2
Jack
There are only two things I don’t ever speak of: my crazy family and my history with Jenna. And both just fell in my lap. Literally.
I watch Jenna work her way to the front door and can’t help the unease slipping through my veins. I don’t like the idea of her going on such a long road trip by herself. She’s independent and smart and I know she can take care of herself, but that doesn’t lessen my concern any.
Her long dark hair is pulled back into a high ponytail revealing her golden eyes and high cheekbones. Her shoulders are bare in the strapless shirt she’s wearing, showing off the endless tattoos she has covering her skin. She’s beautiful and wild and I love to watch her walk.
Her hips swing as she moves out the door and my gut tightens. If anything were to ever happen to her, if someone ever tried to hurt her, I… well I can’t even think about it. Which is why I can’t think about Jenna all alone in a car on a series of desolate freeways for three days.
I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.
My friend Ethan plops down in the barstool next to me. “Hey, man.”
“Hey.” I take a swig of my beer.
“Was that Jenna I just saw leaving?” He nods at the door.
“Yep.”
Ethan smirks. “What did you do to piss her off this time?”
I grin. I do have a way of getting under Jenna’s skin. I can’t help it. If she would just be a grown-up and address what happened between us last year then maybe I’d back down. But instead she acts like nothing ever happened and dammit, that’s just insulting.
Because she’s not just some girl I hooked up with a while back. She’s Jenna, for God’s sake. But she wants to pretend like we’re nothing more than friends so I go along with it and occasionally piss her off just because it’s something. It’s some sign that I matter more than she lets on.
“Surprisingly enough,” I say, “I didn’t do anything. This time.”
Ethan shakes his head. “I don’t know why you poke at her the way you do.”
“Because it’s fun.” I shrug. “And it’s not like she doesn’t piss me off just as much.”
He rolls his eyes. “Are you talking about the Nelson guy again?”
“Fuck yes. I hate that guy and Jenna just goes off and sleeps with him.” I spin my beer mug around. “I hate the name Nelson.”
“Yeeeah.” Ethan purses his lips. “You care way too much about who Jenna sleeps with. That’s not healthy man.”
“I know.”
Ethan orders a drink from Cody while I take a few chugs of beer. I really shouldn’t care who Jenna sleeps with, especially since I’m no angel myself. But damn. I can’t help it. I don’t like her sharing her body with anyone else.
My phone rings again. I look at the caller ID and groan.
Earlier, I was on the phone with my frantic mother. I’ve been fielding phone calls from my family members for a week now and it’s grating on my nerves.
My mom was a wreck, babbling about how concerned she is for my brother, Drew. I thought I’d settled her down enough to tide her over for a few hours at least, but now my brother, Samson, is calling. Again. Not a good sign.
I grudgingly take the call and snap, “What?”
“Easy, bro,” says Samson. “I’m just the messenger.”
“Yeah, well I’m getting sick of all your messages.”
“What would you rather I do? Not call you? Let Drew go down on his own?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “No.”
“That’s what I thought. Drew’s in deep trouble this time, I can feel it. And Mom’s losing her shit. I need you out here.”
“No way.” I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “I left for a reason, Samson. I’m not coming back.”
His voice is strained like he’s gritting his teeth. “And just what the hell am I supposed to do without you? You know I don’t have the pull or the power that you do.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Have Drew give me a call. I’ll straighten him out.”
“That’s just the thing, man. Drew’s missing.”
My heart stops for a moment. “Mom didn’t mention that.”
“That’s because she’s in denial and refuses to accept that he’s in a mess. She thinks he’s out roaming, but you and I know better.”
Fuck.
I rub a hand over my mouth, trying not to panic. Or growl. This is exactly the shit I was trying to stay away from when I moved to Arizona. And now here I am, getting dragged right back into it.
“Fine,” I say. “I’ll come out there this week. Tell Mom to calm down, would you? If she flips out that’s just another thing to deal with.”
“Got it. I’ll see you later then.”
“Yeah.” I hang up and run a finger over my cold mug.
Drew is missing. Shit.
“You all right, dude?” Ethan asks as Cody sets his drink down.
“What? Yeah.” I rub my mouth again. “I’m fine. Just family shit.”
He takes a drink. “How come you never talk about your family?”
I stretch my neck. “Because there’s nothing to say.”
Actually there’s a ton to say, but no one would want to hear it. And frankly, I like the life I’ve made for myself out here in Arizona. No baggage to weigh me down. No family expectations lingering around me.
I pull up airfares on my phone and start scrolling through the prices. Damn, it’s expensive to fly. My eyes snap up as a thought hits me. Jenna’s heading to New Orleans and I need to go to my hometown—which is right on her way.
A slow smile spread across my face.
I might just have to tag along on Jenna’s road trip.