Page 151 of Love Undiscovered
Chapter 40
Chance
We hit the city limits right at afternoon rush-hour traffic, which puts us at a standstill. I change the radio station to classic rock. Needing something other than 80s and Motown to get me through this.
“Hey!” Kat cries.
“Don't bother me, woman, I'm fightin' traffic,” I say to her, with just the hint of a smile.
ZZ Top's “La Grange” comes on and it's all I can do to not pull off to the shoulder and blow by all these cars. This song begs to be driven to. But it’s near the end and I’d probably only get thirty seconds of solid balls to the wall speed before it ends.
I'm still tempted when the next one comes on.
You'll accomp'ny me.
The song I sang to Remi.
It's a sign.
I pull off to the shoulder and speed to the next exit.
“This is the song, isn't it?” Kat asks, her eyes twinkling.
“It is,” I say with a smile.
“I love it! It's a sign for sure!” Lexie says, bobbing her head softly to the beat.
I sing along to the radio, feeling free for the first time in days. The song ends, and Kat changes the station. I glare at her.
“I know, no 80s and no Motown. I'm compromising with hit singles of today,” she says.
“The Man” by The Killers comes on.
“Oh, I love this song!” Lexie says. I smile at her in the rear-view mirror. She says almost everything with an exclamation point.
I know the song. I hate to admit, but I love it. Like, it’s my theme song. I sit up taller and mouth the words softly to myself. Getting myself pumped.
“I would so fuck Brandon Flowers just because of this song,” Kat says.
“Me too,” Lexie says with a sigh, in between singing.
“Ohmigod, Bauer.” Kat looks at me. “This is your theme song.”
I laugh at her because I'll never admit it’s true.
“I'm serious!” she says. “We're going to get your girl, and you've got to convince her that you're the man, right. You'rethe man. I mean, Lex and I can only help so much, the rest is up to you. You gotta ball up, take your girl, fuck her against the wall, let her see who’s boss. Remind her that she can't live without you.”
“Now who's putting words in Remi's mouth?” Lexie asks.
“I'm not putting words in Remi’s mouth, I'm putting actions in Bauer's head. The guy in that song is exactly what Remi needs,” Kat says.
“I agree,” Lexie says. Kat turns around and beams at her.
I just try to hold it together as we get closer to the hotel. A song can't really do much when you've fucked up so far beyond belief that your girl says never to call her again.
We pull into self-parking and I find a spot surprisingly quickly. The girls scramble to collect their things. They were smart, each bringing a small overnight bag with them. Me? I didn't even remember a toothbrush. I pat my sides only to realize I don’t have my gun either. I panic until I feel the tell-tale bulge of my wallet and badge.
At least there’s that.
