Page 37 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

Matt tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he sang along with the music under his breath, casting occasional smiles in Zoey’s direction. She offered one more smile of her own before turning her head to look out the window and watch the dark landscape pass.

The road was fairly smooth, so at least Rendash wouldn’t get tossed around, but it was likely freezing back there. She wished they’d had some other choice.

“So where did you say you were going?” Matt asked.

“Green River,” Zoey replied.

“I mean after that.”

Zoey looked at him. “Des Moines.”

“Long way. What’s in Des Moines?”

“A friend. She invited me to live with her as her roommate.”

“Does she know about your car?”

Zoey frowned. That was a strange question. “Yeah. I let her know my trip would be a little delayed. I already have a rental car set up in Green River.”

“Really?” His tone implied surprise. “I’ve been through Green River a lot. Never saw any rental places.”

“They were…offering a pickup service because of the circumstances.”

“Tow truck driver probably would’ve given you a ride into town. Decided not to wait?”

“It’s late,” she said, “so I figured I’d get a room for the night and deal with it tomorrow. The car is likely totaled if you’re right about the timing belt. Wouldn’t be worth fixing.”

“Most likely not.” He cleared his throat. “Anyone else waiting for you in Des Moines? Parents? Siblings?” He glanced at her. “A boyfriend?”

“My husband. He just got out of the military.”

“So why are you moving in with your roommate?”

Ah, fuck, I’m so bad at this.

Zoey rubbed her palms against her thighs. “He’s moving in with us, too. Just until we get settled and find a place of our own.”

“He didn’t get you a ring?”

“What?”

Matt gestured toward her hand.

“Oh.” She pulled her left hand back and covered it with the other. “I lost it.”

“That sucks,” he said with an oddly flat tone.

His questions stopped there.

Maybe it was just her imagination causing the strange, tight feeling in her chest. Matt was probably just trying to be friendly; picking up a hitchhiker under any circumstances had to be awkward, right? Still, if not for Ren, Zoey would’ve asked to be let out right here. The red flags were steadily mounting in her mind, and Green River couldn’t be much farther.

But they needed to keep moving. She could suffer through some probing, uncomfortable conversation for Rendash’s sake.

The truck slowed, and Matt turned off the highway. The headlights shone on an overgrown dirt path.

Heat tingled over Zoey’s skin. Her back stiffened, and she twisted to look back at the interstate. “What are you doing?”

“I need to take a piss. How about you?”

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