Page 6 of Firecracker

Gus doesn’t say anything, but the driver yells from inside the cab. “Jesus Christ, Redman, pick the little marshmallow up for God’s sake, or something. My boy is going into hiding it's so fucking cold.”

Boy? Ah, we have a comedian.

When Gus speaks, his voice comes out calm, soothing and not barbaric like the asshole driver. “Ruby, let me help you get in. Unless you want to try to climb in but I don’t recommend it.”

Gus smiles at me trying to make me feel comfortable, but when he moves behind me placing his enormous hands on my hips, I freeze. When he lifts me up my jacket moves upward shifting my hood over my face. I squeal, grabbing my purse and trying to see where the seat is but can’t with all my hair covering my eyes.

It's so damn dark inside the truck that I can barely see two inches in front of me. Plus my jacket is so big and fluffy I can’t move around. Where the fuck is the dome light in this fucking truck?

Gus shuts the cab door and jumps into the front by the time I get my purse off my shoulder, and my hood flipped back.

The driver has on a hooded sweatshirt with a baseball cap on backward but I can’t see his face since he’s looking over his shoulder trying to merge back onto the road.

“Get the fuck out of my way, motherfucker. You’re lucky I don’t just run your little Honda ass over.”

Gus turns around in his seat. “Ya alright? Don’t fret about this wanker. He’ll get us there alright.”

I try to smile but just sit there. I move around feeling for the seat belt. I feel like I’m in a cave sitting behind the passenger seat. When the driver finally turns to face forward giving me a view of the side of his face I see he has a strong masculine jawline. Since he is wearing the cap backward, I can’t really see his hair, only the shaggy curls that hang out from under the cap.

Gus says from the front seat. “Quick, this is Ruby. Ruby, my man here is Quick.”

Quick. Weird name.

Quick glances back a few times, he probably can’t see me anyways through the darkness it would be a miracle. But, holy shit! I can see him. He’s beautiful. Good God, I love me some facial hair.

I blink a few times. He could pass as fucking Brad Pitt with those blue eyes and that facial structure. Damn, look at those lips. Looks just like him and I silently gasp.

It must not have been so silent because Quick looks back right after and says,“Hi.”

I don’t reply but just stay fixated on that bottom lip.

Quick smiles and I lose all speaking ability.

“Jesus Christ, is she even back there? You still have your hood over your face? All I see is blonde hair. You okay?”

Jesus Christ is right.

Gus wrenches his big body around to check on me. “Ruby, ya alright?”

I snap out of my lust induced haze. “I’m okay. Sorry. Hello, why the fuck is it so goddamn dark in here?”

Quick keeps smiling but turns back and looks straight ahead at traffic.

“I don’t like people to see what’s going on inside here. I like it dark.”

My sarcasm springs to life and I snap back. “You must not like seeing what’s going on in here either, it’s so dark in here.”

Both men laugh. Quick leans forward touching the screen on the dashboard. “I can see just fine.” He turns the music up, and they both look at the road.

A few minutes later I feel my body start to sweat with all these layers on. The seat feels like it has a heater blasting under it and my body is on fire.

Squirming around, I unbuckle my seat belt and try to unzip this oversized jacket.

“Is there any way I can get you to turn down the heat? I’m hot as fuck back here.”

Quick doesn’t turn back but leans forward again to the controllers. “You’re hot as fuck alright.”

What did he just say?

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