I cut through the amassed crowd, ignoring the glares that follow me as I throw one of the glass doors open. The guy in the rooster costume turns to me, his stupid feathered arms outstretched as if he’s coming in to hug me.
I point a finger at him, “Touch me and I’ll kick you in the nuts.”
“Jesus, lady,” he backs off, letting me pass as I head for the lifted idling dark truck parked behind Rowan’s. I throw the passenger door open before climbing in.
“How did it go?” Rowan asks before I turn to him and punch his bicep as hard as I can.
“Ow!” I shout, shaking my limp wrist as pain lances through my hand. “What are you made of? Fucking bricks? And it went super! A doctor questioned me about my medical history, and I had to tell the entire store I had gas. Thanks forthat.”
His lips twitch before a laugh, loud and genuine, comes from him. The deep sound echoes in the cab, making heat unfurl in my belly.
“You told them it was gas?” He sobs, wiping a tear. “Oh, that’s golden!”
I swat at his arm, smiling. “Just drive, dick!”
He pulls us out of the parking lot, and all I can think of is the sound of his laughter. It wasreal. I’ve had this creeping suspicion that something major happened in Rowan’s life to harden him into this stoic, unfeeling being. But the glimpse of him that I’m getting proves there’s so much more than meets the eye.
And I don't know what scares me more. The fact that he's not this complete asshole, or the fact that I secretly enjoy who he really is…
Chapter Ten
Addison
A few hours pass, and I have to say, this is the best road trip I’ve ever been on. Sure, I’m still steadily attempting to get bits and pieces of information from my best friend and Rowan, but it hasn't been terrible sitting beside him.
The truck he stole is just as nice as his other one, with all the bells and whistles. It even has a cute little pink air freshener hanging from the rear-view.
Rowan promised he would return it as soon as he could get someone out to the gas station where we left his truck, and I have to have faith that I’m not sitting beside a total kleptomaniac. It took a lot of convincing to get me on board with this, but after much apologizing and pleading, I finally settled in, and put on my new sunglasses and hat.
Even as I jam out with my bare feet propped up on the dashboard, I can’t stop replaying what those men said back at the gas station.
The Midwestern branch.
Rowan is the leader. Whatever that means…
I feel like I’m close to piecing it all together, but I'm missing something. Why do these people care about finding me? I didn't really know Rowan before today.
Every time I feel like I’ve got it all figured out, there’s some other variable that doesn't make sense. It’s infuriating and riveting all at the same time.
I open the glove box, grab a candy bar, then close it and peel the wrapper. I bite into nougat and chocolate, moaning at the taste as I start to hum along to the music from my playlist, which is bumping through the speakers.
“You’re going to give yourself a cavity if you keep eating all of that sugar.”
Here I am, relaxing, when all of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice.
“Aw, do you want to play dentist with me, Row Row?” I give him a wide-eyed, innocent look as I poke my bottom lip out.
“Still hate that nickname,” he shakes his head before staring at my lips. “You have chocolate…” He reaches out, and his thumb brushes along the corner of my mouth before he places it between his lips and licks the chocolate from his finger. I swear I see something shiny past his lips, but I know that isn’t right…
“You’re a freak,” I mumble, hiding my flushed face behind the bill of my hat.
“Whatever you say, Passenger Princess.” He smirks.
“Fine. Let me drive. You can play Passenger Princess for a few hours.” I suggest.
He frowns. “Not happening.”
I sit up, pulling my feet off the dash. “Come on! Let me drive. Please! I’ll be so careful.”
