Page 155 of Ride With Me

JUST FOR TONIGHT

REBECCA LOUISE

CHAPTER 1

MASON

When Leo droppedthe surprise that we were taking a trip to celebrate our anniversary, I envisioned soaring above the clouds on a flight to the Bahamas. I was imagining feeling the warm sun on my skin and listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Instead, I was met with the harsh reality of us embarking on a road trip in a rented car, navigating the sweltering country roads of the UK during a relentless heatwave. The thermometer outside read a scorching 31 degrees, and the air was thick with humidity. The tarmac seemed to shimmer like a mirage as we drove, and the usually lush green landscapes were now parched and brown. I was sticky and sweaty just sitting in the car, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed that our anniversary celebration wasn't going to be the relaxing beach vacation I had been dreaming of.

Despite my initial disappointment, I can't help but be swept up in Leo's infectious excitement. It's not often that I see him this thrilled, and I find myself caught up in his enthusiasm, even though I’m secretly mourning the loss of my tropical getaway.

Leo attempts to placate me with a dismissive, “Stop pouting, we'll have a good time.” He removes one hand from the steering wheel and pulls the brochure out from the centre compartment,flaunting exciting outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. But his enthusiasm sounds forced, and I'm struck by the thought that it's not really his cup of tea either.

I nod half-heartedly, before grabbing the brochure from his grasp and using it to fan the sweat beading down my face. “Are you going to fuck me under the stars?” I ask, my tone a mix of hopefulness and desperation.

Leo's silence is a heavy weight, a familiar ache that settles in my chest like a cold draft. It's a reminder that our desires are as mismatched as the stars in the night sky. I've come to accept that our love is a dance of compromise, where I move one step ahead and he lingers behind, his feet rooted to the floor.

I've lost count of the moments I've wondered what went wrong. Ten years ago, our bodies seemed to combust with each other's touch. We'd tumble into bed, fuelled by a love that burned bright and fierce. But now, our passion has dwindled to a smoulder, a gentle warmth that no longer sets my soul on fire.

Leo's workaholic tendencies often leave me feeling neglected, but he tries to make up for it in other ways. He pays for our lavish lifestyle, meaning I get to focus on my dream of becoming an artist. It's hard to hold onto resentment, when I know deep down, he loves me. Still, I can't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Our anniversary should conjure up images of sultry nights and whispered promises, not hiking boots and sweaty socks.

When Leo never answers my question, I relax further into my seat and let my eyes drift close. The odd bump in the road makes me bump my head against the slightly steamed glass. I try to ignore it and focus on all the fun we're going to have this weekend. It’s only when I hear Leo mutter, “Oh shit,” under his breath, do I open my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask and then a second later I spot the steam flowing from the front of the car, massive clouds pouring up into the air. Well, that can’t be good.

I don’t know much about cars, or well, I don’t know anything about cars, but when we come to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, I figure things are about to get worse for us.

Leo is the first one to climb out of the car, and I groan when the hot stuffy air slaps me straight in the face. “Why the fuck is it so hot? We’re in the UK! The place is known for being cold and wet ninety percent of the bloody time.”

My bitching is cut off when Leo opens the hood and more smoke continues to bellow up into the air. “I’m guessing that’s not supposed to happen?”

“No, it's not,” Leo responds, a deadpan look on his face.

“Well, now what do we do? Do you know how to fix this?” By the grumpy look on my boyfriend's face, I’m guessing his answer is a no. “Oh, well how about we call someone?” And then I remember Leo's brilliant plan of bringing no phones with us – apparently, he thought it was a good idea to cut off our connection to the outside world, in the name of romance.

I don’t know what we’re going to do. I don’t know how to fix a smoking car. Leo doesn’t know how to fix it. We can’t call anyone to come and help us. It’s so fucking hot, I fear I’m going to melt into a puddle of disappointed gloop.

This so wouldn’t be happening if we were on a plane to the Bahamas. “We should have gone abroad like I wanted. You insisted on coming out here, and now look at what's happening."

Leo's face twists in frustration, “You’re the one who’s always harping on at me for never being present enough. I would have been happy just staying at home!”

"You're blaming me for this? You're the one who was so set on camping, who didn't even want to pack our phones. You'rethe one who thought it would be a good idea to leave us cut off from civilization," I snap at him.

“It was supposed to be romantic!”

I take a step forward, my voice rising. "Romantic? Are you kidding me? This is just stupid. We're stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down car and no way to communicate. What's romantic about that?"

Leo crosses his arms, his jaw clenched, and I can see the anger simmering beneath the surface. "You're just mad because I didn’t want to spend more money on you!"

Oh no, he didn’t! "I'm mad because we're stuck here, alone, with no way to get help. I'm mad because we could be sipping piña coladas on the beach right now if you hadn't been so stupid by making us go camping! You hate camping!"

Leo's voice drops to a low growl, "You never listen to me, never compromise. You always get what you want and then complain about it later. It’s like I can’t do enough for you!"

“Because you’re never fucking here!” I scream at him, my voice booming out into the open road. “And when you are here, you make it seem like a chore to be around me! Do you know what it’s like to offer yourself to someone and knowing they are only going to reject you, every single time?”

"Unbelievable." The air is stifling, heavy with the weight of a suffocating heatwave, as we stand there, the only sound is our harsh breathing and the creaking of the car's engine. The tarmac seems to shimmer like a wave, and I can feel the sweat trickling down my back as I march to the back of the car and yank open the boot. The heat radiates off the metal, making my skin prickle with discomfort as I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder.

“Where are you going?” Leo snaps, his arms folded across his chest.

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