His face is handsome, no denying that.
“No one is in the mood for your bullshit platitudes.” Well, shit. I’ve never heard anyone speak to their parent like that. Ever.
I absolutely cannot help the small smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “It’s fine,” I say, waving off her feigned look of horror. Whether it’s directed at me or her son, whom I assume is Ryan, I have no idea.
“I meant no harm, dear,” his mother snaps, still looking at me. I smile, because this is just getting worse by the minute. “Please come in and meet my son,” her voice drops with obvious aggravation when she says the word son. Would it be too weird if I just ran for my car and fled?
“Thank you.”
Ryan is standing there with his large arms crossed over his larger chest, eyeing me like I’m either the answer to his prayers or the reason for his eternal damnation. Hard to gauge, actually.
“I’m Ryan,” he says as I approach the porch, his hand outstretched now to shake mine.
“Kate,” I say, slipping my much smaller one into his and allowing his entire hand to engulf mine. I swear this guy makes me feel pint-sized.
“Nice to see you again, Katie. Come in, and I’ll grab my shit.” He opens the screen door and I freeze. I thought he said he were going to talk about this first?
“Um.” He doesn’t stop walking so I’m forced to follow. “Ryan?” I call out because suddenly he’s gone. Like, nowhere to be seen, gone. There is an older man sitting on a recliner in front of the television, watching college football and completely ignoring me. “Hello,” I say hesitantly, looking around hoping to be rescued, but by what I’m not entirely sure.
“Oh, don’t mind him dear,” Jessica says, waving him away like he doesn’t exist. “Ryan will be out in a moment. Can I get you a drink? I have vodka, gin,” she starts to list on her fingers. “Oh, I can make Bloody Marys.”
“No thanks. I have to drive.” And it’s nine in the morning, I don’t add.
“Another time then.” She walks away from me into what I assume is the kitchen area, and I’m left standing in the middle of the room with a mute watching television and waiting on a guy who assumes he’s already traveling with me.
How did I get here?
And the worst part?
My first reaction is that I’d love to tell Eric all about this because he’d get the biggest kick out of it. My fingers go up to my necklace, rubbing it gently, hoping for some comfort to ebb the familiar empty twist of pain.
“All right, Katie. I’m good to go,” Ryan says, walking back into the room with a large suitcase. That’s it. The guy is moving across the country and only has one suitcase. I guess I can’t talk since I only have two boxes and two suitcases, but still.
“I thought we were going to talk about this first?” I hedge, looking down at the dark green carpet before craning my neck to meet his eyes. “You know, to see if we’re on the same page with this trip and everything?”
“Look,” he sighs, running a hand through his messy hair. “I need to get to Seattle in around four weeks, and I don’t fly,” he says that last part firmly. “You’re driving around the country. I’ve always wanted to do that, and you seem like a nice chick.” His arms cross against his chest again. “I’m not overly chatty, open to pretty much anything except country music, and have enough money that this could be a lot of fun. You in or out?”
I cross my arms to match his stance. “What’s your opinion on classic rock?”
“Could take it or leave it.”
“Do you smoke?”
“No. Do you drink?”
“Anything except beer and gin.”
He tilts his head, considering my answer. “I guess I can live with that.”
“I have a list of places I want to visit, and I don’t do nasty-ass motels that never wash the linens.”
He nods in agreement. “I’m cool with both of those stipulations, as long as they include DC, New Orleans, Vegas, and SoCal.”
All seem reasonable and were already on my list.
And he’s tall and foreboding.
He could kick the ass of anyone we come across. As much as I hate to admit it, traveling across the country by myself is not the safest. I sigh internally, because I have no idea what I’m in for with this guy.
“All right. Let’s go.”
“Awesome,” he grins. “I won’t even complain about the Prius.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Smart move.”
“Yeah. Though I’m sure it’s super fun to drive and all, I guess the whole saving on gas thing is a good idea.”
“It’s not bad. You’ll be pleasantly surprised,” I grin back.
“Katie.” He tilts his head like I’m crazy. “I’m six-foot-three. Something tells me that pleasantly surprised with regards to riding in a Prius across the country is not what I’ll be feeling.”
I shrug. “Yeah. Maybe not. But that’s the situation so…,” I trail off, turning away from him and heading toward the door past the strange, mute, football-watching, older man.
“Bye, darlings,” Jessica calls out from the doorway of the kitchen, with what I assume is a Bloody Mary in hand.
“Bye, Mrs. Grant,” I smile at her, and she holds her drink up to me in salute.
“Later, Mom. I’ll call.” I get the feeling he doesn’t mean it. He said it like it was a blanket statement instead of a promise. “Bye, Dad.” No response, so I don’t say anything because I was never introduced. “At least you got dark gray instead of some bitch color like powder blue or red.” He’s referring to my car, so I ignore him.
“We should probably discuss a flight plan.”
“Nope,” he shakes his head. “Not my style, Katie.” He tosses his suitcase in the trunk next to mine and slams the hatch closed. “Though I will recommend going to D.C. tonight, because it’s close and I have a friend there who will spend a lot of money and take us out.”
He settles into the passenger seat, sliding it back as far as it can go so his ridiculously long legs stretch as best they can.
“I’m good with DC I haven’t been since I was a child.” My hands grip the wheel. “What’s your timetable like for this trip?”
He shrugs absently, buckling his seat belt and checking his phone. “Like I said, I’ve got to be there in a little under four weeks.”
“Okay,” I nod, but I still haven’t started the car yet. I feel like I need to come clean with the guy a little. “My plan with this whole thing is to drive around the country and find a place where I eventually want to live.” He looks over at me with interest. “I’m…done with Boston, and don’t really know where I want to go yet.” He’s staring at me, and I feel like a strange specimen on display, but I hold his eyes as I continue. “I’ll get you to Seattle, but I may want to spend more or less time in a particular place. Are you cool with that?”
His eyes bore into mine for a minute, but then the severity in them lightens as he shrugs. “Katie, I’m down for whatever you have planned. I promise. I’ve always wanted to travel the country, and unless you turn into a psycho crazy girl, or super clingy in love, then I think we’ll have some fun together.”