Only a few rodeos remained. Colton was only going to be there for his event one night a week. I could avoid him.
The screen door slammed behind me.
I was standing in the downpour of rain, my light blue dress already soaked and clinging to my body.
The taxi was still idling, waiting to take me away from this house that smelled like a home. I shoved my bags and my wet butt in the backseat.
“Where to now?” The man asked.
“A hotel, I don’t care which one,” I said, grumpily.
He pulled down the long gravel driveway, the wipers swiping across the windshield aggressively.
The thunder rumbled and lightning cracked.
“What a storm.”
Another love grows cold on a sleepless night.
“Yeah.”
We were back down the gravel road that led back to town. I leaned my head back and glanced down at my phone.
I had six missed calls from my mom and one text that said: “CALL ME.”
I rolled my eyes, not having a care in the world for what my mother could need from me.
I also had ten missed calls and a bunch of texts from an unknown number. I scrolled through them.
Hey Ally! It’s Colton, just realizing I didn’t have your number before, silly me. Anyway, I can’t find you anywhere. Where are ya?
Barely two minutes later, another was sent.
I’m getting worried. Are you still in the arena?
Three minutes later:
Your photographer said you had a stomachache and left. Are you okay? Will you call me?
Another missed call from his number.
Ally, please call me. Did I do something wrong?
He didn’t wait a full minute before sending the last text.
I’m really worried. I’m just leaving the arena. If you get these messages, please call me.
I dropped my phone back on the seat and looked out the window, racing little streaks of rain in my head.
The car turned onto the first paved road.
I rubbed my tired eyes.
A red truck flew past us. I knew who it was before I saw the cliche license plate, and sighed. The truck swung into a reckless U-turn and latched onto the car’s tail, refusing to let a single inch of asphalt come between them, and honked like crazy.
“Geez! This guy is riding me!” The driver complained.
“Speed up,” I instructed. “Maybe he’ll get bored and lose interest.”
