Hudson rounds the back of the truck, peering in, double taking as he sees me standing like a goddamn stick figure, not even blinking, poorly camouflaged into the side of the truck.
“No, my friend—” And he points, he actually fucking points. I have no choice but to gesturenowith my hand, cutting that shit off, right fucking now.
His wide eyes catch my drift, finally, but he still stammers through talking to Mimi.
“My friend is moving in but he…went…to…the store.”
Je-sus, fucking Christ, he’s a horrible fucking liar. Could he have stuttered anymore?
“Oh bummer, I’ll have to introduce myself another time,” she replies, buying his awful lie.
“Have I met you before?” He squints in her direction, studying her.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Her shadow is splayed out on the ground behind the truck. My heart races at the fact that she’s inches from me, from finding out I’m her new neighbor. She will eventually, of course, but I need that on my time.
Her shadow displayed on the cracked cement of my driveway shifts as she moves her hair from one side to the other, then removes her jacket. The dark silhouette splays out on the ground, showing the petite profile of her frame.
There’s a brief pause before she says, “No, I don’t think so.”
Hudson’s hand trails over his face, as he smothers a smile. And I know, he knows.
Goddammit.
“Well, hey, it was great to meet you. I’ve gotta get the truck back to the rental company, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.” He peers into the truck, with a stupid—really stupid, big, smug ass—smile, grabs the rope attached to the sliding back door, and swings it down, slamming it closed. An astounding click echoes through the metal box, locking me in.
“Hud,” I whisper-yell through the metal barrier.
It’s pure fucking darkness in here. Not an ounce of light comes through, except a sliver between the corners of the cargo door.
Pausing, I try to listen for any more conversation. Pressing my ear to the side of the truck, I hear a goodbye, then the slamming of the car door before the truck roars to life.
This motherfucker.
He steps on the gas, making me lose my balance and I fly toward the back of the empty truck with nothing to grab onto.My back slams into the accordion panels of the cargo doors, and I let out a long groan before screaming at the front of the truck.
“You fucker!”
He slams on the breaks and I roll all the way to the front.Jesus Christ.
This goes on for twenty goddamn minutes.
I just roll, back and forth—back and forth—in the back of a goddamn moving truck. Fortunately, I’ve been in far too many military trucks on dirt roads with no suspension to get car sick, but never have I rolled around like a sack of potatoes hitting the side of metal walls over and over again.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the cargo door opens and sunlight blasts into the truck, blinding me instantly.
“I’m going to fucking kill you.” I place my hand over my face, shadowing the light. My voice is raw and my entire body is probably bruised beyond recognition, but it won’t stop me from strangling him.
“You deserved that,” he’s still wearing that stupid smile, “plus, I realized I’d never have that chance again, so I took full advantage.”
He places a foot on the back of the truck step and leans forward reaching out his hand to help me. Grabbing it, he pulls me upward, thank God, because I don’t think I’d be able to, at least not right then, anyway.
“You’re losing your touch, Shay.” I can’t argue with him on that. I have been since the moment I saw Mimi again.
So I just agree and nod.
