“People who don't like each other,” Wilder whispers, reaching for me.
He kisses me, and a scary thought crosses my mind. What if this trip changes everything?
What if sex is the only thing we have in common anymore?
Wilder's arms snake around me and he tugs me flush against him.
“My dad is going to kill me,” I groan into Wilder's neck.
“We’ll be gone for a week,” he reminds me. “That’s plenty of time for him to cool down.”
“We better...” I trail off as my phone lights up on my bedside table.
I'm sure that's a message from Dad.
“Get dressed,” Wilder finishes for me.
“Ugh,” I sigh as I roll off him, and search in the dark for clothes on my floor. When I find something soft that feels like sweatpants, I quickly put them on. “I'm going to run to the bathroom and clean up.”
I leave Wilder in my room and tiptoe down the hall. Isla's door is closed and there doesn't appear to be any light seeping out of the cracks around the edges. I don't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
Quickly, I pee, brush my teeth, throw my blond hair into a messy bun, and make my way back to my room. Wilder's yawning and stretching in the doorway, but he reaches for me and pulls me in for a hug. The anxiety leaves my body as I listen to the sound of his heartbeat.Lup dup. Lup dup. Lup dup.
“You ready?” He ruins the moment with words.
“I'd rather be sleeping,” I reply sounding more snarky than I mean to. “Why didn't we plan on leavingafterbreakfast?”
“Because,” Wilder shakes his head, “road trips are supposed to start before dawn.”
“Says who?” I argue as we trudge down the stairs.
“Everyone.” Wilder scoffs. “Literally everyone.”
When I reach the living room, I let out the breath I've been holding. Dad must be in the kitchen. Which means he's drinking his morning coffee. Which also means he'll be in a semi-decent mood.
Sure enough, Dad's pouring himself a cup when we enter, the kitchen light bright and agitating.
“Ingrid.” Dad's voice is stern and cold.
Uh oh.
“Dad,” I reply with equal coolness.
“Wilder,” Wilder adds, including himself.
Dad turns and shoots Wilder a tense look. “You two have been busy this morning.”
“Uh...” My mind empties of all rational thought.
“Your road trip partner stopped by while you two were knocking boots,” Dad raises an eyebrow. “And walls.”
I swallow hard. “Cash was here?”
“He was until you two made a grown man blush in front of his youngest daughter's ex-boyfriend,” Dad says, letting out a perturbed exhale.
“Oh my gosh,” I say, dropping my head into my hands. This is excruciating. Cash was here? Cash heard... that?
“I'm sorry, Mr. Winthrop,” Wilder apologizes. “Won't happen again.”
