Page 29 of Hide and Sneak
An hour or so before dark, I call it a day, putting away all my supplies and covering what can’t be stored. When I hop into my truck to back out, the wheels spin in place.
Shit. A quick inspection shows me the mud is deeper than I thought. I let a little air out of the tires, jump back in and put it in low gear. It’s no use. No amount of rocking will get it out. I’m only making it worse. I don’t have any sand or anything that I can use under the tires for traction. It’s going to take a chain to tow it out.
Camron is the first person I text. He has a truck, and I’m sure we could get mine out, but he doesn’t answer the text and a call goes straight to his voicemail. A glance around makes me rethink my plan. Anyone else who tries to come up here is likely to get stuck too. It needs to dry out for a day or two first. It’s not a tow I need right now, but a ride.
Amos will have left for work. None of my other friends or guys I work with live near here. Mom doesn’t drive after dark, and the only other choice would be her husband. I’d rather walk, which will be my next move if Lila doesn’t answer.
This is not the way I imagined seeing her after last night, but here we are. Luckily, she answers her phone.
“Yeah?”
That annoyed tone doesn’t bode well. “Hey, so, I’m stranded. My truck is stuck in the mud at my place.”
“Okay.”
She isn’t going to make this easy. “I’m going to have to leave my truck. Can you pick me up? Please?” I add quickly.
There’s a long pause before she replies. “Are you screwing with me?”
“No, I swear. I’d call Amos but he’s at work, and Camron didn’t answer. I’m outside the city limits so no taxi or rideshare will come get me. I’ll give you gas money and buy you dinner.”
Her tone lightens up. “I don’t know. It’s awfully peaceful here. Can’t you rough it for the night? Forage for nuts and berries.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Come on, Delilah, name your price. It’s getting dark.”
“Price is to be determined. Text me the address.”
“Thank you. Just park on the side of the road and text me when you’re here. It’s narrow but barely used. Don’t come any farther or you’ll get stuck too.”
“Got it.”
She hangs up, and I lock up my truck, then use the time while I’m waiting to better organize the supplies in my cargo trailer and make a list of what I’m going to need for the next week. When I step out of the trailer to walk down and wait at the road, Lila is hiking up the muddy remains of the old dirt driveway.
“I told you to wait at the road.”
“Yeah, but I do what I want.”
The last word barely leaves her lips when her foot slips and her ass hits the ground. The splat sound it makes is legendary. If she would’ve given me one second to get to her and help her up, things would’ve been fine. Instead, she scrambles to stand up.Both feet slip out from under her this time and she falls forward. Her face is spared and she isn’t hurt, but the momentum sends her sliding down the driveway.
She tries to grasp the ground but finds no purchase as she slides down the entire slope on her stomach like a kid on a wooden sled, curses flying out of her mouth the whole way.
I’m going to piss myself.
It’s the funniest shit ever and not even the threat of her leaving me here can stop my hysterical laughter as I follow her. I’m careful to walk in the grassy area and by the time I reach her, she’s trying to scrape a thick layer of mud from her shirt and jeans.
“That would be why I warned you to wait at the road.”
“Not another word,” she says through gritted teeth. Walking home in the dark isn’t how I want to spend the next few hours so I press my lips together and pretend to zip them.
It doesn’t stop my body from shaking with laughter on our walk to her car. She stays ahead of me until we get there. Her shirt is soaked through and she shivers in the cool wind.
“Here. Take this so you won’t be as cold.” I pull my shirt off and hold it out to her. “I’ll turn my back.”
After a moment of consideration, she accepts it, and I avert my eyes while she switches. Even covered in grime, she looks damn good in my shirt. She’d look even better if it were all she was wearing. She opens her trunk and pulls out a towel for her seat. Once we’re inside, she starts the car and silence fills the space.
