After Denver, we're headed to Yellowstone.
Because not only has the little twerp grown on me, but shamefully, so has Jillian. I think about those two kisses and what more could potentially come from that, knowing deep down, I'm not put out one bit by spending extra time on the road. I've finally given in to the notion that this trip might not be so bad after all.
"How many more times are you going to use that "he's dying" thing when you want something?" I ask her with a mock glare. "Because that will get old at some point."
Jillian laughs, and it's warm and husky. It makes my entire body flush with tingles. "Maybe I'll have to figure out some other inducement to offer you then."
Yeah, I could get on board with that.
♦
We're cruising north to Denver where we'll be going further north into Wyoming rather than west to Boise, but whatever. An extra day or five isn't going to matter in the grand scheme of things. I'm committed to this trip now.
Since I'm not smoking, the windows are up and the air conditioning is blasting. We're into our sixth round of 21 Questions.
"Is it a person?" I ask.
Jillian says, "No. That's one."
"A place?" Connor says from the back.
"No. That's two," Jillian responds as her fingers drum against her thigh to music playing on low volume. Good song too … Somebody Told Me by The Killers. As the driver, I get sole choice of the music. I have my iPhone plugged into the auxiliary audio so I can play what I want.
Back to my turn as Barb isn't playing. She has her earbuds in, bopping to some unknown song as she looks out the window. "An object?"
"Yes," Jillian admits slowly. "Three questions down."
"Bigger than a house?" Connor guesses.
"Yes," she says, now sounding nervous. "That's four."
"In the United States?" I try to narrow it down.
"Yes," she mutters. "Five."
"The Empire State Building," Connor says from the back.
"Damn it," Jillian grumbles as she slouches down in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest. "How can you make such lucky guesses?"
I chuckle because the kid is really good at this game. It's probably just luck, which is weird because I'd call him anything but lucky given his circumstances.
"Want to play again?" Connor asks.
"No," Jillian and I say in unison. Turning, we grin at each other. The game kind of sucks, but it's to keep Connor busy so he doesn't gab about inane things.
One thing I've realized about Connor during this road trip, especially now that he seems to be feeling better than that first day, is that he needs something to do. He can't just sit quietly and look at the scenery. He practically buzzes with energy, and maybe that's his body's way of compensating for all the things he has to accomplish before he dies.
"Hey, Barb," Connor says, and I glance into the rearview mirror as he leans toward her to nudge her arm.
Barb pulls out the earbud that's closest to Connor, not even glaring at him which is strange but I'll count as progress on her end. She just lifts her eyebrows and asks, "What's up?"
"What are you listening to?" he asks.
My eyes flick back to Barb through the mirror as she growls, "None of your business," before she stuffs the bud back in.
Undaunted and perhaps feeling more secure that Barb won't slit his throat since she actually tried to save him from Keith last night, I watch as Connor grins mischievously and pulls the earbud out. He quickly leans closer before Barb can even object and puts it up to his ear.
My eyes go back and forth between the road and the mirror to see what happens.
"You little fucker," Barb snarls as she pulls the bud back from him. "Give me that."
Connor's face goes slack with awe as he stares at Barb with big eyes. "Whoa. You listen to Taylor Swift?"
This gets Jillian's attention, and she actually undoes her seatbelt to turn all the way around in her seat to look at them.
"She listens to Taylor Swift?" Jillian asks with astonishment.
"Yeah," Connor says as if he's seen the Second Coming of Christ.
"What song was it?"
"Shake It Off."
Jillian's head nods up and down. "Excellent choice."
I have no clue what the fuck they're talking about. I mean, I know who Taylor Swift is but I can't say I've ever listened to one of her songs. I prefer rock and grunge.
Another flick of my eyes to the mirror and I see Barb glaring at Jillian, which is why she can't react when Connor grabs her iPhone, deftly pulling the plug to the earbuds out. He hands the phone to Jillian and says, "Plug it in. Let's all sing it."
"Goddamn it," Barb snarls as she makes a lunge for the phone, but Jillian's quick. She flips around in her seat, pulls the cord out of my phone without asking for permission, and plugs Barb's in. When she gives the screen a tap, the beginning notes of a song starts.
Jillian reaches forward, turning the volume knob way up, and my car fills with nasty-ass pop music. But I let it go because of three things. Connor's bouncing in his seat and singing, Jillian's turned halfway in hers, grinning back at Connor as she shakes her shoulders back and forth to the beat, but most importantly because Barb is now slouched down in her seat, arms crossed over her chest, with the sourest look on her face.
My scar pinches. I don't even bother fighting the smile that comes to my face as I turn my attention back to the road and let Jillian and Connor have their moment.
"Come on, Barb," I hear Connor yell above the music. "Sing it with us."
My eyes flick quickly to the mirror long enough to see Connor give Barb's shoulder a slight push to get her to move.
Back to the road, back to the mirror.
"Please, Barb," Connor practically whines as he pushes at her. "It's on my bucket list … to have you sing with me. And I'm dying."
God, he's ruthless. I wince as I look to the road. When I glance at Jillian, she looks back at me with amusement over Connor's tactics. I quickly flick my eyes back to the mirror. That was a low blow and for a moment I don't think Barb is moved.
She glares at Connor, and then miraculously, she gives a roll of her eyes and a huge sigh. Turning to look at Jillian she says, "Crank it louder. My singing voice sucks."
"Awesome," Connor shouts as Jillian turns that hideous song up.
And before I know it, all three of them are singing and bopping in their seats to the song.
But I keep cruising,
Can't stop, won't stop moving
I drive and let them have their fun, keeping most of my attention on the road but sneaking glances at Jillian since she's the best thing to look at. And yes, the smile stays on my face and I don't begrudge it.
My eyes flick to the mirror to look at Barb again, as she's the odd duck here, and I find her staring back at me. She must know I'm smiling because I'm sure she can see my eyes crinkled in the mirror's reflection. She flips me off but not before she smirks and looks out the window as she continues to sing along with Jillian and Connor.
Chapter 15
It's dark by the time I pull the Suburban up to our campsite on the western side of Denver. I'd left here with Barb about an hour ago after I'd built a quick fire and left instructions with Jillian and Connor on how to keep it going. I also told them to try to put their tent up, but I'd help them when I got back if they couldn't.
Then I told Barb to get in the car, and we took off to the nearest pot dispensary, which I'd Googled before we left. Without a Colorado driver's license, a person twenty-one or older could purchase seven grams. I brought her so we could get double, giving us close to thirty joints. I thought I'd be saddened to purchase from a legal dispensary because that goes against the whole anti-establishment, criminal thing I got going on, but I was actually glad.
Glad I'm in a state that legalized pot, so we can get Jillian high tonight.
As my headlights sweep across our campsite, I'm pleased to see that Connor and Jillian were able to get their huge-ass tent set up. Connor had watched me carefully the first time I'd put it up, assisting when he could. He's a pretty bright dude so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised he figured it out on his own. The fire is still going strong, and I see they're working on my tent.
Awesome.
Barb and I exit my SUV. The ride to and from the dispensary was without conversation. Barb had put her earbuds in but before she secured them, I'd asked, "Want me to put some Taylor Swift on?"
She growled back at me. "Bite me."
I'd laughed, played some Alice in Chains, and we'd made the trip in companionable silence.
I go to the rear of my car and open the tailgate, pulling my duffle bag out. I also grab the two bags of groceries from a quick stop we'd made at a small market up the road. I bought as much junk food as I could because if we're smoking tonight, we're going to get the munchies.
"Need any help?" Connor asks as he rounds the back of my vehicle.
I push the groceries at him as well as my duffle bag. "Yeah … take these. I'll grab the cooler."
I'd stocked that with beer and ice at the store. I intended to get smashed tonight.
We dine on hot dogs roasted over the fire, the conversation pretty much carried between Jillian and Connor. As per usual, Barb and I don't offer much, but it's different for me this time. I usually don't participate because I'm pissed at being strong armed to do so. But tonight, I just endured enjoyed listening as Jillian and Connor exhibit the easy-going friendship they've developed. No clue what Barb is thinking, but rather than sequester herself away from us, she's stayed seated at the picnic table long after she took her last bite of hot dog.