Brock glanced over. For a second, I thought he was going to say something. Instead, he reached across, stole the last fry from the bag on my lap, and popped it in his mouth.
“That was mine,” I protested.
“Consider it payment.”
“For what?”
“For making me drink that pink crap in the sun.”
I smiled out the window where he couldn’t see.
He reached for the radio and slowly twisted the dial until a slow country song came through. He left it there and rested his hand back on the wheel. The road stretched straight and empty ahead, nothing but headlights cutting through the dark.
Another slow song started. My eyes grew heavy. The warm cab, the steady hum of the engine, and the long day finally caught up with me.
“You can sleep,” he said. “Still a ways to go.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been blinking hard for the last five minutes.”
I turned my head to look at him. The glow from the dash lit his face from below, soft and blue. He looked tired too.
“Wake me when we’re close,” I said.
“Sure.”
I rested my head against the cool window. The vibration of the road hummed through the glass, the music played low, and his breathing stayed steady beside me. I told myself I’d just close my eyes for a minute…
The next thing I knew, my cheek was pressed against something warm.
I blinked awake, disoriented. The truck was still moving, the radio humming softly through the cab.
Then I realized where I was. Brock’s shoulder.
My face went hot. I sat up fast, trying to play it cool. He rolled his shoulder in a slow circle and let out a long breath.
“Thank God. My arm went numb about forty-five minutes ago.”
I glanced at the dash clock. “I slept on you for an hour?”
“Give or take.”
I stared at him. He kept driving, that stupid almost-smile tugging at his mouth.
“You could’ve pushed me off.”
He chuckled low, eyes on the road. “Tried. You bit me.”
“I did not.”
“You don’t remember. You were out cold.”
We drove in silence for another minute. Then the engine made a soft click, followed by a rattle. Brock’s smile disappeared.
“What was that?” I asked.
The rattle came again, louder. The headlights flickered. The engine coughed, caught, then died completely.
