Road Trouble Read online

My muscles stiffen at his words, but then relax. "You won't hurt me."

  "You're right. I won't. But you didn't know that when you stopped. So why'd you do it? Why are you helping me?"

  "Because you need it." I take a bandage out of my box along with the antibiotic cream. "Plus, you're kinda cute."

  He laughs. I like his laugh. It's deep and real and makes me smile.

  "Because I'm cute? Seriously?"

  I shrug. "I didn't say it was the only reason."

  When I look up, I see a smile on his face. A wide, friendly smile that shows off his sparkling white teeth and lights up his formerly serious face.

  "Are you blind?" He points to himself. "Have you seen me?"

  I laugh. "I'm not blind. Never mind. I shouldn't have said it."

  "I'm a filthy mess and I'm sure I smell. If this is what you consider cute, I'd hate to see ugly."

  "Well, consider this. We're in a very small town where there isn't much selection when it comes to men so your pool of competition is small."

  "Ah." He nods in understanding. "Now it makes sense. New guy in town? Something new to look at?"

  "Exactly. And I get the feeling you clean up okay."

  "Trust me, this is the worst I've ever looked."

  It makes me wonder what led to him looking this way. Why he ended up along the side of the road. Why he's renting this house in the middle of nowhere. I want to ask him about all those things, but it's not the time. He's finally talking to me, letting his guard down a little. If I ask him anything too personal, I'm afraid he'll shut down again.

  I grab a wet wipe. "Let's get this cut fixed before you have blood running down your face."

  He turns toward me, leaning his head down slightly so I can reach.

  "Can I touch you without you throwing a fit like you did before?"

  He smiles. "I didn't throw a fit, but yes, go ahead."

  I gently move his hair aside and blot at the bloody cut.

  He cringes slightly.

  "Does it hurt?" I ask.

  "Just stings. I'll be fine."

  I continue to blot the blood, and when it's all wiped away, I see it's more of a gash than a cut, which is probably why it keeps bleeding.

  "You should see a doctor," I tell him. "You need stitches."

  He backs away. "I don't need stitches."

  "Hey, I'm not done yet." I set the wet wipe down and grab the antibiotic cream. "Get back here."

  He leans forward again. "Can you hurry this up?"

  "Why? You have someplace you need to be?"

  "No, but I'm tired. And I'm covered in dirt. I want to shower and go to bed."

  The terse tone he used earlier is back. His guard is going up again. I can feel it.

  "Sorry," I mutter as I dab the ointment on. "I'll try to go faster."

  "No." His hand wraps gently around my wrist. "I don't want to rush you. Take your time."

  "But you just said—"

  "I know. I shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry. I'm just...uncomfortable." His eyes drop to the ground.

  "With me?"

  He releases my wrist. "With this."

  "With what?"

  "You doing this. Helping me. Without..."

  "Without what?"

  His eyes lift back to mine. "Without wanting something."

  "What would I want?"

  He shakes his head. "I don't know. Never mind." He stands up. "Anyway, thanks for your help."

  "I'm not finished." I take the bandage and stand up, facing him. "Hold still." I peel the strip off the bandage and slowly and carefully apply it over his cut, which has started to bleed again. "I really think you need stitches."

  He grabs my wrists.

  "What are you—"

  "I don't need stitches," he says as he takes my hands from his face and lowers them to my side.

  "I think you do."

  "Are you a doctor?"

  "No, but you shouldn't still be bleeding like that. That cut's at least a few days old."

  He slowly releases my wrists. "I'll be fine."

  "And what if you're not?"

  "Then I'll go find my nosy new neighbor and see if she'll help me again."

  I stifle a laugh. "I'm not nosy. Just wait until you meet the other people in town. Talk about nosy. Except they don't directly ask you anything. Instead they make up their own stories based on rumors and gossip." I roll my eyes. "It's what I hate most about living here."

  "So why do you live here?"

  "Long story."

  "How long have you been here?"

  "Now who's the nosy one?" I ask kiddingly.

  "How long?"

  "A few weeks."

  He nods. "Earlier you acted like I was crazy for moving here, and yet you did the same thing."

  "Only because I had to," I mumble.

  "The reason being..." He waits for me to answer. When I don't, he says, "Part of that long story?"

  "Yeah. I'll tell you later. Actually, I'm sure someone in town will tell you before I do."

  "People in town know?"

  My phone dings. It's a text from Nina, asking where I am. "I have to go."

  "Hot date?" he asks with a smile.

  I smile back. "You ask too many questions."

  As we've been talking, we've somehow managed to get closer, standing just a few inches apart.

  "So you have to go," he says, his eyes locking on mine.

  I stare back at him, my heart racing at record speed, my breath struggling to catch up. There's an undeniable attraction between us, but it's more than that I'm feeling. There's this spark, like the spark of electricity you feel in the air right before a storm. I felt it when we met and I feel it again now.

  If he wasn't so sweaty and dirty, I think he might kiss me right now. It'd be completely inappropriate and extremely bold, but Kyle seems like someone who takes risks and doesn't hold back.

  "I have to go meet someone," I tell him. "Besides, you don't want me to stay. Just a few minutes ago you were telling me to go away."

  "True." He pauses, leaning even closer to me. "So go."

  "I will." I'm breathing hard, staring into his eyes, feeling the heat from his body.

  This sounds completely crazy, but I really want to kiss him. I know I shouldn't, but I'm clearly not thinking straight because I lean over to do it, then stop suddenly when my phone dings. I look down at it and see another text from Nina. I can't read all the words but I see lots of exclamation points.

  "Shit." I quickly text, Be there soon! Then I gather up my first aid supplies and stuff them in the box.

  "See you later." I turn and walk back to my car.

  Kyle catches up to me. "Hey, where do you live?"

  "Down the street." I toss the box in the back seat.

  "I mean, which house? What's your address?"

  I shut the door and lean against the car. "Why do you want to know?"

  He shrugs. "In case I want to borrow a cup of sugar."

  "You bake?" I ask, trying to suppress a laugh.

  "No. But maybe I'll start."

  "Then I'd suggest getting your supplies at Vindervott's."

  He gives me a funny look. "What the hell is that?"

  "The grocery store in town. It's small but has everything you need."

  "Including magic wands?"

  I pause to figure out what he means, then laugh. "Not Voldemort's. Vindervott's. It's named after the guy who opened it like a hundred years ago. Some other guy owns it now." I smile. "But I liked your Harry Potter reference."

  "You read the books, I assume?"

  "A long time ago. I'm a little surprised that you did."

  "You don't think I read?"

  "It's not that. I just didn't think you'd read Harry Potter. It doesn't seem like your genre, not that I know you well enough to tell. It's more of a guess."

  "You're right. It's not what I'd typically read. But I read them to my—" He stops suddenly.

  "Your what?"

  He pauses, then says, "Never mind. You should get going." He opens the car door for me.

  "Thanks," I say as I get in.

  "Have fun on your date." He gives me a wink. "Hope he's as cute as I am."

  "I can't make that judgment until you're cleaned up and I can actually see you from behind all the dirt."

  "I'll work on that." He backs away as I start the engine.

  "Bye, Kyle," I say as I pull out of the driveway.

  He gives me a wave, then turns and walks back to the house.

  After talking to him, I now have even more questions about who he is and why he's here. But I have a feeling I may never find out. He seems like a very private person.

  When I get to Skeeter's I see Nina sitting in a booth, looking at her phone. There's a bottle of beer in front of her and a basket of peanuts.

  I go over and sit across from her. "Hey."

  "What the hell took you so long?"

  "I made a quick stop." I grab a menu from the holder on the table.

  "Where?"

  "What?" I pretend to be engrossed in my menu. I was hoping she wouldn't ask where I went.

  "Where'd you stop?" She sets her phone down on the table.

  "Mr. Wilson's house."

  "Wilson isn't there. He went to Florida for the summer."

  I look at her. "How'd you know that?"

  "Everyone knows. Patty was there when Wilson was telling Ralph about it at the barber last week."

  Patty is Ralph's wife. Ralph owns the barber shop and Patty sometimes works there, cleaning up or answering the phone. She's the biggest gossiper in town.

  "How come I didn't hear about it?"

  "You never come into town."

  "That's not true. I'm here all the time. I work in town. I go to the grocery store. I hang out with you."

  "Whatever. So anyway, why were you at Wilson's house?"

  "Because the new guy was there."

  "What new guy?"

  "The one who was walking on the road."

  "The serial killer?"

  "He's not a serial killer. I stopped and talked to him and he seems like a nice guy."

  "Just a few hours ago you called him an asshole."

  "Yeah, well, he didn't make the greatest first impression, but in his defense, he was hot and tired and dying of thirst."

  "Wait." She grabs my menu and sets it down. "You like this guy?"

  I laugh. "No. I mean, not like you're implying."

  "You're lying." She points to me. "You should see your face right now. You're blushing."

  "I'm not blushing. I'm flushed from the heat. It's like a thousand degrees outside and my car doesn't have air. I can't even get the windows down all the way."

  She sits back in the booth. "I can't believe you stopped and talked to him. By yourself. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

  "I'm telling you, he's not a killer."

  "You don't know that. It's not like killers come out and announce that they're killers. And even if he's not, it's still not safe to go up to some guy you found wandering down a deserted road."

  "I know that, but I can assure you I was completely safe. I had my phone and keys with me the whole time. If I had to get away, I could have."

  "Not if he held a gun on you."

  "He didn't have a gun. I didn't even go in the house with him. We just stood in the driveway and talked."

  "And what did the elusive stranger slash serial killer say to you?"

  "He said he's renting Miller's house for the summer."

  "Where's he from?"

  "He didn't say."

  "Why'd he move here?"

  "I don't know."

  "What's he do for work?"

  "I'm not sure."

  She sighs. "So you basically know nothing about him."

  "He's not that talkative."

  "Because he's hiding shit. Probably dead bodies."

  I roll my eyes. "He's not a killer. And you have to stop calling him that or people in town are going to believe you."

  "You should've invited him to come with you tonight so I could check him out."

  "He was tired and sweaty from walking in the heat. He wouldn't have agreed to go out."

  "See if he'll go out with us tomorrow. I'm sure he'll get bored sitting around that house all day."

  "I can ask but I get the feeling he wants to be left alone."

  "So he's a loner. A lot of psychopaths are loners."

  I just shake my head as I look at the menu.

  "How old is he?"

  "I'd guess around 24 or 25. Can we stop talking about Kyle and order some food? I'm starving."

  "Kyle? That's his name?"

  "Yes. And if you say that's the name of a killer I'll—"

  "Ha! You're wrong! I wasn't going to say that." She takes a peanut from the basket and cracks open the shell. "What's his last name?"

  "Why? So you can search for him on the internet?"

  "Obviously." She pops a peanut in her mouth. "So what is it?"

  "He didn't say. But I'm telling you, the guy seems completely harmless. He was a total asshole at first, but as I was talking to him I found he has this whole other side of him. This sweet, vulnerable side."

  "It's an act," she says, grabbing another peanut. She shoves the basket at me. "Have some. Lacey said the kitchen is slow tonight. May take an hour to get our burgers."

  "Then we should order." I search for a waitress.

  "I already did," Nina says. "You're getting a bacon cheeseburger."

  I smile. "That's perfect. Exactly what I was going to get."

  "And it's on me since I made you come out tonight."

  "You didn't make me. And you don't have to pay for my meal."

  "It's two for one. I'm only paying for mine. Yours is free." She pops another peanut in her mouth. "Tomorrow you can buy me a drink at the bar." She grins. "It's two for one at Healy's."

  "Deal." I crack open a peanut.

  "Shit, look who's here." Her eyes shift to the left.

  "Who?" I follow her eyes.

  "Don't look!" I feel a sharp kick to my foot under the table.

  "Nina! That hurt." I tuck my foot under me.

  "That's what you get for looking!"

  "I don't even know what we're talking about."

  She leans forward and lowers her voice. "Josh is here."

  "Josh who?"

  "Josh!" she whisper screams. "The guy I went out with last year."

  "I have no idea who that is. You never told me about anyone named Josh."

  "He's the guy I met when I tried online dating."

  "Oh." I nod. "Now I remember. The cop, right?"

  "Yeah. He lives in Kansas City."

  "What's he doing here?"

  "Probably wanted a burger. When we were dating, he said these were the best burgers he'd ever had."

  "He'd seriously drive all that way for a burger?"

  She looks at me. "Food and sex. That's all that matters to guys. I had a friend who dated this idiot who drove all the way to Chicago for pizza."

  "Maybe Josh is here to see you." I smile, because out of the side of my eye, I see a guy approaching our table, who I'm guessing is Josh.

  "Believe me," she laughs, "he's not here to see me. Not after I dumped him the way I did."

  "It was pretty harsh," he says, now standing beside our booth. He's average height but in good shape; lean and muscular. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans and his hair is really short, like a military cut.

  Nina freezes, her eyes on mine, looking at me like she wants me to say something.

  I turn to Josh. "Hi, I'm Sage. Nina's friend."

  "Good to meet you." He shakes my hand. "You here visiting?"

  "No. I live here. I moved here a few weeks ago."

  "You moved here?"

  "It's a long story."

  He nods and looks at Nina, who's turned her back to him, pretending he isn't there.

  "Did you order yet?" I ask Josh.

  "No. I just got here. Haven't even got a table yet."

  "Well, in that case, have a seat." I almost laugh when I hear Nina groan. After all the crap she gave me for talking to Kyle, she deserves a little teasing.

  "Thanks." Josh sits down next to Nina.

  She mouths the word 'bitch' at me but she's holding back a smile.

  "So how long did you and Nina go out?" I ask, deciding to continue to act like Nina's not here.

  Josh plays along. "Six months. And then she broke up with me. In a text."

  "Ouch." I cringe. "That IS harsh."

  "I know, right?" He leans forward, putting his elbows on the table, the movement causing his body to brush against Nina's back. "And she never explained why. I called her, texted her, but heard nothing back. And to make matters worse, she dumped me two days before my birthday."

  She whips around to face him. "You said your birthday was in October!"

  "It is." He smiles. "I just wanted you to join in the conversation."

  She narrows her eyes at him. "I'm not joining in because you shouldn't be here."

  "I wanted a burger."

  "See?" she says to me. "I told you he came here for the food."

  "And lucky me, I just happened to run into a girl I used to date."

  She huffs and turns her back to him again.

  His focus returns to me. "So is Nina still working at the grocery store?"

  "Yeah. She's the best cashier there. Way faster than anyone else."

  I glance at her and see her mouthing 'I hate you' to me. But I know she doesn't. And I know she doesn't mind having Josh there, as evidenced by the fact she hasn't moved farther over in the booth, despite his arm brushing against her back whenever he moves it.

  "So you really came here for the burgers?" I ask. "You must really like them."

  "I do, but that's not the only reason. I'm also here on business."

  "This is way outside your jurisdiction."

  "This is a side job. I'm doing some investigation for a friend."

  I tense up, assuming this has to do with my dad.

  "Don't worry," he says. "It's nothing about you. And yes, I know who you are. I didn't at first but the more we talked, the more you looked familiar. I recognize you from the pictures."

  There were photos of my dad with my mom and me all over the news when the scandal broke. It was horrible. I got recognized wherever I went. People were constantly giving me nasty looks or making mean comments. That was another reason I wanted to escape to a small town, but moving here didn't help.

  "There wasn't anything you could do," Josh says. "I hope you know that."