Page 19 of Road Trip
Chapter Six
Abra
Kelly returned from his phone call beet red.
“What happened?” I asked him, worried he’d gotten more bad news.
He smiled shyly and plopped down on the bed.
“I just talked to my lieutenant. I was told to stay gone for a bit. She told me to, ah, enjoy myself.”
I blinked. “Sounds like good advice. Right? Or am I missing something?” I asked as I approached him.
He shook his head. “Yeah. Whatever their innuendo may be.”
“Ah. I get it. I know you’re going to have a shitstorm to deal with. You sure you’re still up for this?”
Kelly wrapped his giant arms around my waist and snuggled up to my chest. I felt him take a really deep breath.
“Hey,” I said softly, concerned things were finally getting to him. “You okay?”
His laugh was muffled against my belly and his breath tickled me. “I can’t believe I’m saying this after everything that’s happened…I’ve got no car, no gear, I can’t go back to work, I don’t want to go home, I’m wearing Target underwear, I likely caught something from this hotel room, but I feel better than I anticipated. Better than I should. I know it will catch up to me, but I appreciate the respite. Thank you, Abra. If I had been alone last night, I think I would have lost it.”
It was coming, though. I’d been around enough victims of trauma to know that you couldn’t run away from it forever. I’d be there for him when it happened…if he let me.
“You’re welcome. Now stop thanking me and let’s go have some fun!”
After a quick trip to a car wash, my baby was sparkly and shiny again. The blood cleaned up well and the inside smelled like new car again. We drove to the San Manuel amphitheater and were directed to drive over grass and around picnic tables until we finally were guided into a spot next to a pergola with BBQ pits…and a huge fight happening. I saw several security and police officers descending on the group, so I started to get out of the car. Kelly grabbed my arm. His cheeks were red and his eyes wide.
“Let them get a handle on this before you get out, please? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I was beginning to see what he meant by occupational hazard. I could see him warring with himself mentally that he wasn’t out there breaking it up. His eyes scanned the area and he didn’t relax his grip on me until he saw the police officers subdue the brawlers in handcuffs and medics arrived.
“Wow, that’s new. I’ve never seen anything that bad happen at a show. This place can get a little crazy. These freakin’ SoCal people are off the chain! Glad no one seems to be seriously hurt. What do you say we get lubed up?”
His eyes shot to mine and he looked alarmed. “Lube?”
God, he was so much fun to mess with.
“Yeah, I like to be ready to go at a moment’s notice, don’t you?”
He still looked worried.
“KELLY! I’m talking about sunscreen!”
He turned red again and rubbed his hand down his face. He hadn’t shaved, and I could see blond and strawberry stubble growing in. I couldn’t resist one little touch.
“So soft. I love your skin, Kelly. You are so nice to touch. Your hair is so silky.”
He laughed and grabbed my hand in his, planting a kiss in my palm.
“By all means, touch away,” he said a little breathlessly.
I looked at my watch. “Gates will be open in a few minutes and if I keep touching you, we’re never getting out of this car, so let’s lube upwith-sunscreenand get inside. Are you ready for lunch yet? ‘Cause I’m fucking starving already!”
Once out of the car, I grabbed all the bags from the backseat and threw them in the trunk, along with my purse. I had button pockets on the back of my shorts so I could stash my ID, credit card, cash, and tickets. I took a bottle of sunscreen out and started applying it to my neck, arms, and legs. My makeup already had it in there. Kelly’s eyes alternately watched my progress and surveyed the crowd. I hoped he would be able to relax a little once we got inside.
“Here, let me,” I said as I squirted more lotion on my hands. He was wearing a black tank top that dipped low under his well-defined arms and had a racer back. I stepped behind him and applied the sunscreen liberally to his fair skin. “You look like you burn easy.”
