Page 46 of Reckless

This place is insane and quirky. Jude would love it, but it’s another tourist trap. Shit, I hope he doesn’t follow me in here.

Turns out there is an actual drug store, so I head inside. Even in here there are a ton of people, but I’ve never been one to be self-conscious, so I head to the sexual health aisle and grab a couple of boxes of condoms. I don’t travel with them, and it was only when I saw the sign, I figured one of us needs to be responsible.

It’s taking away the magic of the moment somewhat, but I’m not about to get caught out in what is likely to be a short-term fling. I throw a few more items into the basket, including candy and bottles of watermelon popping Boba, because I got a taste for that when I was last in Oregon. It’s rare I see it on my travels. At least now it doesn’t look like I’ve only called in for condoms.

After checking out, I walk back into the main shopping area. I’m almost to the door when I glance into the cowboy shop again. There are racks of hats of all different types.

I bite my lip. Should I? Would he find it funny? Before I can change my mind, I duck inside and peruse the hats on offer, then grab a black leather looking cowboy hat with metal studs for a hatband. It’s kind of rock and roll. For a moment, I lose myself thinking of him wearing this and nothing else.

With my purchases all bagged up, I head out when a lady with a huge smile offers me a bumper sticker.

“It’s free,” she says with a bright smile. “Tell your friends all about Wall Drug and come back soon.”

“Thank you,” I smile back and take it, reading the slogan ‘Where the Hell Is Wall Drug?’ “This is great,” I laugh, and she gives me an exaggerated wink.

I have got to come back here.

A loud roar startles me, and I almost drop my bags.

“Oh, don’t worry honey, that’s just the motorcycle enthusiasts. They’re not a gang, they’re a bunch of guys who get together and ride around the state. They’re all fun.”

“It’s so loud.”

“Like I said, sweetheart, they’re all fun.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I grin back.

As I leave the store, the motorcycles assault my ears even more, circling the small main street and coming to a stop outside the Drug Store building. I’m not so sure my friend inside is right. There are motorcycle club waistcoats with patches on the riders.

When I pause to cross the street, Jude is standing at the front of the RV. He’s watching the motorcycles too with a worried frown. When he spots me, his posture relaxes. I cross over and stop in front of him.

“You need to see that place. It’s so awesome.”

“It’s a little crowded for me.”

Yeah, right. “And noisy. Let’s go inside.”

We head back in, and I drop the bags on the dining table, then show Jude the bumper sticker. His expression is bemused. He doesn’t look stressed or like something terrible has happened, but I haven’t known him long enough to read him.

“Did you figure out what happened with Cody?”

“Yeah,” he scratches his head and drops into the chair by the table.

He goes to look in the bag, but I pull it back. I might have gone over there for condoms, I’d rather he doesn’t know that or about the hat. I take out the candy and lay it on the table, then go to the fridge with the drinks, tossing the bag through the bedroom doorway while he’s checking out the options.

He settles on a Snickers bar and bites into it as I walk back and sit down opposite him. The noise in here is muted, but we can still hear the roar of all the bikes outside.

“It turns out Cody has been stealing from the record label.”

“What?”

“Solene isn’t sure of the ins and outs, but he’s been pocketing money from ticket sales for the last year. And when I say the record label, I mean us.”

“Oh my God, that’s terrible.”

“He was found out when the label brought in investigators this last couple of days. Solene was at the recording studio with a friend of hers when the cops showed up and arrested Cody. The label isn’t telling her everything, but the gist is that a lot of the ticket sales from our European tour weren’t priced the way we thought.

“When we cancelled the gigs, and the refunds were being put through, it came to light that the fans somehow charged extra, but the money was unaccounted for. Its been traced back to Cody. He pocketed the extra.”

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