“It’s all about the size of the ship and motion of the ocean, brother,” I brag, running my fingers through my hair. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I tell them while heading for the door. “Oh wait, let me grab my keys.”
I walk over to the small table by the window and grab my keys, and that’s when I notice the paper and a twenty dollar bill. I grab it and bring it to my eyes.
Torch,
Thanks for last night. You weren’t bad. Have some breakfast on me.
That’s it. She didn’t even bother to sign the motherfucker. I just stare at it, unbelieving. Not bad? What the fuck is that shit? She was literally asleep during the last orgasm I gave her. Which, by the way, was like the fucking twelfth of the night for her. What the ever loving fuck? Not bad?? Jesus! If I had time, I’d find the bitch and blister her ass so hard she won’t sit for a fucking year. Not bad!
“Oh, dude! You got served!” Latch is standing beside me. Before I can react, he grabs the twenty.
“Motherfucker, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’ll just keep this for my silence.”
“Silence for what?” Sabre asks as I wad up the note and throw it on the floor, following the two of them out to our bikes.
“On the fact that poor Torch’s ship sailed into waters it couldn’t handle.”
“Shut the fuck up, Latch,” I growl, jumping on my bike and starting it up.
Shit. This is not a good start to my day. My mind should be all about finding Beth and her sister. Instead, I’m following Sabre and Latch since they have the address, and all I can do is think about Holly. That, and there’s one thing that’s bothering the fuck out of me: how did she know I’m called Torch?
“Ahh,” I moan. “There’s nothing in this world that can’t be made better by a shower,” I tell myself after finishing blow-drying my hair. I have all my things packed and I’ve called Bethie to let her know I’m okay. Now, I just need to get dressed. I find my most comfortable pair of yoga pants and slip those babies on. I look longingly at Torch’s absurd t-shirt. What the fuck do I care if people stare at me? I want to smell him around me today. I’m not going to look at that too closely. I mean, the man rocked my world last night. What woman wouldn’t want to remember that the next day? I’m apparently real adept at lying to myself; it’s a skill I’ve honed over the years.
I finish packing my makeup and toiletries and zip my satchel with a sigh. I’ve enjoyed Texas. Since escaping from the Snake and leaving France in our rearview mirror, Bethie and I have called quite a few states home. At first it was just Georgia and Kentucky because Bethie was intent on finding Skull again. After the bastard broke her heart, we broadened our horizons, figuring the safest thing to do was to get as far away from Georgia as possible. So far, Texas has been the best. We’re going to meet up in Oklahoma, but we have California in our sights. We figure we won’t stand out quite so much in a big city. We’ve gone over it and over it, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Then again, nothing in our lives has been easy. I used to think I was the one who had it worse, but not anymore.
Bethie loves Skull. She loves him so much I hear her late at night crying in her room over him. What would it be like to find the love of your life, only to be torn away from him? And then finding him again, only to find him with someone else?
Bethie says I’m strong, that she wishes she could be just like me. What she doesn’t realize is, she’s stronger than I’ll ever be.
I shove all of these thoughts behind me. I’m putting off leaving. I know I am. Driving is hard on me with my leg, but I do need to get going. I check my things one last time, then grab my satchel, my laptop carrier and jacket, then head for the door.
When I open it, I freeze. The last thing I expected to see when I opened the door was Torch.
“What are you doing here?”
“Holly?” Torch says, staring at me, just as shocked. I freeze. Fuck. I can see the exact minute understanding hits him. “That’s how you knew my name was Torch. You knew who we were and what I was doing here.”
Bluff your way through, Katie. Bluff your fucking ass off, I repeat over and over in my mind.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, ignoring the other two who stand behind him. “You told me your name. Listen, it’s cute, you showing up here and all, but I’m running late.” One problem at a time, that’s all I can handle. I lock the door, turning my back to him and acting like I don’t have a care in the world.
“Is that a fact?” asks Torch, and the tone of his voice makes me nervous.
“Afraid so, but hey, maybe we could meet up later at the bar for lunch.”
“Where are you headed… Holly?”
The way he stressed my fake name doesn’t escape me, but I soldier through. I just have to commit to my lie; I have to get to my car and get the fuck away. I know these back roads better than anyone. I can lose them; I just need to get to my jeep.