“Hey, pull into the next rest area,” I tell Mike, who’s been mostly quiet, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
“Everything okay?” he asks as he glances over at me.
“Yeah, Evan texted that they need to stop. I’m guessing he needs to take a shit. If he’s delaying us for a piss, he’s going to be sorry.”
Mike chuckles. “It’s good to know that retirement hasn’t made you soft. I wondered, especially after you met Providence. I think she’s good for you.”
I give him a considering look. “I agree. Not sure she’d say the same though. Hopefully, by the time we get back, she’ll have forgiven me for whole house fiasco.”
“She will, she loves you. Have you seen how that woman looks at you? It’s like you hung the moon for her or something. She’s already warned me that if I don’t keep you safe, she’ll have my balls in a jar.”
Now I chuckle. Yup, I can see her saying that. She probably means it, too. I glance at my watch. Finally, six. I’m praying to all the gods that my gut is wrong, and she’s safe and sound in bed or on her way out for a run.
“I just hope my gut is wrong this time.”
“Me too, Boss.” Mike nods from the driver’s seat.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I check our last messages. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There should be no reason for this worry, yet it’s persistent.
Me: Good morning, baby. I hope you had a great night.
Keeping the phone in my hand, I stare at the road ahead, willing the miles to pass more quickly. The next rest stop is just ahead, and Mike moves into the exit lane. In the side mirror, I watch Pat doing the same.
At this hour, it’s mostly trucks taking their mandatory rest, and we have no trouble finding a spot to park next to each other.
I stretch as I get out of the SUV. Two and a half hours in one spot makes my bones ache. Getting old sucks balls. The others do the same. Evan and Adam peel off to head to the restroom.
Smirking, I tip my chin and shout, “Hurry up, you slap-nuts. We’ve got places to be.”
Evan yells back over his shoulders, “Fuck you.” Mike snorts.
Pat shakes his head and says, “I warned him not to get those fucking burritos. But he said they were the best option.”
“Asshole. For such a smart guy, he makes some poor life choices,” I respond.
Mike laughs. “Ain’t that the truth.” He looks over at me. “She text back yet?”
“No, but it’s early. She could be in the shower.”
They nod as we see Adam and Evan approaching.
Mike and Pat exchange looks before he nods. “Yeah, I’m sure everything is just fine.”
“All right, anyone else need to take a piss or anything else? We’re not stopping until we get back to the office. Got it. You can piss out the window if you need to go so badly.” I’m kidding, but only slightly. The urgency to return home is weighing heavily on me.
We’re pulling onto the highway when my phone finally buzzes. Relief eases the tension riding my shoulders for the last several hours when I see Providence’s photo pop up on my lock screen.
Providence: Morning, honey. Slept fine. Everything okay with you and the guys?
Me: Yeah, we’re great. On our way home. I should be at the house in about an hour and a half.
I see the three dots showing she’s typing start and stop a bunch of times, and the relief I felt seeing her name turns sour.
Providence: That’s great. Except I’m not there. I’m in Mississippi.
I read it twice, as alarm bells ring loudly in my head. What the fuck is she doing in Mississippi? Sure, she grew up there, but she’s never once said she wanted to go for a visit. Did something happen with her parents? Not that she ever talks about them or her childhood.
“She’s in fucking Mississippi,” I growl to Mike.
