Page 27 of Joy Ride
8: 26 a.m. Tripp: And I ate the last of the pie.
8: 27 a.m. Tripp: Sorry.
8: 35 a.m. Mom: You do realize you can use your own two feet and walk downstairs and talk to me in person. Breakfast is getting cold. Jolene, honey? You okay?
I scan the rumpled sheets and try to block out memories of last night as they barrage my mind. My damn heart is about to bust into bits as I hover over the keypad with my thumb and start typing.
9: 15 a.m. Jolene: I’m good. I’ll probably hit the road by 11, so I’ll be home around seven if I don’t stop. Lexi still hasn’t had the baby.
9: 16 a.m. Mom: Thanks for answering honey. Please give my love to everyone. Take your time driving. The roads are still icy from the storm. Text me when you’re in the car and please charge your phone before you leave.
9:17 a.m. Jolene: Will do. Love you. xo
I hit send, plunk down on the foot of the bed, and stare at my ready-to-be-packed suitcase when a knock startles me out of my funk. My heart lifts like it’s being propelled by jet fuel as I fly to the door to open it for
Lexi.
“Sleep well?” She grins.
“I did, thanks. The bed is so comfortable, I appreciate you guys having me over.”
“You know you’re welcome here anytime. We love seeing you.” She glances at my suitcase and frowns. “Tell me you’re not thinking of leaving before you’ve had breakfast. Chase is making his famous pancakes and would be so disappointed if you left without even a taste.”
“You’re so sweet, Lexi.” I say pathetically, giving up my brave face and throwing my arms around her.
While the tears sneak behind my eyes like a dam about to break, I sniff them back, holding Lexi tight. Damn, I needed this hug. It feels like my whole fucking world is ending. How could Travis leave that way? No note, no text…no nothing. Just poof. He vanished into thin air.
Thankfully, I manage to recover from the meltdown before I start sobbing like a fool. By the time Lexi and I break from our embrace and she can see my face, I’m faking a smile as best I can. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving before I have at least one of Chase’s chocolate chip pancakes. Let me just throw on some clothes, and I’ll be right there.”
“Good thing.” She chuckles. “We have a very temperamental chef. Meet you in the kitchen.” She waves as she heads out and I watch her waddle up the path back to the house under the bright blue sky and close the door.
It can’t really be over between me and Travis, can it? Did he get caught off guard yesterday when he found me here at the house? Did he feel he had no choice other than to pick up where we left off? Would we have ever even seen each other again, never mind fuck, if we both didn’t happen to be here at the same time?
Mr. Vanishing Cowboy sure seems to be making things pretty damn clear.
Before I dress, I take a few minutes to throw my clothes and toiletries back in my suitcase, so I can get on the road as soon as possible. I’ll only be more miserable if I mope around here, and I’m not going to try to track Travis down. I’ve already thrown myself at him. He told me straight up that first night he thought he was too old for me. I’ll bet our difference in age probably got to him.
The family’s sitting at the table as I make my way into the kitchen, and the noise level must be a thousand decibels lower than last night now that Shenandoah and Jack are the only kids in the house.
“Please sit next to me,” Shenandoah asks sweetly. She’s only five, and I can already see she’s going to be a beauty with Lexi’s blonde hair. Having her father’s dimples and piercing blue eyes doesn’t hurt either. “I saved you a seat.” She pats the chair next to her, and I slide in.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” I give her a kiss on the cheek while three-year-old Jack gives me the stink eye.
I chuckle, scooting my chair back and walk to his side of the table where I give him a smooch, which prompts a giggle. That one’s on his way to being a certified lady killer. Their little boy has Chase’s eye color too and the same indentations in his cheeks, only Jack has jet black hair.
Once I’m back in my seat, Lexi grins and pours coffee into my mug, asking casually, “You didn’t happen to see Travis this morning, did you?”
“Nope. I didn’t.” I quickly grab the cream and sugar to occupy myself and hide my disappointment.
“It’s so odd he would just leave without saying goodbye.” Lexi shrugs. “Hope everything’s okay with him.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Chase says matter-of-factly, cutting into his pancake. “He probably had a pipe burst or something come up at Boondocks.”
The doorbell rings and then rings again. “Speak of the devil. I’ll bet that’s him.” I set my coffee cup down, hoping against hope that Chase is right when he pushes off from the table to get up.
Travis’s voice calls out, “You mind if I come in?” My heart thumps at the familiar deep, gravelly sound.
“No, get your ass in here,” Chase shouts, settling back in his chair, clueless to the conniption I’m having. “You’re just in time for breakfast.”
