Page 28 of The Road Sometimes Taken

“Thanks,” she offers.

“For what?”

“For being a good listener.” Then she’s closing her eyes again and her eyelashes kiss the top of her cheeks with a sigh.

“Always, Carita, always,” I promise, letting the sun warm us up a little more but not breaking this moment. I don’t know when we’ll be this close again. This vulnerable, this comfortable with each other, so I decide to appreciate it while it lasts. I know I’m fucked because all I keep thinking about is how good she feels in my arms and how I want to make sure she feels cherished and safe forever. She’s leaving an imprint in my heart just like this bracelet she gave me is leaving a mark.

1 For the love of Christ.

12

THE WILDS

YOUNG, WILD & FREE, SNOOP DOGG AND WIZ KHALIFA & THE ROADS, JONAH KAGEN

Cara

Stop 5:The Wilds

We’ve spentthe last three days traveling to the next spot on our bucket list. Stopping in different places and checking more things off our list along the way. We went to a fair and ate our weight in popcorn, cotton candy, and funnel cakes—or at least I did, because Mr. Fitness Manny over there didn’t eatmuch. The Ferris wheel was broken so we’re going to try to find another fair so we can cross that off my list.

Manny wanted to see puppies, so we went to an adoption event and got our fill of puppy kisses and pets. I was so surprised when he addedthatto his list, but apparently he’s always wanted a dog. Unfortunately, he can’t commit to one until he travels less for work which he said he’s ready to start thinking about. Manny has been such a champ. He hasn’t complained once and even when I caught him working, he just smiles at me and goes back to it.

He hasn’t asked about Cole or the crying session from the other day, but he tells me every night before he goes to sleep that he’s there if I need him. We haven’t had to share a bed again since that night, which has been good for my sleep. I was restless just from his subtle woodsy and spicy scent—which, by the way, I still haven’t been able to figure out exactly what it is.

Now we’re almost to our next stop—Ohio. Did we need to go to Ohio? No, but I want to see The Wilds. The Wilds is a conservation center for animals with a ton of acreage. So think zoo, but nicer to the animals. I’ve been dying to see this place and now that I get to, I’m beyond excited. The GPS says we’re fifteen minutes away and I can feel the excitement in my bones.

My phone buzzes in my lap and I turn it around to see it’s Allie in our group chat.

The Bestie: How’s the trip going? You owe me a FaceTime call too, btw.

I haven’t talked to any of them since the first day at Aramoni. Not that they haven’t texted, but more like I want to be blissfully unaware of anything that’s happening in real life. This trip has been a dream, and I’d rather not wake up from it. Other than posting on Instagram every now and then, I’ve been blissfully ignorant, and I like it.

The Badass: Nobody Facetimes me.

Me: Roe, you hate talking on the phone.

Me: The trip is one in a million, tbh. I never want it to end.

The Bestie: Manny behaving?

Me: He’s being a gentleman. Your mom raised him right

The Bestie: He’s a good one for sure

The Badass: Why is he single then?

The Bestie: Oh, he’s not.

He’s not single? What?I look up from our conversation and smack Manny on the arm.

“Jesus, Cara, what?!” he shouts, looking at me in between attending to the road and surely wondering what that was for.

“You have a girlfriend?” I ask. I don’t even know why I’m mad. It’s not like there’s anything going on between us other than my hungry wandering eyes because I’m a horny mess. Yes, he has been kind, and talking to him is kind of nice, but he’s my best friend’s brother, right?

“Where the hell did that come from?” he asks. “I do not. I don’t date, Cara.”

I look at him, confused, but before I can elaborate another text message comes from Allie.

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