Page 5 of Justus
“Pornoshoot?”
Asnort of laughter escapes me. “Try again.”
“Mystrip club?”
“Youare absolutely not a stripper.”
“Agreed.”He turns and grins at me. “I’m an exotic dancer.”
“Notwhen my mother asks.”
“Okay.”His fingers drum on the wheel as he thinks. “I’m a computer programmer and wemet at a grocery store. You took one look at my handsome face and was blindedby love.”
Laughing,I scoot my seat back and recline, letting my feet stick out the window alittle. I’m surprised that I’m actually having fun. Maybe this won’t be as badas I thought. “A grocery store will work, I suppose.”
“So,is it just your mom, or am I meeting your dad too?”
“Justmom and my brother, Doug. He lives with her.”
“Ishe older than you?”
“Bythree years.”
“So,you’re the baby, huh? That’s cool.”
“Tellme about your family,” I invite.
Hislips press together. “I don’t really have one. I have a sister, but I haven’tseen her in years.”
“Oh,I’m sorry. Did your parents pass recently?”
“Theyaren’t dead, at least I don’t think they are. We’re just…estranged.” Theexpression on his usually smiling face tells me to stop questioning, so Ichange the subject.
“Whatdo you want for lunch?” An exit sign advertises a number of fast food placescoming up.
“Anorgasm?”
“I’msure I can wait in the car while you beat off in the rest stop bathroom withthe rest of the perverts.”
“Ahh,a romantic. No need for that. I can wait until tonight when you’re overcome bymy manly prowess.”
“Howabout sub sandwiches?” I suggest. I’m learning to let most of his silliness flyon by me.
“Soundsgood to me,” he agrees, taking the next exit.
Wehave a nice lunch and get back on the road. The next few hours are spentgetting to know each other better and arguing good naturedly over the radio.
Ican see why he has no problem getting women. On top of being too damn sexy,he’s funny and interesting. We’ve known one another for a while, but neverreally talked since he’s been busy hitting on me, and I’ve been occupied withavoiding his advances. He’s not a guy I’d date, but he could be a friend.
Thelast of the sunlight has faded when lightning begins to streak across the sky.Fat raindrops hit the windshield, and then the sky opens up, dumping torrentsof rain. The wipers struggle to keep up and traffic slows to a crawl. “Maybe weshould call it a night,” I suggest, as Justus struggles to see the road.
“Yeah,I can’t see shit. Find us a hotel,” he replies, gesturing to the GPS.
Ipress the button for local hotels and only two pop up within a fifty mileradius. “Take the next exit. There are two across the street from each other.”
Weend up in a small town, and I huff in exasperation.One of the hotelsis closed down, the building crumbling into an ancient parking lot. Theremaining one has obviously seen better days. “Well, this looks promising,”Justus laughs, pulling into the other hotel.
“Wecan keep going, but the next one is over fifty miles away,” I tell him.
