Within a few minutes, our food arrived. Caleb’s plate looked like it could feed a family of five while mine looked like something off the kiddie menu. “Are you really going to eat all that?” I stared wide eyed at the pile of food.
“Yes.” He looked confused when he said it. “I’ve been working out with your dad for weeks. I always eat like this.” He sprinkled some salt and pepper on his eggs and then grabbed a fork full. “Mmm.” His eyes closed as he slowly chewed them. I watched with rapt attention as his tongue poked out to swipe his lips. The grin that followed told me I was in for a crazy couple of days. The more I was around him, the more I questioned why we hated each other for so long. He seemed so different now and my body was certainly noticing more about him.
We ate in mostly silence with a few comments here and there about how long we should drive, where we should stay and such. When I’d sufficiently stuffed myself, I leaned back in my chair and patted my stomach. “I feel like I ate a cow.” I groaned.
“How can you be full? You didn’t eat much.” Caleb kept eyeing the eggs and toast left on my plate.
“I don’t eat a lot.” I shrugged as I wiped my mouth on my napkin.
“So, you’re not going to finish that?” Caleb pointed to the food on my plate.
“No,” I laughed. “Here.” I shoved the plate toward him. “Have at it.” I groaned as I watched him shovel the last bit into his mouth. I don’t know where he was planning on putting all of this. I mean, the guy has abs of steel, and not an inch of fat on him.
“Ready?” Caleb tossed some bills on the table as he stood up.
“Yep.” I smiled as we started for the door.
“I was thinking we could drive about eight more hours, and then stop for the night.” He held the door for me as we went outside.
“Sure.” I went to the passenger side of the truck. “I can drive some, ya know,” I offered. “That is, if you want to nap a little.”
“No one drives my truck.” Caleb’s face went to stone.
“Not even your mom?” I turned in disbelief as he climbed in and cranked the engine.
“No one.” He patted the dashboard. “She’s been with me since I was sixteen. Right, girl?” He smiled affectionately as if he was talking about a person.
“Girl? Your truck is a girl?” I giggled.
Yeah, and she’s perfect.” He scowled. “Don’t listen to her, baby.” He patted the dash again as we pulled out into traffic.
“If you had to choose between your truck and me, who would you choose?” I crossed my arms over my chest, and I watched as Caleb’s face blanched.
“You sure you want the answer to that?” His eyes darted toward me before going back to the road.
“You actually need to think about it?” My eyes widened and I turned to face him.
“This truck has been there for me for years. She’s special.” He seemed baffled that I was asking him this.
“And I’m not?” I knew I was pushing him into a corner. It was funny. I really didn’t care what his answer was, I just wanted to see him squirm a bit. It was entertaining at least.
“You’re special.” He sighed as he pulled into a gas station. “I’d find a way to save you both. I’m smart like that.” He smirked as he cut the engine and climbed out.
While he was pumping gas, I proceeded to change the radio station. We’d been listening to his choices since we left Boston, and I was over it.
As we made our way down the highway, the cities turned to smaller towns, and then it was like we were in the middle of nowhere. The sun was setting, and Caleb yawned. I knew he had to be exhausted. I’d slept on and off all day, and I was tired. He’d been driving since midnight, and hadn’t slept a wink. “You sure you don’t want me to drive a little?”
“I’m fine. We’re going to stop for the night up here anyway.” He nodded to a sign showing gas and lodging on the side of the interstate.
“Where are we?” I glanced around. I hadn’t seen any signs in a while.
“Southern Illinois.” Caleb yawned again as he took the exit off the interstate. He turned at the top of the ramp and into a small gravel parking lot.
I stared at the building in front of us. “We’re staying here?” The pink flamingo sign was only half lit. There were a few rusty cars in the parking lot, and the vacancy sign kept blinking like it couldn’t decide if there was room or not.
“We have to save our cash. California is expensive.” Caleb hopped out of the truck, leaving me there staring at this place. He went inside the office, and reappeared shortly, holding a key in his hand. “Got a room. You coming?”
“A room?” I swallowed. The last time a guy boasted about getting a room, it was Dean and his intentions weren’t the best.
“It’s got two beds.” He rolled his eyes. “I told you, I’ll wait.” He lifted our bags out of the back, locked the truck up, and then took a few strides toward the door of what was apparently our room. This adventure wasn’t what I had in mind. Traveling with my parents, we always stayed somewhere really nice. I’d never had to stay places like this, and I wondered if I’d get any sleep at
