Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
He walked up behind the large trailer and coded in the numbers Keene had given him, and pulled us inside.
I looked around, noting the kitchen area and the massive fridges and freezers.
“So where is this bed at?” I asked curiously.
He opened doors until he found the one that likely led to a bed.
There was a small set of stairs that led upward, and he climbed them to check first before he said, “Bed and bathroom area. I didn’t think the trailer was that tall, but it is.”
He pointed up and then said, “Can you make it?”
I could make it if there was a bed on the other end.
“Yes,” I said.
Then I was climbing.
But instead of falling into the bed, I went to the bathroom area.
“I need some soap and…” I trailed off when I saw the shower stall.
It was shorter than a normal stall.
“I think you have to sit to take a shower,” I said.
“I think I’m going to, that’s for sure,” he said.
When I looked back, it was to see him practically bent in half.
I felt my mouth curve up into a small smile as he said, “I have toiletries in my bag. I’ll bring it up here along with the soap.” He studied my face. “Just be careful with your stitches. Try not to get them wet.”
I snorted.
The placement right at my hairline would make that nearly impossible, but I’d give it a try.
“Um,” I said as I turned on the shower and then turned to Coffey. “You’ll stay?”
His eyes softened as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. His head was brushing the ceiling still.
“I’ll stay,” he replied quietly.
He stayed.
He also held me after my shower until I fell asleep.
And woke me up every three hours on the dot.
CHAPTER 15
I bought some skinny jeans. They don’t work.
-T-shirt
COFFEY
Watching a circus pack up was fascinating.
When Simi and I had gone to bed last night, it’d been completely spread out for everyone to meander through. Tents were erected. Trashes were filled. Tigers were prowling a large cage. Lights were bright.
And now, in the midmorning sun, there was nothing left but trash on the ground. Trash that was quickly being cleaned up by a litter crew.
The only thing left to do now was ride to our next location.
And I had a dilemma.
Because a night to get over her woes was not enough for the woman behind me, staring at the van that she was being asked to get into.
“Please don’t make me get in there,” she whispered.
We’d had breakfast with her family this morning in their trailer.
While having breakfast, we spoke about what our next steps were, and we were all on the same page.
Staying here was out of the question.
Stratt advised us to leave as well, assuring me that he’d already cleared it with the deputies that were temporarily in charge.
So we were set to head to the next location.
The only issue was I could practically see the tenseness in Simi’s shoulders as she was informed she would have to ride in a bus with her family for the next four hours without me on our drive to Suffolk, Virginia.
I was torn.
On the one hand, I wanted her with me.
But on the other, she was pregnant, it was chilly, and we didn’t have the proper protection for her to be riding behind me.
Oh, and let’s not mention she was in a terrible accident yesterday, and that accident could’ve been a hell of a lot worse than it was.
“I have some leather that she can wear,” Val said. “I used to ride with my ex-boyfriend. The pants will be a little tight”—she eyed Simi speculatively—“with the weight she’s put on lately. But I think it should all still fit.”
I opened my mouth to disagree yet again, but Simi looked at me with pleading eyes.
And I realized that I was going to give in.
“It’s going to be uncomfortable for you,” I pointed out. “If you come with me, it’ll be cold. You’ll be stiff and more sore than you already are, and we won’t be able to talk.”
“I…” She frowned hard, then slowly turned her head toward the front entrance.
When we all turned that way, she said, “Son of a bitch.”
I stiffened, trying to figure out what the hell was out there that she saw that I didn’t.
But then she turned around and said, “Last night…yesterday. Whatever. I remember.”
My brows rose. “You remember?”
“I…” She paused. “Not everything. Just the accident. I remember it flipping over and over again. I remember being able to see the car tear in half. Then I remember sitting there, upside down, wondering if someone was going to come help me.”
“But you don’t remember me?” I asked.
She grimaced. “No.”
I sighed.
“So is that a yes to the leather?” Val asked. “Because I have to be honest, I need to go take a poop break before we get on the road. And that might take me a while. And I don’t like people going through my shit.”