Danger! Bad Boy(26)

"Did someone just take their antidepressants?" I teased him.

He threw his head back and laughed. "Something like that."

His kiss was infused with happiness. I welcomed it as much as the passionate, intense kisses from earlier. Gathering our things, we took the elevator down to check out. I sensed our Vegas trip had brought us closer, but I wouldn’t miss the smoky smell in all the casinos.

Thirty minutes later, we were on the highway out of Sin City. We stopped an hour or so outside of Vegas in Mesquite, Nevada to eat a late breakfast at a diner. Caleb explained he was eager to get home so he wanted to drive the whole way today, getting us home sometime tonight.

We kept our stops to a minimum in order to make good time. A few hours outside of Denver, just over the Colorado border, it was early evening when we stopped at a fast food restaurant to use the restroom and grab some food. I told Caleb what I wanted to eat and went to the women's restroom while he ordered for us.

When I came out, his mood had changed again.



CALEB



Three hours away from Denver, we stopped at a fast food restaurant to eat. While Gianna was using the restroom, I got a text message from Julie.

Julie: Don't think to trick me, Caleb. I know your kind. My daughter better be on her way home. Call me.

I could tell Gianna was confused by my sour mood, but how did I explain? I’d been planning on breaking it all down to her before we reached home. I’d been sure she’d agree sneaking around was the best plan in dealing with Julie. In less than two years we’d been eighteen and could tell her mom to go to hell. Besides, I’d have thought of something else before then.

Now, I wasn’t so sure.

When Gianna started eating her chicken strips, I went outside to make the call. My appetite was gone. Julie answered on the second ring. "Where are you?"

"Hello to you, too, mommy dearest," I said sarcastically.

"Not for long." The distaste was evident in her voice.

I didn’t want to be infected with her poison. The crap she was putting us all through, Gianna, me and my dad, was unbelievable. Not to mention what Gianna’s little brother was experiencing being alone in that house with her. All for her screwed up vision of the perfect life she wanted for her daughter.

"We're three hours away."

"What have you told her?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing yet," I snapped at her.

"Keep it that way for now," she paused, "And don't think to try and fool me, Caleb. You won't be able to deceive me. Trying to sneak behind my back to see her won't work. Trust me, I'll use whoever I have to in order to find out. Her friends, the administration at the school, the mailman, a private detective. Whatever it takes."

"Okay psycho, you don't have to convince me."

There went that plan.

She ignored my name calling and continued, "When you arrive at the house, come inside with her. Follow my lead and don't deny anything I say."

"What are you planning?" I asked warily. Crazy ass bitch was capable of anything.

She sounded smug as she said vaguely, "Just making sure there are no loose ends." Her voice turned hard with her next words, "Don't doubt I'm sincere, Caleb. I'll send Gianna away from her family in order to secure her future. A future that does not include a loser delinquent like you."

"Screw you, Julie!"

"No more than four hours, Caleb. I'll be expecting you both."

She hung up before I could get out the rest of what I had to say to her.



GIANNA



Eating my food, I could see Caleb through the large restaurant windows, standing in the parking lot and talking on his cell phone. He appeared to be arguing with someone. I figured it was his mom or dad. They had to be pissed we’d taken off like that. I watched as he ended the call, looking like he wanted to throw his phone across the parking lot. He stalked back inside but didn't touch his food.

"Aren't you hungry?" I pointed to his hamburger and fries.

His only answer was to start eating. I finished the last of my fries and stood up with my trash. He didn’t utter a peep as I walked out of the restaurant. I wasn’t sure he even looked up from his meal. Leaning against his car, I waited for him to join me.

He exited the place a minute later, unlocking my side first then walking around the car to get behind the wheel. Once we were back on the highway, I exploded. "What the hell is your problem, Caleb?"

"I don't have a problem," he responded calmly, but I could his see his knuckles turn white from his death grip on the steering wheel.

"If you say so," I said sarcastically. Turning up the stereo, I watched the scenery out the window for the next hour. Western Colorado desert transformed into lush green mountain scenery. While passing over the Rockies, I must’ve fallen asleep because I woke up to him nudging me in the shoulder.