Page 34 of The Road Trip Romance

I glare at him and he shrugs. “It’d be a better story.”

“OK, as much as I love having you both here. I need to get a shower and pack. So please go do whatever it is famous men do at…” She glances at the clock next to the bed. “Five forty-five in the morning.”

Penn smirks and I stand, slapping him in the chest to usher him out before he says something else stupid.

“See you in a bit. We’re meeting at seven in the restaurant for breakfast,” Penn calls out as I shove him through the door and lock it behind him.

I turn to Sophia, the towel of ice still clutched in my hand. “Thanks, and sorry about Penn.”

“He’s a hoot,” Sophia says with a giggle.

“Something like that,” I mutter as I walk back into my room.

“Don’t worry, she’ll still find you mildly attractive,” Sophia says, and I turn around.

“Mildly?” I scoff.

She presses her lips together as they start to twitch into the beginnings of a smile.

“Mildly,” she confirms.

“I’d throw something at you right now, but we don’t have time for two people to ice their heads,” I state as I close the door, hearing her laugh as I do. The sound of it brings a smile to my lips.

* * *

“Damn, M, way to kick Tate’s ass,” Rex says with a laugh as we get on the highway. Against everyone’s wishes, I somehow talked them into letting me drive.

“Do you think anyone got photos of us?” Penn asks after our laughter dies down. When we piled into the car at the hotel, I swear there was a flash. I had hurried Sophia into the back seat and settled into the driver’s seat before anyone could protest.

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s risky being in the city as it is, but all of us together…” Jordan trails off as I pick up speed.

“Sorry,” Rex mutters.

I clap him on the shoulder as I drive. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad we got to see Trevor. It was a fun night. And so what if someone took photos. It’s all good. It’s a city. We could have all been there for different reasons and got together. We’ll just keep a low profile from here out,” I offer.

Shrugging, Rex looks out the window. I wonder if he’s talked to Emily, his girlfriend. He hasn’t mentioned her once on this entire trip. I thought things were going well, but I feel bad that I haven’t asked him. I’ve been so consumed with my own relationship issues. He seems happy but he never pulls the trigger to formally commit to her. I often wonder if he really loves her or if his failed first marriage has given him cold feet. I internally make a note to talk with him soon.

My gaze darts to Penn. I smirk and give a little shake of my head. Where Rex has been dating the same model for a few years, Penn seems to never be settling down. He goes from one adventure to the next, and one relationship, if you can call it that, to the next.

Then there’s Jordan. I glance at him. He’s texting on his phone. I’ve never seen a couple more in love than Alisha and him. God, I envy him. Maybe it is because of my fucked-up childhood, but I have always wanted a family of my own. I want to do it right. I want kids and I want to be there for them. I want to find the love of my life and settle down. Even if Jordan and Alisha don’t have kids, they at least have each other and a ton of nieces and nephews that they spoil rotten.

“How’s your head feeling?” Sophia asks, breaking the silence that’s descended on the car.

“Much better,” I assure her.

“If you don’t feel good, just let me know,” she says, and I wonder if she’s afraid I have a concussion and doesn’t want me driving. Little does she know I’ve had a concussion before, and this is definitely just a little bump on the head. After I iced it, there was a small bruise but nothing that won’t heal up in a few days’ time. I catch her gaze in the rearview mirror and give her my patented, panty-dropping smile.

She rolls her eyes but can’t hide her smile. My fake grin turns into a real one as I look back at the road. She’s so fucking awesome. And she’s smart and funny. She’s the whole package. I frown a little, wondering why she’s still single. How long did she say she’d been divorced? I swear she mentioned it at some point, three years or four?

A blaring horn makes me jump as my mind is brought back to the present.

“What the hell?” I grumble as I grip the steering wheel. “Damn trucker.”

“Maybe you were too close or something?” Rex suggests.

I turn and glare at him. He shrugs. And I go back to watching where I’m going. My mind drifts back to Sophia as I drive. How is it that I’ve only known her a few days, yet it feels like she’s been in my life forever? I’ve never been this comfortable around anyone this quickly, ever.

I’m mid-thought when another truck honks its horn at me.

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