Page 13 of Open Road (Tattooed Hearts Duet 3)

“When do we need to be there?” Simon had taken care of all the logistics with the promoters, telling them we’d sign up for a few of the shows as we went along. They were willing to accommodate us due to Slade’s notoriety in the tattoo world.

“Registration’s in two days, so we’ll have tonight and all day tomorrow in St. Louis, but will need to leave the next morning for Branson.”

Nodding, I wrote down the time as I began to search for things, along with items on Bab’s list to do, and jotted them down. I began to read out some of the options with the guys picking one thing they wanted to do. When I had five things, I figured it was enough if we wanted to really be able to enjoy any of them.

1.The Arch

2. Anheuser-Busch

3. City Garden

4. Grant’s Farm

5. Moto Museum

Excitement to doit all coursed through me, but I knew I needed to pace myself so I wasn’t worn out before we got to the end of the trip.

A little while later, we crossed the state line into Indiana, adrenaline pumping through me that we were really doing this. I leaned against Simon, watching out his window, taking in the view.

“We’re doing it, Si,” I said, sighing wistfully.

“Yeah, we are.” He dropped a kiss down onto my head, squeezing me to him. He was comfortable, so I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

A bit later, I was jostled awake. “Lenn, we’re crossing into Illinois. I thought you’d want to know.”

Sitting up, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and took in the new state as we passed the sign. “Wow, this state is busy,” I said, noticing the barely moving traffic.

“Yeah, there’s a wreck up ahead. I’m going to pull off at the next exit so I can stretch my legs. If someone else wants to drive, they can,” Slade said, switching lanes as he did what he said.

The need to pee hit me, and I climbed out with the others and headed into the gas station while Zane filled the van with gas. My eyes took everything in, trying to catalog the difference between here and Kentucky.

“It’s a gas station, Peach. They’re all basically the same. You’ll see differences soon. Come on.”

Slade tugged me down the hall to the restrooms, and we both headed in. Quickly, I held my nose, trying not to touch anything. It seemed the gas station’s level of cleanliness was something else that stayed the same. Yuck.

Using a paper towel to open the door, I found Slade waiting for me. Keeping the door open with my foot, I tossed the paper towel back into the trash as he laughed.

“What?” I asked. He shook his head in lieu of answering, kissing me as we walked, and I veered toward the snacks.

We didn’t need any more snacks since we were full on food, but the lure of candy and a cold drink pulled me in. Scanning the shelves, I searched for something new to jump out, but nothing was calling to me. Sighing, I gave up and headed to the counter where Slade was paying for the gas.

When he turned around, he placed a cap on my head that I hadn’t noticed him buying. Pulling it off, I read the inscription “Illi-noice.” Laughing, I set it back on my head and pulled my hair behind my ears.

“And here I thought ‘Getting lucky in Kentucky’was lame.”

Simon scowled at the hat when we got back into the van, muttering about its damage to my hair. I ignored him, used to his high maintenance standards. Slade climbed into the bench seat with me, pulling me practically into his lap as we started our journey again.

I got lost drawing some sketches in my journal as we drove, the wreck having been cleared up by the time we got back on the interstate. So when we neared Missouri, I hadn’t realized we were almost there. Slade nudged me as we passed the state sign and then pointed to the Arch in the distance.

“Wow, it’s beautiful at night,” I said. The sun was setting, and the lights were beginning to come on as we made our way to the hotel. Thirty minutes later, we pulled into the parking garage of our downtown hotel, and we all got out and stretched. Slade went to check us in while we began to sort the things we needed out of the back and leave the things we didn’t. We covered them up with a blanket when we were done and hoped no one would break into the van while we were away. Thankfully, the garage was monitored, so we hoped it would be enough. Nobody wanted to lug Simon’s hair products to a million different places if we didn’t have to.

“I was thinking the van needs a name,” I said as we began to head toward the hotel.

“Hmm, what do you think goes with that color?” Zane asked, tugging a bag onto his shoulder.

“I don’t know if it has to be color connected. Maybe it could be Babs since she’s leading us.”

“It has merit, but I don’t know if I can sex you up in Babs, and I plan to sex you up, so your call,” Slade said as he joined us, taking a bag from me.

---