Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“We need to make an adjustment to our stretches, then,” I say. “Should I take over now?”
“No, I’ll drive until we make up for the lost mileage,” he says, looking back at me. For a moment, he looks like he’s about to say something sweet, but then he hands me a neck pillow.
“Use this and lean back before you doze off again.”
“Thank you.”
“I did it for me,” he says. “Your snoring is diabolical.”
EIGHT
TARYN
Traveling I-84 East, entering Idaho
Subject: Logo Approval.
Subject: Colors for the Riley account?
Subject: Are you not coming in today?
Subject: Call me back as soon as you see this!
I hold back a sigh as James switches lanes.
“Can you pull over for a few seconds?” I ask.
“For what?”
“I need to make a phone call.”
“Okay.” He looks at me through the rearview mirror. “Then just make the phone call.”
“It’s private and personal.”
“Then it’ll have to wait.”
“It’s about some important projects with my coworkers,” I say. “They probably want to talk shit about the boss, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to overhear what they think of him.”
He rolls his eyes and continues driving.
Then he turns up his podcast.
“Fine,” I say. “Just don’t say you weren’t warned.”
I scroll down my contacts and call Harriet.
It rings once. It rings twice.
“Are you on your way to the office?” Harriet answers with a shriek. “How close are you?”
“No, I…” I keep my voice low. “I’m headed home for the holidays, remember?”
“Remember?” She scoffs. “That has to be a joke coming from you.”
“I told the entire team that I wasn’t working this holiday season,” I say. “I left you everything you needed.”
“What we need is for you to be here whenever Mr. Calloway isn’t because you’ll save us from tons of redrafts, since you know him like the back of your hand.”
“Did you miss the part where I pre-mentioned my holiday absence?”
“We thought you meant Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Miss Stone.” Her voice is tight. “Not the days before. Will you be coming back after Christmas Day then?”
“Um…” I suddenly feel guilty. “I wasn’t planning to come back until a few days after New Year’s.”
“New Year’s!” She screams. “Are you fucking—”
Beep!
“Hello?” I ask. “Harriet, are you there?”
I glance at the screen, seeing “call ended.” Before I can call her back, she sends me a message.
Mr. Calloway is taking his first holiday vacation in YEARS, yet you’re off AGAIN…That’s why he’s CEO!
Ugh.
“Still need me to pull over for you?” James smirks. “I’ve had a sudden change of heart.”
“No…” I groan and lean back against the seat.
“Are you sure? Harriet sounded like she was really upset with her boss.”
“Just shut up and drive…”
Our cell phones buzz in unison twenty minutes later, signaling that it’s time for us to stretch and make our first switch.
Without saying a word, James taps “nearest gas station” on his screen and steers the car to the right lane.
“I think I might be able to get an Uber from here,” I say, noticing a long line of cars behind the ride-share sign. “If you think we should call it quits while we’re ahead on not killing each other.”
“I wouldn’t allow you to get into a car with a stranger.” He puts the car in park and unbuckles his seatbelt. “But if you want to see how long it would take for them to toss you out after you fall asleep, I’ll consider it.”
“Last time I checked, you’re not my boyfriend.”
“If I was, you’d be a lot less stressed and far better fucked.”
“What?”
“I said, do you want anything from inside?” He straight-up lies to my face. “I’ll grab it before pumping the gas.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“So, you don’t want anything from inside?”
“I’ll take my usual coffee, a roll of Shocktarts candy, and a couple pizza rolls if they have them, no garlic.” I pull two twenty dollar bills from my wallet and hold them out to him. “We should split the cost of gas.”
“Come again?”
“It would make things fair, and I won’t feel like I owe you,” I say. “Whenever Cameron comes into town for dinner we always split the bill on everything.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Have I ever asked you to pay for anything?”
“No.”
“Then let’s keep it that way.” He steps out and slams the door shut.
I watch him walk inside, and the cashier blushes as he approaches.
Stepping outside, I stretch my arms and move to the driver’s seat.
Several minutes later, James sets our snacks on the center console and pumps the gas, but instead of taking his place on the backseat, he sits next to me upfront.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Waiting for you to turn the ignition, so we can get one step closer to Colorado.”
“I mean up here, James.” I am not okay with him being this close to me. “What are you doing up here?”
“Getting comfortable.” He reclines his seat, and I stare at him, feeling my nipples harden against my will.