Page 5 of Loving Hard on the Highway (Love Along Route 14)

Gabbie

My pulse hadn’t quite returned to normal since we left. Not from the music. Not even from the dancing. It was him. I couldn’t get over the way he’d looked at me during that slow song, like he’d wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if he should.

The hotel came into view up ahead, its dull exterior softened by the amber porch lights and the glow of the vending machines by the entrance. I wish the walk had been longer.

We reached the front doors. He opened one for me without a word.

Inside, the lobby was mostly empty.

A bored but smiling receptionist behind the desk called out to me as we walked by. “Miss Jones. There is a message for you.”

I hesitated.

“From a Laurel Young.” The receptionist held up a piece of stationery.

“Oh.” I smiled as I took the note. The note said she would call the hotel room at midnight if I didn’t have a phone yet. “Thank you. Please put her through when she calls back.”

I hurried, and Sean picked up the pace to keep up with me. The mood immediately shifted from blossoming possibilities to getting back on task.

“Everything ok?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s almost midnight, and I don’t want to miss her call. She’s probably worried.”

The phone was already ringing by the time we got into the room. I waved for Sean to shower first as I picked up the phone.

“Hey.” I barely got that out of my mouth before Laurel chimed in.

“Oh my gosh, where were you?” Laurel jumped in.

“We thought maybe you’d had an accident or had been kidnapped. I was ready to get in my car and go after you,” Evie said over the club music playing in the background. They were probably outside the club on the beach.

“Nothing like that,” I said, flopping my whole body back onto the queen-sized bed. “It was so late when we got here. We were desperate to get some food.”

“We?” my two friends questioned in unison.

“The guy I’m riding with to California,” I attempted to explain.

“What?” Laurel sounded as if she were about to hyperventilate.

Evie took a deep breath before taking over the conversation. “Okay. Start from the beginning. You met him where?”

“Actually,” I smiled, staring up at the popcorn ceiling of the hotel room. “I first met him last night at Club Vida, after you two convinced me to dance with him.”

I explained the mix-up at the car rental service and the compromise we made. And at some point, I must have gushed a bit.

“Oh, my gosh! You have a crush on him,” Laurel squealed.

“His Connect-ID says he’s an Associate at Holsten Industries. And his InView is just a ton of pics with him and a motorcycle.”

“That’s Reba, and are you two stalking his socials?” I asked.

“We have to make sure he’s not a serial killer,” Evie laughed, unapologetically and a little too loudly. She probably had a drink in her hand, too, hundreds of miles away in Florida.

“That is so on brand for you,” I smiled.

“Just looking out for you.” Evie’s laughter softened.

“Yeah, he may not be a kidnapper, but he’s a tech bro type,” Laurel chimed in. “They can be full of themselves.”

“Yeah, but he’s not like that. At least not so far.

” I shrugged as I heard the shower turn off.

“He’s smart and really nice. Not performative.

Just like he really listens. He offered to let me use his phone, but I felt weird about that, and I wanted to explain everything to you so you wouldn’t worry.

It’s actually nice to have the company and feel like there are possibilities now. ”

“I love that for you,” Evie said eventually. “I do. It’s just…”

I sighed. “Say it.”

“You’ve been hurt before. And we’re not there to have your back if this goes sideways. I’m worried. We both are. You’ve got that sound in your voice. The one you get when you’re halfway in already.”

I closed my eyes. “I know. I hate that you’re not here. It’s weird—feeling something new and not having you two right beside me to help make sense of it.”

“I miss you already,” Evie said, quieter now.

Laurel was sniffling in the background.

“Tell Laurel I’m fine and don’t cry,” I whispered, staring up at the ceiling. “I’ll get a cell phone tomorrow, and we can talk while I’m on the road. You guys are a huge part of this new chapter of my life.”

Sean emerged from the bathroom area wearing a pair of designer sweatpants and a sleeveless T-shirt.

God, his arms were ripped, and those sweats looked glorious on him.

I had to avert my eyes. He held up his phone and pointed to the balcony before stepping out.

I was sure he had phone calls to make, people who were eager to hear from him.

“I have to get a shower and get to bed.” I yawned as I sat up. “Can you guys scrub the photo data before posting the pics on your socials? Sean suggested that, just in case Rick snoops.”

“That’s a good idea,” Evie said. “Call us as soon as you get your burner phone.”

“I promise.”

?

The hot water came softly and steadily, a hush that wrapped around me like a blanket. Drops pattered against the white tile, tapping a rhythm gentle enough not to disturb my thoughts.

My hair was up in a tight bun, keeping it from getting wet.

It was easier to avoid dealing with curls while on the road.

As the steam surrounded me, my thoughts spun gently around the dance and around him.

The warmth of his hand finding mine, fingers lacing together like it was always meant to happen that way.

The way he looked at me, as if he knew I was trying not to smile too much, and he was doing the same.

For a moment, it felt as if the rest of the world had pressed pause. Feeling his breath against my cheek. That brief, almost accidental meeting of eyes.

I turned and let my head fall back, so the water rushed across my face. My eyes closed, as a smile tugged at my lips despite myself.

It was ridiculous. I didn’t know him. Not really.

But there had been something in that moment.

There was something in the way he had leaned just a little closer when I talked.

In the silence, it hadn’t been awkward. I closed my eyes, replaying it again.

The way his thumb had moved absently along my wrist—the sound of his laugh.

I stepped out of the shower, quickly dried off, and tucked the towel tightly around my body. Between being away from Rick and spending time with Sean, I was feeling free and excited.

I didn’t know what it meant yet. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. But it was thrilling and warm, and my heart felt like it had been lit from the inside.

And for now, that was enough.

I slipped into a T-shirt and short shorts and went back into the room. Sean was on the balcony talking to someone named Gemma and calling her… sweetie?

I couldn’t hear everything, but I was sure he said, “I miss you too, baby girl. Love you, bye.”

Well, that was that. He never said if he was seeing anyone, and I hadn’t asked. Maybe he was just being friendly. I crawled into my bed, expecting him to come back into the room, but no. He made another call.

“Hey, Myra, baby. You’ll never guess where I am.” He was oozing charm.

I crawled under the covers and pulled the pillow over my head.