Page 23 of Impulsive Saint
Tyler chuckled at the comparison, “They’re more alike than you can possibly believe.”
“Overbearing. Controlling. Thinks he’s always right. His way is the only way.” Ashtyn nodded, “Yeah, I know the type.”
“I guess you do.”
“So was he giving you shit for taking this trip? I didn’t think much about it but I’m probably keeping you from your job, huh? The workaholic brother probably can’t stand that. I’m sorry.”
Tyler shrugged, “My job is fine. Nobody’s going to miss me for a few days.”
“Still, I’m sorry if I got you into trouble with your brother, or your job.”
She had no idea that the brother and the job were one and the same. He intended to keep it that way. But it was still nice to hear that she felt bad about inconveniencing him.
“Sorry enough to turn this bike around and let me take you home?”
She laughed and the sound made him grin. The sound was light and tinkling, almost musical. He liked the sound of her laugh, he realized. He didn’t want to like her but the more time he spent in her company, the more he found to like.
“We are not going home. Not yet.” She pushed up from the pillar and wiped her hands together to get rid of any crumbs. “We should get back on the road.”
“That’s usually my line.” he chuckled.
“Well then, you’d better be quicker next time.” She winked playfully and he laughed again.
He went to the bathroom, washed his hands and relieved himself. After, Tyler ran his card and topped off the tank on the motorcycle. Then they climbed back on the bike and set out on the road for the second leg of their trip.
Tyler almost felt bad about the fact that he had already scoped out a truly horrible shithole motel for them near Little Rock. If that place didn’t gross her out and send her fleeing for the comfort of her family and home, he wasn’t sure anything would. It probably said something awful about him that he couldn’t wait to see her face when he showed her their sleeping arrangements.
He grinned almost the entire three-hour ride out of Tennessee and into Arkansas.
7
Ashtyn was so sore she was surprised her legs held her up when she finally climbed off the motorcycle for the day. They’d been riding for what felt like an eternity and Tyler had only stopped three times, including the one for lunch. All three stops had been at small, sketchy looking gas stations and each time he’d kept her from going anywhere but to the bathroom. He’d barely given her any time to stretch her legs and she felt like she might never walk right again but that wasn’t even the worst of it.
She could feel dirt and grime on her everywhere, even through her clothes. She hadn’t expected that part of this trip but she supposed that’s what she got for jumping in with no real planning or preparation. Her Target haul had been cute but it wasn’t as practical as she’d hoped. With the wind whipping at her as Tyler sped down the highway, she’d found her jacket was more for looks than anything else and even with the helmet protecting her face she swore she could feel road dust in every crease of her body.
All she wanted in that moment was to step into a scalding hot shower and wash away her aches and pains right along with all the dirt.
Only, as she turned to face the building they’d stopped in front of, she recoiled. The sign at the road only said motel in neon red letters and even calling it that seemed like a stretch once she got a good look at the place. It was a long, squat building with faded and peeling paint that at some point might have been white but had turned a dirty gray brown color. The doors to the rooms were painted a fresher shade of red but they all looked like a good hard wind would blow them down. There were two trucks parked at the end of the gravel lot, one with the hood up and the other on blocks because it was missing its two back tires. If the yellowish light coming from the glass at the main entrance was any dimmer, she’d have assumed the place was deserted.
“We can’t stay here.” She shook her head as Tyler put his helmet on the handlebar.
“We can and we are.” He didn’t even give her a sideways glance as he headed towards the office. “Stay with the bike. I’ll get us a room.”
“A room?” She called after him, “As in one?”
There was little doubt in her mind that he had heard her question but he didn’t answer or turn back. She watched his broad shoulders as he strolled away from her. He wasn’t walking funny, she noticed and wanted to curse him for that just as much as his choice of lodging for the night.
She knew what he was up to now. After their talk at the gas station while she ate that horrible, overcooked hot dog, she’d put it together. He intended to make her miserable. It seemed to be his sole mission today. His hope was that if he made her uncomfortable enough that she would give in, whine, cry and beg for him to take her back home to the luxurious life he clearly thought she lived.
On the back of the bike she’d wondered about the man she was holding onto all afternoon. She didn’t understand why he’d agreed to take her on this road trip if he hated the idea so much. If all he wanted was to ruin it for her, he could have just said no. So why hadn’t he? The only reason she’d been able to come up with was that protective streak of his. He’d rather she go with him so he knew she’d be safe, miserable but safe. He had to be a friend of Aaron’s with that kind of motive and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was giving her ex-fiancé updates.
Before she could contemplate that any further, Tyler came back out of the hotel and motioned for her to join him. She met up with him just as he was sticking an old gold key into the door of Room 4. The red door gave a groan as he pushed it open and Ashtyn felt her nose curl in disgust as the room came into view.
It was even worse than she’d been expecting.
The carpet was a green shag that looked like vomit. The walls were dinged and scratched and even a small hole, about the size of a fist, stared back at her from next to the television. Which, speaking of, looked like it was probably new back in 1972. Everything in the room looked like it was from that long-forgotten era, faded and crusty with dust on every surface. There was a smell too, though she couldn’t place it exactly. Smoke for sure but something else, something like body odor. The bed was huge, taking up most of the room, and the comforter looked stained even from this distance.
Wait, she narrowed her eyes and looked around the room again just to make sure she wasn’t missing something. Tyler had said he was getting them a room. This room. He hadn’t said anything about only getting them one bed.
