“You keep yawning.”

I glance at Katie and shrug. “I didn’t get much sleep last night,” I admit.

“Me neither.”

She looks at me, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she realizes what she’s saying. I smirk when she blushes, because we’re both thinking about that god-awful song.

It’s just past seven in the evening and we’re almost halfway home. I glance in the mirror at Darcy and Lily, who are both asleep. Every so often Lily lets out a string of incoherent mumbling, but she doesn’t wake up. I’m actually impressed with how soundly she’s slept. And relived, because a sleeping Lily is less likely to cause me trouble. I just hope sleeping all day doesn’t mean she’ll be awake all night. Especially if we have to stop somewhere, or I might just have to call in Katie to clean up a crime scene.

I glance at her. “Is it hard?”

She looks at me, an alarmed expression on her face. When her eyes dart down to my crotch, I laugh. Her face goes red, but she recovers quickly, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Your job,” I clarify, still amused.

“Most of the time I can separate myself from what’s obviously happened.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I could do it. Cleaning up tragedy after tragedy, especially when you know it could’ve been prevented.” She frowns at me. I shrug. “What? I don’t always have a smart remark.”

“Anything involving kids is hard.” She pauses for a moment and looks out the window. “I went to a car crash last week. The other driver was drunk and he hit a van head on, killing himself and a family of four. I broke down when I saw this small, blood-soaked teddy bear. It was lying in the middle of the road, away from the car.”

She looks down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting, before meeting my eyes again.

“The little girl was only two.”

“Fuck,” I mutter.

I’m not sure what else to say. I regret bringing it up at all. Lucky for me, she fills the silence.

“I’ve seen some weird and fucked-up things too,” she admits.

“Well, that has my attention.” I grin. I’ll be asking you about those later.”

“There’s a motel coming up. We should stop,” she says.

I was hoping to drive for at least another couple of hours, but the little sleep I got last night is beginning to take its toll on me. As much as I’m using my mother as an excuse for Julian, I really do want to visit her at the hospital. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, and I feel bad about it, even though it’s out of my control. I’m all she has. Even though there were more low points than highs, growing up, I still love her, and I’ll always do what I can to help her.

“It’s barely seven,” I argue. “I’m fine to keep going—”

“You’re fine, right up until someone like me has to come in to scrape our bodies off the road,” she argues. “What difference does it make if we stop? You’ll still get back for the wedding in time.”

I rub my head. I think she argues for the sake of arguing, sometimes.

Either that, or she does it just to mess with me.

“I’m starting to wonder if you’re trying to get me alone to take advantage—”

“Alone?” She snorts then rolls her eyes in the direction of Lily and Darcy. “What are you going to do, lock the two of them in the trunk?”

“You think I could get away with it?” I grin.

“The way Lily snores, unlikely,” Katie jokes. “So, does that mean we’re stopping?”

“Why not? Let’s see how many of your fantasies I can make come true in one night,” I say, only half joking.

I’m looking forward to seeing what buttons I can push next.

I check us in, taking the only room they have left that’s big enough to accommodate all four of us—but only after Katie confirms the trunk idea isn’t going to happen.

The room is nothing special. It’s in desperate need of an update, with its faded bed covers and worn carpet, but it’s clean and I’m fucking exhausted. I think I’m even tired enough to get to sleep quickly, which would be unusual for me—but only after I’m done making Katie squirm.

“Lily and I will take the bunks,” Darcy yells out.

She leads a still very hungover and sorry for herself Lily into their room. I smirk at the exaggerated wink she gives Katie. Could she be more obvious?

I saunter over to where Katie stands in front of the king bed. She stares at it, anxiously chewing on her bottom lip. I stare at it too, fighting to keep the amusement off my face. I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Left or right?”

“Excuse me?”

“Which side do you want?” I ask patiently. “I’m easy. But I should warn you, I’ll end up all over the place. Some people have wandering hands. I have wandering everything.”

“Then maybe you can wander your way out to the car and sleep there?” she suggests. “I hear the trunk is comfortable.”

“Fine,” I say with a grin. “I never expected to share the bed with you.” She looks relieved. “You can have the floor.”

Her eyebrows shoot up so fast I think they’re going to fly off.

“I’m kidding.” I chuckle. “The bed is all yours.”

“Adam?” Darcy calls out.

I’m still laughing when I walk into the other room to see what she wants. She’s on the top bunk, while Lily sits on the floor. I’m surprised to see she’s awake, though she’s looking pretty ordinary.

“Can you help me get her up here?” Darcy asks.

I place Lily’s arm around my neck and grunt as I hoist her up onto the top bunk. Darcy tucks her in while I shake my head. That felt harder than it needed to be.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to put her in the bottom bed?” I ask.

“Easier, yes. But it’s going to be so much more amusing when she rolls out of this one.”

“I can hear you,” Lily grumbles.

“Good.” Darcy gives me an evil grin and I can’t help but chuckle. “I’m kidding. I just thought if she’s up here, then I’ll know if she tries to sneak out.”

Smart.

“I can still hear you,” Lily mutters again. She rolls over in a huff. “I’d be more worried about the vomit shower you’re likely to get with me up here.”

Darcy turns green, then switches her attention to me.

“Hey, maybe I should sleep out there with—”

“Night, Darcy and Lily,” I say, closing the door.

“It’s not even eight,” Darcy protests. “What about dinner?”

Katie sits on the bed, her legs crossed, studying her phone, so I saunter over to the mini bar to see what’s on offer. As it turns out, not much, other than some scotch that looks strangely similar to old tea. I examine the tiny bottle from every angle, the broken ring around the neck the only confirmation I need that drinking it will lead to disappointment and pain.

“I’ve never been so disappointed in a mini bar,” I murmur, bowing my head.

“Really?” She laughs. “Isn’t that the golden rule of traveling on a budget? Avoid cheap hotel minibars?” she teases.

“I guess I wouldn’t know, not with all the five-star luxury I have to put up with,” I boast. “I’m guessing room service isn’t an option?”

“Oh, be careful.”

She points at the floor, just below where I’m standing. Frowning, I look down, but there’s nothing there.

“I’d hate for all that blood on your hands to mess up the carpet.”

I laugh, embarrassed I actually fell for that. I give the mini bar a chance to redeem itself by reaching for a candy bar. I wince as I unwrap it, because I’m pretty sure Hershey bars aren’t supposed to be white. I examine the packaging and laugh. It’s three years out of date. I give up and walk over to the bed and sit down.

“Maybe I should take your phone as collateral .” I smirk. “Just to make sure you don’t run off with the car or something.”

She glowers at me, then reaches for her bag. She grabs her purse and pulls out her license, thrusting it in my face.

“That’s the only collateral you’re getting from me,” she says.

I take it from her and study it. The photo is a few years old and quite unflattering. She frowns at me when I laugh.

“You look like you’re standing in a crowded elevator, and you’ve just let one go,” I explain

“Hey.”

She tries her best to look annoyed by my comment, but her lips curve into an unwilling smile. She scoots closer to study the photo, her arm brushing past my leg. I shiver, too busy watching her face as she laughs to read much into my reaction, but I can’t deny there’s a spark there.

“Actually, it’s fine.” I hand it back to her. “I just remembered I still have …” I smirk at her. “Something else.”

“What—”

The confusion on her face lifts. She glares at me. Her eyes flash, but I swear I see amusement hiding in there too.

“You forwarded it to yourself, didn’t you?” she hisses.

“Of course I did.” I shrug, like there was no other option. “The idea that you wrote that for me when you were fourteen is fucking adorable. It’s even cuter than the GIF Julian sent me last week of a mouse putting on a tiny sweater.”

She stares at me, her expression alternating between anger and curiosity.

“He actually puts the sweater on?”

I nod. “All by himself. You’re dying to see it, aren’t you?”

I raise my eyebrows and nod, but she shrugs like she doesn’t care. She totally does, though. Finally she sighs.

“Just show me the mouse.”

I laugh and reach for my phone. It’s been off all day, so it takes a couple of moments for it start up. I kept it off while driving because I was paranoid about someone calling Frederick. I got away with it once, but I’d have a hard time convincing her a second time. I check my messages first. I frown when an alert pops up.

Voicemail full.

How the fuck is it full?

I call through to my messages, sure it’s just a computer error, but it’s not. I have twenty-nine new messages waiting for me. I click play, distracted by Katie, who starts laughing uncontrollably. When the first message starts to play, I narrow my eyes at her.

“Hey Adam, this is Darren. I’m six four, two hundred pounds,nice and hairy, just like you requested. I’ve never really done much involving manual anal stimulation, but I’m always up for new experiences.” He laughs nervously. “Anyway, photos are coming. With any luck, you will be too. Give me a call and we’ll set something up.”

I stare at my phone in shock.

Manual anal stimulation?

What the fuck was that?

“Is something wrong?” Katie’s voice shakes.

I narrow my eyes, because she can’t even look at me.

“You did this,” I accuse her.

“What?” She winks at me. “You can’t take a joke?”

“Really?” I chuckle, because she has no idea what she’s unleashing. “You know you’re going to regret this, right?”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I just played you like a violin.” She giggles, like she’s pretty proud of herself. “

Maybe you’re the one who’ll regret it?”

I laugh, because I’m kind of impressed. I never would’ve thought she’d have the nerve to pull something like this off. To be honest, it’s kind of turning me on.

“So, do you want to tell me what you did?”

“I put an ad for you on Craigslist.” She leans back against the pillows, her eyes dancing. She grabs her phone. “Here.”

I read the ad aloud.

“Male. Twenty-six, seeking another male for adventurous fun times. I’m into risk taking and sexual gratification—bonus points if we do them together. Specific interests in pegging, bootlegging and anal stimulation. My ideal man is well-built, hairy and at least ten inches.”

I pause and raise my eyebrows at her.

“You asked for proof of size?” I narrow my eyes at her as she giggles. “That explains the random dick pics.” Her giggles turn into full-on laughter. “Getting my revenge is going to be fun.”

“You think your empty threats scare me?” she taunts, smirking at me.

“I think they should.” I chuckle.

“Go ahead and do whatever you want to me.” She shrugs. “I’ll fire right back. This is just a taste of what I can do.”

Do whatever I want, huh?

Her laughter suddenly stops. She looks down, then lifts her gaze to mine.

She hesitates. “Can I still see the mouse?”

We order takeout, our options limited to pizza and pizza, and have it delivered. Darcy joins us long enough to scarf down half the food. Lily doesn’t surface from the room at all.

After we’ve eaten, Darcy stands up and yawns.

“I can barely keep awake.”

It’s nearly ten, but I’m pretty sure she just thinks Katie wants to be alone with me.

Or Katie told her she wants to be alone with me …

“Night guys. See you tomorrow.”

She smiles at Katie, who rolls her eyes.

“I think I might try and get some sleep, too” she says.

“Probably a good idea. I’m an early riser,” I warn her.

Her cheeks redden as she takes her bag and disappears into the bathroom. I laugh, because I wasn’t even trying to be dirty. Now that I think about it, though, it’s true whichever way you look at it. I throw some pillows on the floor, along with a blanket, then I lie down. I wince at how hard the floor is. Katie walks out, switching off the lights on the way to the bed.

Five minutes later, my back begins to seize. I stand back up and wander around the room with my hands clasped behind my head. I’m trying to stretch the muscles out, but it’s not helping. Jesus, all I want to do is catch a few hours’ sleep, but I just know it’s not going to come that easily.

The lights are off, so I peel off my clothes and climb back into my makeshift bed. I grunt and roll over onto my stomach, trying to make myself comfortable. I think I’ve got myself in a position I can handle, but half an hour later, I’m still awake. I lie there and stare at the ceiling. I shake my head, because that song …

God, whenever I think about it, I cringe for her. She’s the last person I expected to be road tripping with, but I’ve got to admit, I’m enjoying myself. The truth is, I do remember.

I remember everything about her and everything I did to her and believe it or not, I really do regret it. The funny thing is I started picking on her because I liked her. I got it in my head that she would never go for someone like me and my natural reaction was to pretend it wasn’t happening. The old saying boys only tease you because they like you floats into my mind. If that’s true, then I must have fucking worshipped her.

Cursing, I roll onto my other side when my back starts to ache again. This is fucking ridiculous. I’m regretting not taking Darcy up on her suggestion of me sleeping in there. Lily’s snoring aside, I’d have a better chance at sleep than this.

“You can get up here if you want.”

I look up into the darkness, surprised to hear her offer.

“Are you sure?”

“Just to clarify. This is to sleep. I’m asking you up here because I feel sorry for you.”

“And I’ll take your pity over this hard floor.” I grin.

I get up and walk over to the bed. I’m just able to make her out in the darkness as I slide under the covers. She’s pushed over to one side, like she’s afraid of getting too close to me.

“Can’t sleep?” I ask.

“No. Too wound up, I guess.”

“There’s a button you can press for that.” I can’t resist baiting her, even if it lands me back on the floor. “I can show you where it is, if you like.”

“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure I can find it on my own.”

“I imagine you’d be pretty good at it.” I grin, unable to resist the urge to keep messing with her. “All that waiting for the right guy to come along—”

“You’re awfully chatty for someone who was so tired they couldn’t drive straight,” she retorts, cutting me off.

“I guess getting some fresh air woke me up a little.” I smile into the darkness. “You want to help tire me out again?”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” she says dryly.

“I think you’ll find you just did.”

“Good night, Adam.”

“Night, Katie,” I murmur. “Sweet dreams.”

After a few minutes of silence and listening to her toss and turn, I can’t resist.

“Still not asleep?”

“Obviously not.”

“Any reason?” I ask, ignoring her frustrated tone.

“Yes. You won’t shut up.” She sighs. “You’re one of those people who talks right through a movie, aren’t you?”

“Not usually.” I pause. “But with you, I probably would. Just to annoy you.”

“Annoying me excites you that much?”

“Lots of things about you excite me,” I murmur with a smile.

“You’re so frustrating,” she groans.

“Don’t forget attractive,” I warn. “And sexy. Well endowed—”

“I never said you were well endowed,” she says with a laugh.

“Are you saying I’m not?” I ask.

“No, I—”

“Well, there you are, then.”

She sighs and then groans into her pillow. “What do I have to do to shut you up?”

I pause and consider that. “So, this might seem like an odd request …”

“God knows why I even asked that question,” she grumbles.

“… but can you tickle my back?”

She laughs, but then stops when I don’t join in.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.” I chuckle. I really am serious. “It’s one of the few things that relaxes me. The more I stress about getting to sleep, the more I can’t.”

She doesn’t say anything, but then I feel the bed move as she rolls over. I close my eyes and sigh, the feel of her fingernails sliding over my back, incredible. My body tingles against her touch as she draws circles over my skin. I’m loving every second of it. It’s definitely doing something to me, but I’m not sure relaxing is the right word.

“God, I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she mutters. “Is it at least working?”

“Oh, it’s working all right.” I chuckle. “If I roll over, you’ll see just how much.”

“And I’m done.”

“Hey.”

I roll onto my back when she whacks me across the shoulder. She climbs out of the bed in a huff, and lies down on the floor, throwing the blanket over herself while I laugh.

“What did I say?”