Did you see that?” I ask.
He squints. “See what?”
I chuckle at myself. “Oh, it’s nothing. Forget it.”
I’m probably still seeing stars from that whirlwind orgasm or it’s the sun reflecting off a broken window.
Nobody knows we’re here. I’m being paranoid.
Within moments, we’re in the truck zooming down the road. We’ve barely driven for a minute when two cop cars blaze past us in the opposite direction.
Rust whoops and I throw my head back with wild laughter. When his arm wraps around my shoulder, pulling me close, my feelings get so loud I can’t ignore them anymore.
Fuck being friends. Fuck keeping it casual.
I’m falling back in love with my crazy ex-husband who’d do anything for me—even hide a body, commit arson, or rob a diner at gunpoint. Who ever said romance is dead?
39
TALLY
Buzzing with adrenaline,we drive on to gain some distance from the scene of the crime. Near the Arizona state line the radio loses reception and I twist the tuning knob through static noises when a newscaster fades in with a peculiar announcement.
“Earlier today, the owners of a small diner were victims of what the police call ‘the strangest robbery ever reported’,” the radio announcer says.
“According to local law enforcement, nobody was harmed,” a female voice adds.
Rust slaps the wheel, smirking. “We made the news!”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Only thelocalnews. Clearly, we need to step up our game. I expected a national bulletin at least!”
“Patience, Trouble. Crime’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
I take my phone and turn on the voice note recorder, holding it to the radio speaker.
The male announcer croons a buttery-smooth laugh. “The masked robber left his loot behind alongside onethousand dollars laid out like a donation. But are you ready for it to get weirder?”
His co-moderator gasps. “That’s already pretty bizarre!”
The man hums. “You’ll never guess the next part. The waitress said the anonymous male engaged in intercourse with a female customer who ‘seemed to be enjoying herself.A lot.’ Her words, not mine. The woman then freely chose to leave with the robber.”
The female announcer sighs dreamily. “She must’ve fallen for his roguish charm. How romantic! Like Bonnie and Clyde.”
The other host clicks his tongue. “Somebody has been reading too many dark romance books.”
“Maybe you should pick one up. You might learn something and finally get a date,” the woman ribs.
Rust jabs a finger at the radio. “Yeah, you tell him!”
The male host sighs exaggeratedly. “My love life isn’t the topic tonight. The cook who owns the retro restaurant decided not to press charges. He said that the damage to his property was minimal and the money left by the robber is more than enough to cover the repairs.”
“And if our two love criminals are out there listening right now… this song is for you,” the female announcer adds and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I hope your story will have a happier ending. Good luck.”
‘The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde’by Merle Haggard starts playing and I stop the recording.
“Damn, talk about an oldie,” Rust says and puts a hand on my thigh.
