Page 96 of All My Broken Pieces

A quiet laugh has me whipping my head up.

Arriana holds up her hands in surrender, trying to hold back her laughter. “I know you’re not made for this,mi vida. And that’s part of why I love you.” Grabbing the book from her lap, she holds it out as an offering. “I promise where we’re going you’ll be able to spend all day every day with your nose in a book. There won’t be anymore looking over our shoulders, only endless days of relaxation and me worshiping you as you deserve.”

I tentatively take the offered book, shifting in my seat to get comfortable, my cheeks flaming as I think of just what she means byworshiping me.

“Okay.” I mumble, letting the frustration go and opening to where I left off. “Where are we going anyway?” I mindlessly ask, not expecting an answer. I peek at Arriana out of the corner of my eye, finding her watching me with an unreadable expression before a small grin pulls up the corner of her lips.

“Mexico.”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts from my chest at the most obvious answer. “And here I thought you were original.” I chuckle, turning the page.

My face is jerked to the side by Arriana’s sudden grip on my chin. I gape at her, my thighs tightening in response as heat pools between them.

Her grin is unnerving, a gleam in her eyes that has a shiver running through my body. “Careful, baby. Or I’ll show you just howoriginalI can be.” My eyes dart toward movement, watching her tongue slide along her lower lip. Releasing her hold on me, she turns back toward the road, shifting into gear. “Enjoy your book.” The humor in her tone a direct contrast to whatever I just witnessed.

Trying to ignore the desire to find out just what she meant, I return to the story, reading the words without reading them. My mind instead imaging all the creative ways she could show meher originality. And, for the first time in a while, I feel excitement again.

Mexico here we come.

Chapter 47

Arriana

Fallon’s soft snores from the passenger seat are a calming soundtrack to the chaotic stream of thoughts running through my mind.

I knew she was feeling unsettled and didn’t want to pry, but the worse her mood got, the less I could ignore her little snippy responses and heavy sighs. I can tell there’s still more that’s bothering her, and I have a sinking feeling I know exactly what it is.

A sign for a well known motel chain illuminates on the side of the road, stating the exit is in two miles.

Glancing at my sleeping girl, I look at the clock on the dashboard, deciding it’s time to rest for the evening.

We’re getting close to the border now, and I’m more than ready to be out of Texas. It hasn’t helped matters that the drive to Mexico has been extended by several hours in my abundance of caution. I couldn’t chance authorities checking for me crossing the border anywhere close to the usual travel paths, so I opted to detour into Texas first. A decision that I’ve begun to regret as the long stretches of empty road have been nearly enough to drive me mad from boredom.

I shift my eyes to the rearview mirror, momentarily watching Sir Ichabod slumbering away in his sleep, his little legs twitching periodically. My heart warms at the sight, grateful to have both of my loves back.

The exit for the motel approaches and I take the turn off, pulling into the parking lot a few moments later. “I’ll be back.” I whisper, even though they’re both asleep.

Carefully climbing out of the vehicle, I close the door as quietly as possible, clicking the lock button. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, a prickling feeling that something isn’t right, but I push it aside. I’ll get the room key and settle in for the night, it’s probably just exhaustion from being on the road for so long.

Pushing open the door, I step inside the bright lobby. The clerk looks up from behind the desk, running his gaze down my body and back up with a look of disinterest. Crossing the room, I pull out some cash and my fake ID. “One room.”

He slides his gaze to my ID, studying it momentarily before letting out a heavy sigh and sitting upright to type on his computer. “It’s $120 a night, and we’re pretty full up so we’ve only got the rooms directly off the parking lot available.” He looks at me expectantly, waiting for something I can’t quite figure out.

“Fine.” I sigh, counting out the bills and sliding them across the counter.

Several moments of silence pass as he inputs the information from my ID into the system. Finally, he grabs a keycard and holds it out for me. “Room 1F.”

Snatching the card, I give him a salute and head out of the lobby, ready to wash off the day and collapse into a bed. I quickly cross the parking lot and open the passenger door, gently shaking Fallon. “Hey, baby.” I say quietly.

She jerks awake, looking around with wild eyes before her gaze lands on me and she settles. “Hi.” She murmurs sleepily, rubbing her eyes. “Where are we?”

“A hotel. It was time to stop for the night, we both could use some rest.” I reach over and unhook her seat belt, helping her out of the car. “Will you grab Sir Ichabod? I’m going to get a few things out of the trunk.” She nods, yawning and opening the back door.

I slip around the vehicle, opening the trunk and rummaging through our things the best I can without making everything topple out on me. Even after I swore to Fallon that I would have Andrew fly out all of her precious books once we were settled, I couldn’t talk her out of bringing enough things that our SUV is jam packed.

My fingers finally land on what I’ve been looking for and I stifle the triumphant cry, not wanting to alert her to my plans. Grabbing out what we’ll need for the night, I close the trunk and lock up the car, circling around to meet Fallon.

Holding out my elbow, I smile when she slips her hand into it, clutching to me as I lead the way. Once I find room 1F, I insert the keycard and wait for the beep before opening the door and half bowing. “After you.”

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