Page 36 of Corrupt Idol

“You begged me to never leave you.”

He conjured up memories too painful to revisit. “Stop.”

“You said we were a unit.”

She shrank in her seat and stared straight ahead. “That was a long time ago.”

“Feels like yesterday to me.”

“That was before…”

“Before I caught you with Tucker? He had his hand down your shorts. I lost it.”

“We’re not talking about that!”

Her hands were clammy with panic. He was bringing it all back—her worst memories and the moment everything changed. She searched for an exit, but there was none. She was locked in this suffocating cab with a man intent on emotionally stripping her.

She could still remember Tucker being ripped away from her and the look on Jesse’s face as he pinned Tucker to the pavement and beat the shit out of him. It sent a chill down her spine. He could have killed him. If she hadn’t thrown herself at Jesse, who knew how far he would have gone? He shoved her into his car, drove her home, and... She shut her eyes against the memories bombarding her. That was the day her world turned gray.

“You haven’t changed. You’re still throwing yourself away on men who will never satisfy you.”

“You think you’re the only one who can get me off? You’re delusional. You’re lucky I remember your name. You’re just another dick to me. Nothing special.”

He turned his head and stared at her for so long that she reached for the wheel.

“Jesse!”

When he returned his gaze to the road, the cab was once again enfolded in silence, but this time the tension was so thick she couldn’t breathe. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, waiting for him to say more or explode. He did neither. He slowed his speed to match the other cars, sat back, and resumed the journey as if nothing had happened. The fact that he could swallow up his emotions like that unnerved her.

She tried to mimic his unruffled poise. It took every ounce of control she had not to rail at him as he deserved. He got her worked up and then switched off again while she was at the boiling point. Who was he to judge her choices? She turned her face away so he wouldn’t see her furious tears.

By the time they covered another hundred miles, most of her rage had seeped out of her, leaving her drained and wishing this was over. Crazy ideas passed through her head of catching a flight home, but they were in the middle of nowhere and their parents would know something was wrong. Mom assumed they were having quality bonding time. If she only knew… Lynne sent her a steady stream of images from the resort they would be staying at in Florida. Knowing every minute brought them closer to Austin kept her sane. She could handle this. Just another thirteen hours…

She had sunken into a glum daze when Jesse cursed and lurched forward. She jolted and watched as he messed with his phone. She glanced at him, the road, and back.

“What’s going on?” she asked warily, ready to make a grab for the wheel.

“I should have stopped at the last gas station. I thought we’d make it to the next town, but I don’t think we can. I need to refuel quick.”

“Here.” She held out her hand and was relieved when he handed the phone to her. It took her a few seconds to figure out how to find the nearest gas station. “In ten miles take the exit.”

She held his phone and fed him directions. She couldn’t see the gas gauge from where she was sitting, but if he was worried, it must be alarmingly low. Because they were towing the trailer, the truck needed to refueled frequently. Every time they filled the tank it cost around one hundred and fifty dollars. She wouldn’t have been able to make it halfway home before her credit card maxed out.

They were the only vehicle to take this exit. They were in the middle of nowhere. There were no signs for a town, just a lone service station that couldn’t be seen from the interstate. It was late in the afternoon and her non-existent energy was at an all-time low. She hoped this gas station had a store with sugary goodies in it. That hope died quickly when she saw not one vehicle at the four available pumps.

“Is this place abandoned?” she asked.

“I hope not. We’re not going to make it far if it is.”

As he hopped out, she set his phone in the cradle and paused when she saw a message flash across the screen.

Tanya: I miss you.

She felt an odd dipping sensation in her stomach. He told her he wasn’t fucking anyone else, but he was a compulsive liar. She couldn’t believe a damn thing he said. But, at least he didn’t have any STDs. He could play with whoever he wanted. Maybe she would push Marissa on him once they got home. He could fuck her for the duration of his leave.

As she slid out of the truck, she raised a hand to block her eyes from the hot breeze that blew sand and dirt everywhere. She watched as he stuck his card in the machine and was relieved when the screen lit up and beeped.

“I’m gonna check it out,” she said without meeting his eyes.

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