Page 30 of Wrecked

“Brad was insane at that. His brain was wired differently.”

I face him and agree, “He probably would have come up with something clever like No Safety Cadavers.”

He has a slight smile. “That was a good one.”

“Thanks.” I let out a deep exhale and put my hands under my thighs as I tap my heels.

We pass a sign for Cracker Barrel. I love how you can shop in the country store while you wait for your table. Between my adoration of country music and cowboy boots, I should have grown up in the South. My stomach makes a rumbling noise at the thought of their chicken salad.

Adam lets out a disgruntled groan. “You didn’t eat, did you?”

“Half of a banana.”

His hand leaves the steering wheel and rises up as he asks, “What about the lunch I packed you?”

“I wasn’t hungry anymore.”

He puts the blinker on, and we start to exit off the highway.

I look out the side to make sure we’re not gonna slam into a passing car. “Where are we going?”

“To feed you.”

I put my hand on his bicep. The barbed veins are pushing against his velvet skin.

“No. I’m okay. I’ll have something when I get home.”

His arm tenses beneath my hand, so I quickly remove it.

He steadies the car in the far right lane. “You sure?”

“Yes. Thank you. That was…very nice of you.”

His jaw is tight. His knuckles are white against the black steering wheel. It’s not like he’s scared or anything. It’s like he’s holding on to that wheel for control, afraid to let it go. His chest rises high and falls, the grip loosening with the exhale. He parts his lips. His mouth opens and closes and then opens once more.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so mad earlier.”

He’s right; he shouldn’t have. I agree in silence.

He adds, “But you shouldn’t have tested me the way you did.”

I practically bolt out of my seat. “Why does everything I do piss you off so much?”

He’s glaring at the road as he drives in complete silence. With a humph, I slam my back into my seat and fold my arms across my body. The cool cab that felt like nirvana minutes ago is now like the Arctic tundra. I rub my arms to tame the forming goose bumps.

“It’s so cold in here. I feel like a corpse.” My body starts to shake.

“That’s a terrible comparison.”

Leaning forward, I lower the air conditioner. He goes to put it up again, but I smack his hand away. Without a care, he moves my hand out of the way and puts the air on again.

“You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. As soon as these hours are up, I never want to see you again!”

“Same here, sweetheart. One hundred can’t come fast enough.”

“You know, you could make this go faster. Just pretend I served my time.”

He shakes his head. “And let you off the hook that easy?”