Side Trip(53)

He held up his hands. “Not together, but sort of. Trust me?”

She chewed on her lower lip. “I shouldn’t, but all right.”

Warmth expanded inside him under the sunrays of his tattoo, and not because she agreed to play along. Her trust meant a lot to him, which also meant he wanted to keep this good vibe going between them. “Watch me sing tonight?”

She beamed. “I’d love to,” she said.

“Excellent.” He grinned and tried to give back her keys.

“Uh-uh.” She avoided his offer, opening the passenger door. “I can’t wait to watch tonight, but you’re still driving. I’m sun-fried.”

“You got it.”

He sank into the driver’s seat, adjusted the chair and mirrors, then drove to Oklahoma City and directly to the bar where he had his gig. Joy placed two orders of buffalo wings and fries for them and he cleaned off his plate. Done with dinner, he used the bar’s pay phone to call Rick, because Rick was a dick.

“I’m here. Starting in a few.”

He then slammed down the phone and invited Joy to sit at a table right in front of the stage. He needed her there. He needed to focus on her until he could get a grip on his nerves. Luckily, the turnout was small. It was a Sunday night. The gig was over and done in a heartbeat, and surprisingly, he enjoyed performing.

He needed more nights like that.

After he played, and after he checked in again with Rick, they drove an hour or so northeast, looking for the perfect turnoff. A nervous energy moved through him like a pending storm. He hoped she’d be down with this. If not, he’d find them a hotel and charge her room to his card. It was the least he could do. It was past midnight. She looked wiped. He could tell she wanted to crash.

A dirt side road through a field of overgrown crops crept up. Perfect, exactly what he’d been looking for.

Dylan slowed and turned off the highway. He drove for another several hundred yards, then stopped. He lowered the top, turned off the engine, and cut the lights.

“Dylan, what’s going on?” Joy asked nervously.

“We’re sleeping under the stars.”





CHAPTER 19





BEFORE


Joy

Somewhere one hour northeast of Oklahoma City

Joy’s parents had two hard rules when it came to inviting boys over: the bedroom door remained open and no touching. In her dad’s words, “The bed is too much of a temptation if you’ve got your hands all over each other. I want grandkids, but not until you show me your degree, get a steady job, and can afford your own health insurance.”

Judy typically met their dad’s rules with an eye roll, but she obeyed them. If she’d known how often Joy and Taryn eavesdropped on her and her boyfriends, she would have broken their dad’s rules long before Todd came along, and kept her door shut.

Two days before Kent Dulcott’s graduation party, Judy had invited Todd over after her last final exam. She wanted to change into her bathing suit before they met up with friends at Layla’s swim party. Joy’s dad was at work, her mom had just left to grocery shop, and Judy was in her room with Todd, fending off his hands, giggling. Joy and Taryn crouched outside Judy’s doorway, holding in their own giggles.

Joy heard the smack of lips, a steady intake of breath, and the rustle of clothing.

“Todd, stop. Joy’s still here,” Judy said in a loud whisper.

“But your parents aren’t.”

Taryn puckered her lips and fake kissed the air. Joy snorted. She clamped a hand over her mouth. Had her sister heard her? She’d rat Joy out again if she caught Joy spying.

“She’ll tell on us,” Judy argued.

Joy gaped at Taryn. No she wouldn’t, unless Judy refused to drive her to Taryn’s cabin Saturday night. She still had to ask her sister for the ride, but with finals and senior graduation activities, Joy hadn’t seen much of Judy lately.

Joy peeked around the doorjamb. Judy sat on the edge of the bed, bent over as she untied her white sneaker. Todd lay on his side, stretched across the quilted bedspread. He rubbed Judy’s back, then ribs. His hand meandered up to her breast and copped a feel at the same instant he looked toward the doorway. He dropped his hand and Joy quickly leaned against the hallway wall, out of view, hoping she hadn’t been seen.

“What?” Taryn silently asked.

Joy pressed a finger against her lips. She didn’t want to miss their conversation.

“What time are you going to Kent’s on Saturday?” Judy asked Todd.

“Noon.”

“That early?”

“I told you, baby. I’m helping Kent and his parents set up.”

“I was hoping for more alone time with you after Callie’s brunch.”

“You’ll have me all night at the party.”

“Let’s be daring and go for a midnight swim,” Judy suggested. “Naked.”

“You want to skinny-dip, baby?” Todd made a noise in the back of his throat. Joy heard more kissing, a zipper, then Todd’s groan. “Hold that thought.”

Joy and Taryn stared wide-eyed at each other. Judy and Todd’s conversation had taken a turn down a lane Joy didn’t want to travel, or hear. Todd and Judy skinny-dipping? Gross. She didn’t need that image in her head.