“That sounds like a vicious cycle of Baker women.”
My stomach turns over again with the truth in his words. Unfortunately, he’s right. It is a vicious cycle, and I don’t want to be stuck in it.
“Cycles are hard to break,” I mutter.
“But not impossible. The question is whether you’re willing to try.”
I don’t want to read into his words. I don’t want to get my hopes up when I know how it ends.
Stupid. He literally said to try.
That’s something my mother never did. She never gave anything a good try. She held on while it was easy but released the rope the second things got hard. I want a romance, but more than anything, I want that happily ever after.
“I think I’ll introduce you to some new movies.” He winks and shoots me a grin that’s downright lethal.
My pulse kicks up a notch. “You are going to suggest romance movies to me?”
“Hey, I have a sister. I know some good ones.”
I’m sure he does. “Okay, impress me, romance connoisseur. What should I watch?”
“Well, I can’t just tell you, what would be the fun in that? I’ll have to show you.”
Show me? As in…a date?
That would be…my stomach lurches. My chest constricts.Uh oh.I thought this was over. “Stop the car!” I scream.
Trent slides out of the traffic and barely makes it to the shoulder before the contents of my stomach spill over.
Chapter 16
Trent
Karlihaspukedonthe side of the road twice now and each time it killed me to see her in so much agony. The second time she threw up she fell back into the passenger seat like she was physically spent. The life was gone from her eyes and her skin was devoid of color.
I asked if she was okay and she said she felt much better. But I didn’t believe her. I got her a fresh water bottle and watched her sip a quarter of it before I dared get back onto the road.
The second I started driving, she fell asleep in the passenger seat. So I ditched the road in favor of the closest town and stopped at the store for the necessities. Sprite, three different kinds of Gatorade, saltines, and a fuzzy blanket. I’m not sure what the fuss is about the fuzzy blankets, but my sister Lennox swears by them.
I considered carrying Karli to the back of the van and letting her sleep while I drove, but I didn’t like that idea. What if she walked right out of the van in her sleep? She deserves a bed that doesn’t feel like a sack of potatoes. And a bathroom at her convenience.
So I got a hotel room. And now I’ll pray she doesn’t think I have ulterior motives when she wakes up.
I park in front of the hotel, then leave the van running while I grab a room key. Karli’s still out when I get back, so I pick her up.
But because I’m not Superman, I stumble and bang her head into the van door. She doesn’t even stir. Not even when I hit her feet into the walls while carrying her through the hotel. I promise I’m not trying to abuse her. Romance movies have this part all wrong. It is not as easy in real life to carry a completely unconscious woman and a bag full of groceries through narrow hallways. In hindsight, I could have gone back for the groceries, but it’s too late now. I hit the edge of a rug and nearly drop Karli. But she doesn’t flinch. Thank goodness this woman sleeps like the dead.
I get quite a few interested looks, especially from the ladies at the front desk but I offer them a smile so they’ll know I’m not a serial killer. Or is that making me seem like more of a serial killer? Oh well.
I manage to unlock the door without dropping her and get into the room without hitting her head again. I lay her on one side of the bed, fold down the covers on the other side, then carry her around.
She stirs as I pull her shoes off. “This is the best Thanksgiving ever,” she says, before rolling over and cuddling into the pillows.
Considering the events of the day, I shudder to think what past holidays have been like for her.
I spread out the groceries on the nightstand then drape the fuzzy blanket over her. I stand above her for a moment, ensuring she’s comfortable before I take a seat on the hard sofa. I’ll check my email, and work on a few things while she sleeps. That way I’ll be here if she needs me.
I read Sean’s last two messages saying that he’s sorry for kidnapping me, and can I please just forgive him already because he can’t handle the silence?
