Page 25 of Side Trip

“They’re interesting.” She shrugged when he pulled a face. Taking pictures of strangers was weird.

She also took selfies. Lots and lots of fucking selfies.

How many photos did she need of herself?

“I delete most of them,” she said when she caught him watching her.

Dylan showed her his palms and shot a whatever-floats-your-boat look.

She handed him her phone once and asked him to take her picture. She never offered to take his, or for them to take one together, and that bothered him. It shouldn’t, but it did.

They reached Mather Point. The view was impressive, but Joy didn’t seem impressed. She didn’t even look down. She leaned on the rail and swiped her palm up her forehead and into her hair, which she’d wrenched into a high ponytail. It had lost its swishiness and looked limper than a wet noodle. She still looked cute to him.

“It’s hot,” she muttered.

Like a mother, Dylan wanted to add.

“Gorgeous view, though.” He leaned on the rail beside her and caught a whiff of her perspiration and a hint of perfume. Something light and floral. It suited her.

“Judy would have loved it.”

He frowned, surprised at the mention of Joy’s sister. What prompted that? He wanted to ask about her, but Joy looked bored. He thought about telling her that the colors were amazing. Yes, it was hazy. But those colors were going to pop at sunset and blow her mind. He almost suggested that they hang around, but he held his tongue. Crowds irritated him, and she was set on getting to Albuquerque at a reasonable hour. Something about having to call the fiancé before dark. Like a freaking check-in curfew.

Dylan angled his body so that he faced her more than the view that she wasn’t even looking at. She also didn’t look bored—he’d been wrong. Her face was drawn, a pronounced pucker between sculpted brows his finger itched to trace. Her mind was far from the canyon yawning below them. He had a pretty good idea where it was.

“Tell me about her,” he dared asking, his tone gentle.

Joy’s head snapped up. “Who?”

“Your sister. What was she like?”

A flicker of fear skittered across her blue eyes, chased by something else. Guilt? He wasn’t sure. It was gone in an instant, but not before it tugged something inside of him.

Engagement ring be damned. He tucked a wisp of hair undulating like an inflatable tube man behind her ear.

“You miss her.”

“Every single day. She wanted to see this view. I wish she could have.” She gave him her phone. “Will you take my picture again? Last one.”

“Sure.” He took the phone, determined to put a smile back on her face. She made the effort to get here. Might as well enjoy it.

Before she could figure out what he was doing and stop him, Dylan leaned back against the rail. He held the phone at arm’s length. “Look up. Smile.” He grinned the same time she did and captured their shot.

“You sneak. You know I’m going to have to delete that.”

He wished she wouldn’t. He liked her smile.

Putting a little space between them, Dylan took a picture of her. Damn, she was gorgeous. He then quickly texted the photo of the two of them to his phone, the one powered down at the bottom of his bag, and deleted the text before handing her the device. Next they sat down for lunch at the Yavapai Tavern. Joy sipped a Coke and Dylan rehydrated with a beer. He wasn’t driving, and he needed to chill. They both ordered burgers.

At some point during the meal, Joy unfolded the bucket list. She smoothed the creased paper on the table and crossed outdo something daring. A closed-lip smile spread on his face. He felt smug. Thanks to him she’d completed another bucket list item and he wanted to beat his chest like a fucking ape. Then she rolled her lips over her teeth and tapped the pencil tip on the table. Her brows pulled together and that cute little pucker of skin was back. She flipped the pencil and erased the line she’d just made.

“Why’d you do that? I dared you to drive me to New York.” So much for the chest pounding.

“You can’t be two things on my list. That’s cheating. Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you find a cab back to Flagstaff.”

“Good to know.” He glowered, then gestured at the list. “What do you have in mind then?”

“For something daring?” She tapped the eraser against her lips. “No idea. But I’ll let you know when I think of something.” She then crossed outdo something you’ve always wanted to do.

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