Page 102 of The Hitchhikers

Simon looked back and forth between them with an annoyed curl of his lip. Jenny wanted to shrink back on the bed. She’dnever seen that look on his face before. Not toward her. Simon must have realized that he’d scared her because his expression softened.

“Sorry, babe. I’ll open a window.”

He moved to the side of the teepee and slid the window open, standing near it while he finished his cigarette. She leaned back on the bed and rested her hands on her belly. She was so tired, but her mind raced. To the house, to the motel, to the truck on the side of the road.

When Simon was finished, he closed the window and turned toward Jenny.

“I’ll have to steal another car.”

“How?”

“I’ve got ideas. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

He carried the desk chair over to Alice’s bed, pulled her arm straight, and tied her wrist to a rod on the chair’s back.

Alice wasn’t resisting. She had her eyes closed, but Jenny knew she wasn’t sleeping. She was probably worrying about Tom. She would worry about Ruth and William too. She was like that. Did she worry about Jenny ever? Jenny liked the idea, but she knew it wasn’t true.

When Simon was finished, he took his backpack into the bathroom and left the door open while he had a shower. Steam billowed out. Alice was quiet on the other bed, until Jenny heard a rustling sound and looked over. She was eating the chocolate bar.

Simon came out in clean shorts and shirt and dropped his dirty clothes onto the floor. The bandage was gone from his arm, exposing his open wound.

“I brought the gauze pads,” Jenny said. “I can put a fresh one on.”

“Okay, cool.” He looked relieved and Jenny was happy she had thought to put the items into her pocket.

After Jenny was finished rebandaging Simon’s arm, she looked over at Alice. “Do you want ointment?”

Alice was quiet for a long moment and Jenny thought she was maybe going to ignore her, but then she said, “Yes. Thank you.”

Jenny brought over a tin of ointment. Alice used her free hand to scoop out a dollop with her finger and applied it to her chin, knees, and palm.

She realized that Alice might have a hard time getting under the blankets. “Do you need help? You know, with the blankets.” She gestured at the bed.

Alice nodded. Jenny pulled a blanket to the bottom of the bed, dragging it out from under Alice, then lifted the blanket up over her.

“Thanks,” Alice said, but her tone was grudging.

“Turn off her lamp, babe,” Simon said from the other bed.

Jenny did as he’d asked, then went back to their bed. The mattress sagged and squeaked when she climbed in. Simon turned off their lamp and plunged them into darkness.

“Jesus, I’m tired.” He linked his fingers with hers. “Get some rest.”

Jenny closed her eyes, but she couldn’t get comfortable. The sheets were rough and itchy against her bare legs. Her lower back and feet hurt from walking. The cigarette smell lingered and mixed with all the other stale motel scents. When Simon was snoring, she slid her fingers free from his. She could make out Alice’s shape in the dim light that leaked through the curtains.

“He’s never going to let me go,” Alice whispered.

Jenny startled—and quickly looked at Simon beside her. He was still snoring.

“He will,” Jenny whispered. “He has to.”

“No. He’ll kill me.”

“He won’t.”

“You don’t see him the same.”

“He’s protective and scared, but he doesn’t like hurting people.”