Page 26 of Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia 2)

“We’re really doing this?” He asked.

I nodded. “You, me, and a road trip. What could possibly go wrong?”

“We’ll conquer those bumps along the way together, because that’s what we do,” he grinned.

“Now,” I pulled away, looking at him sternly, “if we’re doing this, we do it right.”

“What do you mean?” He grabbed a piece of bacon, taking a bite.

“No fancy hotels and five star meals. I want this to be a real road trip. I want to rough it,” I placed my hands on my hips, daring him to argue with me.

A huge smile spread across his face. “I knew I fell in love with you for a reason.”

“What?” I shrugged. “In my mind, staying in fancy hotels does not constitute a road trip. I want to stay up late looking at the stars and sleep in the car. I want to go into dingy little diners and meet normal people. I want…” what was the word he used? “Spontaneity, that’s what I want.”

“I’m so glad I stopped to help you with your flat tire,” he whispered, his eyes growing dark with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “Best decision I ever made.”

“I’m glad you stopped too,” I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, hugging him. “Even if I did sound like a bumbling idiot when I talked to you.”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against me. “It was adorable. Especially when you called me Prince Charming.”

I blushed, burying my face against his shoulder. “You are my Prince Charming, even though you drive me nuts sometimes.”

“Gotta keep things interesting, babe,” he grinned crookedly.

“So,” I gazed up at him, “when should we leave for this road trip?”

“I’d say tomorrow, but you’d probably kill me,” he winked. “How about next week? That should be enough notice for Pete and Marcy. Gramps will be pissed at first, but he’ll understand.” He took a shaky breath. “I need to get away. I can’t be here when he tells them, Olivia. I know I have to be strong for them and I can’t do it right now.”

“I understand,” I cupped his stubbled cheek. I could see how it pained him to admit that to me and it broke my heart. “Next week sounds perfect. How long are we going to be gone?”

“Two maybe three weeks, tops,” he shrugged.

I had several interviews lined up in July for teaching positions, so we’d be back in plenty of time. I’d been afraid, knowing Trace, that he’d say two months.

“Well, Ace,” I bent down to pet the dog, “I’m going to miss you, bud.” He looked at me with sad gray eyes.

“He’ll be fine,” Trace bent down beside me, scratching the dog behind his ears. Ace’s tail thumped loudly against the floor.

“What are you, the dog whisperer now? We’ve never left him for this long. I hope he’ll be okay,” I frowned.

“Trent will do fine with him, he’s an animal lover. I’m surprised the kid isn’t off somewhere preaching about saving the whales or some other shit. He used to drive my mom nuts when he was little because he was always bringing stray animals into the house. She wasn’t happy when she found the snake in her bathroom.”

“I wouldn’t be either,” I laughed.

“It was a garter snake, it wasn’t like it was going to hurt anyone,” he chuckled. “She ended up on top of the bathroom counter wielding a hairdryer as her weapon of choice. She wouldn’t get down until the snake was out of the house.”

I snorted. “That’s funny.”

“There’s a picture somewhere,” he stood, walking around the counter and sitting in front of his plate of food. It was bound to be cold by now. “Unless she’s burned them all…which is possible.”

I grabbed his plate before he could snag another bite and popped it into the microwave, then did the same with mine and sat down beside him.

“Good?” I asked him, pointing to his plate.

“Delicious,” he leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Thank you.”

I smiled, nibbling at my own breakfast. I wasn’t very hungry. While I was exited at the prospect of a road trip with Trace, I couldn’t help but wonder if now was a bad time. I understood what he’d said about needing to get away. When it was time for me to go to college, I’d picked a school in Virginia, about as far away as I could get from my home in New Hampshire. So, I knew running when I saw it, and that’s what he was doing…running from his problems.

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