Page 59 of Reckless

“Just the facts then.”

“I picked up a guy in Montana.”

“Picked him up. Like a hitchhiker?”

“Kind of.”

“Krista Iren Benke, you picked up a hitchhiker? Are you insane?”

The full name. Now it really does feel like I’m talking to my mother.

“He isn’t a hitchhiker, and he isn’t an axe murderer. I knew who he was.”

“Oh…” the rant she was gearing up for pauses. “Who is he?”

“Well… That’s the weird part. And you need to know everything before we arrive tomorrow.”

“Xander, get the fuck out. Go be a brand manager and pick the design that best suits the business. Cole, I don’t care about which tropical island you want to buy. They’re all the same. Just make sure our lawyers check the details. And Wayne, I love you, but go away. I have important business here.”

“Hey Krista!”

“Tell him hi,” I roll my eyes. Xander is like a puppy dog.

“Okay, they’re out of my hair. I can focus for five minutes. Now, who is this guy?”

I pause, not for dramatic effect, because I’m not sure how to say it. Through the window, I see Jude standing next to the RV with his phone. He’s still wearing the cowboy hat and I can’t help but smile. Pulling my eyes away I take a deep breath.

“Jude Smallwood.”

It’s met with silence. For a second, I think we’ve been cut off. I can’t picture Drew speechless.

“Krista, did you kidnap a rockstar?”

“No!” I cry out and a few people look over. I hurry to a further corner of the store. “Not technically. He asked if he could come with me.”

“And you let him? A stranger,” her voice holds mock surprise.

So what if I’m a cautious person by nature? Like I told Jude when he first showed up, you can never be too careful. I trusted him and I’m glad I did. I briefly explain how I came to meet a rockstar in the middle of a forest in Montana.

I keep most of the personal stuff to myself. She doesn’t need to know Jude’s private issues.

“Just because he’s famous doesn’t mean he’s not an asshole though, babe.”

“Yes, I know, and I was very careful. But Drew, he’s not an asshole. He’s…” I trail off, realizing how dreamy my tone was. Wrong person to let that slip to.

“Oh. My. Gawd.”

“Stop it.”

“You like him.”

“He’s nice, nothing like he’s portrayed in the media.”

“Did you fuck him?”

“He’s funny, kind, and he needed a safe space.”

“You so fucked him.”

---