Page 78 of The Billionaire Land Baron

Chapter 20

The long days of driving went much faster with City. She was happy with City looking out the windshield over the miles, or lying down with his nose against her thigh, the pink squeaky toy between his paws. Though it was really like talking to herself when it came down to it, Shelby didn’t feel so silly talking out loud to City. Her loneliness eased, even if he didn’t talk back.

She told him all about Lucky and her daddy and T-Ball. She told him about her mama, how she knew that it was wrong to leave without even talking to her. “I should be happy. I should have hugged her. I should have asked where she’s been, if she’s okay. Do you think I’m a terrible person?”

City just nudged her, seeking out an ear-scratching.

“Well, clearly you’re not a great judge of character. But thank you. Maybe when I get back…well. I’ll see how I feel then, okay? Maybe we’ll see how you like her. If you approve, we’ll talk. If you growl, that’s a sign I should keep ignoring her.”

City smiled his dog smile, tongue out.

As they made it out of Illinois and kept moving further south, Shelby finally started talking to City about Jake. “City was the name I called him. Don’t be offended. He’s a good guy. I thought he was. I think he is. But he lied to me, or hid things. Which is like lying. And that’s not okay. Probably I should have stayed and talked to him, just like I should have stayed and talked to my mama. But I’m tired of doing what I should do. You know? Maybe you don’t.”

City whined gently and stared at her with intense eyes.

“Right now? You need to go right now?” She sighed. “You’re really going to put a wrench in my trip times with all this potty-stopping.”

But Shelby found a rest stop with grassy spaces for City to run around and do his business. Though he had stayed with her even before she bought the leash and collar, she didn’t trust him to be loose now. It hadn’t been a day and she was already attached to this dog. Not wanting to leave him in the car alone, she took him into the bathroom stall with her. He even acted like a gentleman, sitting so he faced the door while she went to the bathroom.

She sat on a cement picnic bench for a few minutes before getting back in the car, letting the leash hang loose so City could stop and smell the grass and bushes and every other tiny thing out there. He seemed to have an urgent need to lift his leg on every blade of grass. She pulled out her phone to check her email when a text message buzzed the phone to life in her hand. She almost dropped the leash when she saw who it was.

Jake:Hey, Shelby. Heard you’re on a road trip. Where are you?

Before she could even gether thoughts around the way her heart raced at his message, another one came through.

Jake:I know you may not want to talk to me right now, but I thought I’d text. Even if you don’t answer.

Jake:I’m glad you got to travel finally. If you make it up to Chicago, call me. I’ll take you out to a Cubs game and get you the good hot dogs and the right pizza. Not that those are the only things here that matter, but they’re the ones that matter to me.

Jake:I miss you.

City nosedher hand and Shelby scratched behind his ears absentmindedly. Her chest felt tight and she couldn’t tell whether it was with happiness or sadness. The line seemed really fine sometimes between these two. It made her giddy-happy that he was messaging her. And yet she didn’t want to have her heart be so tied up still that when he sent a random text, she fell apart.

“Should I write back?” Shelby asked City. He kept nudging her hand so she kept scratching. “Okay, I’ll wait. You’re right. Let’s just see where this goes. Are you done peeing on everything?”

She put the phone back in her purse and they went back to the truck. But when she was on the highway, she set the phone on the console. She couldn’t read messages while driving, but could at least see when the phone lit up with a new one. And they were coming in at high frequency now. They had to be Jake. No one else had been messaging her that much. Matt once or twice, just checking in. Gracie did every few days. Her daddy didn’t text, but he’d left a few voicemails. As much as it hurt her, she didn’t answer. She couldn’t. It felt too much like he chose her mama over her.

It was hard to keep her eyes on the road when the phone kept flashing. She drummed her hands on the wheel, talking it through with City. “I wonder why he’s messaging me now. I mean, he couldn’t have known I was in Chicago, right? What if he saw me? No, he would have sent me a message right away if he saw me. Should I respond? I probably should. Just so he knows they aren’t going to the wrong number or something. I hate sending texts without a response. It’s creepy.”

When City gave the slightest whine, Shelby happily found the very first exit she could and walked him behind a gas station while reading through the deluge of messages from Jake. Some were serious, some were silly, but all of them made a giant grin spread across her face.

Jake:I know we talked about pizza, but I don’t know what toppings you like. This is important. I have to know.

Jake:I’ll eat anything, but if I had to pick my top three it would be black olives, Canadian bacon, and mushrooms. I know, weird combo.

Jake:And here’s a secret: I like Chicago Deep Dish, but I really like Papa John’s. Don’t tell.

Jake:Ever since you left me at L’Auberge, I’ve been in a funk.

Jake:I’m not trying to get your pity. I messed up. Messed up bad.

Jake:Anyway, I stopped shaving and Xan—that’s my boss—told me that I look terrible. I guess I’m not a beard guy.

Jake:Do you like beards?

Jake:I read a new book and it sucked. I had to finish it, though. Do you do that? Finish books you start, even if you hate them? I wish I didn’t have to. I won’t tell you the name because you might be tempted to read it. I don’t want you wasting your time.

Jake:It’s not as hot here as it was in Texas. Weirdly, I kind of miss the humidity. The swamp feeling kind of grew on me.

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