Nope.
I was taking back my life.
16
Breeze: Road Trip
“Everything good?” I asked, curious how one tackles a conversation centered around the sensitive issue of resurrection. “Was he surprised?”
Bodhi arched his brow. “Nah, I mean he was kind of like, ‘crap you again’?”
I laughed nervously at his sarcasm. “Sorry, that was a stupid thing to ask.”
Sighing heavily, he let the mask slip. “No, I’m just testy right now. And to answer your question—yes, he was surprised. For some strange reason he thought I was dead.”
“Gee, wherever did he get an idea like that?” I ducked to catch his gaze, “You know, Bodhi, I hate to say I told you so but…”
“Oh, I know you told me so, but here’s a fun fact about me that maybe you didn’t know. I’m a fucking idiot.”
I hauled to my feet and wrapped him in a hug. “It’s okay, at least you have a nice ass,” I offered, patting his butt.
“Well, yes, there’s that.”
After a long moment, Bodhi broke our connection. Scooping up Sweetpea, he offered me his free hand. “You ready?”
“You’re not going to tell me what he said?”
“Was I supposed to?”
We hadn’t even known each other a day, yet for some unknown reason, I expected to be filled in on his conversation.
“I mean if you don’t want to tell me that’s fine too.” The pout on my lips was unmistakable. I was giving him an out, yes, yet all while still expertly conveying my disappointment. Damn, I was good at this communication stuff.
His lip tipped up slightly as he watched me with curiosity as we strolled. “You can barely contain your curiosity, can you?”
Was I that easy to read? For him, I guess. I side-eyed him, prepared to deny the accusation. But I couldn’t. “I’m truly dying here. Even just a tiny morsel would help.”
Brows drawn together over troubled blue eyes, he kept his gaze on the ground. “He was crying, Breeze – like really crying. I’d never heard him like that and now I feel like a total dick. Then to make matters worse, when he wanted to come get me, I said no.”
When I reached for Bodhi, Sweetpea bared his teeth and I retracted my hand. “It’s not too late. You can go back if you want. I can get someone to pick me up from here. We’re only a few hours from San Francisco now.”
“And leave you and the animals deserted out here on Blubber Beach? I don’t think so. Besides, this doesn’t change what I need to do. I’m still going to find my mother. And at least now everyone will know I’m alive and I won’t need to hide anymore.”
Relief washed over me. Selfish, considering Bodhi’s turmoil. But if he thought his life was going to be smooth sailing now that he’d miraculously come back to life, I feared he had another think coming. “Are you sure you won’t still need to hide? I mean there’s the matter of hordes of preteen and teen girls who will see right through that nifty new hairdo of yours.”
Producing the little mask from his pocket, he affixed it over his nose and mouth. “Problem solved.”
“Except there’s no fire here. In these parts the facemask will be more of a fashion statement than a health requirement.”
“Well, what can I say? I’m a trend-setter. Oh, and by the way, while I was in the car, I logged into my iTunes account. I have a playlist on your phone all ready and waiting for the final leg of our trip.”
“Ahh, damn. I thought you liked the country playlist.”
He grimaced. “I did not.”
“Liar. You said, and I quote, ‘actually, this isn’t too bad.’”
“So, naturally you mistook that for ‘like’?”
