Page 10 of Losing Sleep
“It tastes like a melted root beer float,” I said, surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
“Right?” A grin stole across Grey’s face, the smile perhaps the biggest he’d given me since we’d started this drive. It stole my breath for just a moment as I took in the pure, simple joy on his face. “It’s basically magic in a milk carton.”
I quickly finished my carton, eyeing the front of the store. “I might need a few more of those.” I admitted begrudgingly. “Though we also need to get on the road…” I trailed off, torn.
Grey waved to the store. “Be my guest. I’ll wait here.”
I hesitated only a moment before walking back into the store, this time with my own basket. I grabbed a mix of milk flavors: root beer, cookies ’n cream, strawberry, and orange. If being brave had worked out well once, I hoped it would prove worthwhile again. On a whim, I threw in a bag of cheese curds.
When I got back to the car, Grey was in the front seat on his phone, brows pinched, a look of concern on his face as he typed out a response.
“Everything okay?” I asked as I stashed my milk in the back next to his bags and then climbed into the front seat, cheese curds in hand, and kicked off my shoes.
“Yep. Just a question from my brother.” He deposited his phone in the cupholder, making sure the screen was locked first.
“Well, in that case, I have snacks for the next leg of the journey.” I held up the bag of cheese curds, feeling weird offering a bag full of cheese as a road trip snack.
“Yes! These are seriously the best. Have you ever had them?” Grey took the bag and opened it, offering me first dibs on the assortment of oddly shaped orange pieces.
“No. I thought cheese only came shredded, blocked, or sliced.” I grabbed one of the smaller pieces and began to chew. A slight squeaking sound filled my ears, and I froze, the sound stopping too. As soon as I started chewing again, the sound returned, and I couldn’t fight back a smile of surprise. “It makes noise!”
Grey laughed, dispelling the last lingering hints of worry from his face and settling the bag of cheese on the center console before pulling onto the road. “Squeaky cheese, it’s a thing. And it means these are fresh. Try eating them in a day or two and the squeak will be gone.”
“That’s crazy. I feel like this is something from a cartoon, not real life.” I could easily picture this featuring in an episode ofScooby-Doo.
“Sometimes fact is crazier than fiction.” Grey popped a piece of cheese into his mouth, and I could hear it squeak from across the car.
A crumb from the cheese had dropped into his beard, a bright orange dot contrasting with the dark strands. While his beard didn’t qualify for mountain man status, it was long enough to hold the cheese hostage.
“You’ve got a piece of cheese in your beard.” I gestured towards his chin, not sure what the etiquette was for helping someone remove beard food.
“How do you know I’m not saving it for later?” Grey raised an eyebrow before reaching up in an attempt to brush the crumb from his beard. He missed completely.
“It’s a little more to the right.”
He made another attempt, managing to move the crumb closer to his mouth.
“Here. Let me.”
I reached over and brushed at his beard, knocking the crumb free. His beard was softer than I’d imagined, and the warmth of his breath made my skin tingle. I quickly drew my hand back, startled by how much I liked the sensation of touching him.
“Got it.” My voice came out breathy, my cheeks heating.
Grey gave me a knowing smile.
“Thanks for the help—and the cheese curds.” He grabbed another curd, popping it into his mouth.
Grey drove through Logan, using his phone to navigate as we started back on our trip, taking an alternative route instead of backtracking down the canyon towards the freeway. Everything was back on schedule and going according to plan. I’d even convinced Grey to let me control the music, connecting my phone to his car’s speakers through Bluetooth, a luxury I only dreamed of when driving Jovi.
I was attempting to come up with more questions to ask Grey when a light appeared on his dashboard and the car pulled to the right, an unexpected flapping sound starting.
“Uh-oh,” Grey mumbled, pulling into a nearby gas station parking lot.
“What do you mean ‘uh-oh?’ We don’t have time for ‘uh-oh,’ not if we’re going to make it to the cabin before dark.” I could hear the squeak of panic in my own voice and hated it. But I was unable to control it as memories of the phone call following my mom’s accident filled my mind. I’d had no idea a deer could do so much damage.
Grey put the car in park and turned to me, regret in his expression, and my stomach plummeted. This wasn’t good.
“We’re about to test my limited car repair knowledge and see if I remember how to change a flat tire.”
