“Aight.”
After Lyric had disappeared in the store, I rested my elbows on the door, leaning my body slightly into the truck as I waited. Again, my sight wandered in her direction. She continued tosleep, unaware, unfazed, and unbothered. Whatever peace she was experiencing, I wished for. It had to have felt so fucking good.
Respectfully, I desired one thing at the moment and that was to know if she was OK.Like…Was the temperature alright? Did she need more leg room? If she preferred the radio or silence. If she was resting well.
And as if she read my mind, she maneuvered in the seat. She twisted her body in my direction. My breath hiked in my chest, but I remained calm as I waited for her to open her eyes.
Come on,I silently encouraged.Wake up.
Her eyes popped open, slowly and bashfully, as she began trying to figure out where she was at and what was going on around her. Once. Twice. Three times, she batted her eyes in an attempt to adjust and rid them of the sleepiness. When she finally looked up, she met my gaze. I witnessed the large sum of air that she’d inhaled around her get caught in her chest.
She hadn’t even opened her mouth yet I was interested in everything that she had to say. Maybe it was nothing. But, maybe… maybe it was something. Hoping for the latter, I remained quiet and waited for her to speak. However, my eyes never left hers and vice versa.
“Hi,” she said, releasing me from the dungeon where I’d been captured while waiting for her awakening.
What’s good?I responded,in my head, but the words didn’t quite see the light.
Ping.
The cell in her lap sounded. Neither of our eyes faltered. Locked in on one another, I waited for her to break contact. It wasn’t until her phone chimed a second time that her gaze fell, and she looked at the screen of it.
Ping.
Andthe smile, the smile that etched away at her cheeks when she opened her cell made my chest burn.Who the fuck is that?I wanted to know immediately.
“Luca!” Lyric screamed from afar.
Turning toward her, I waited for more to come from her mouth.
“You can pump, now.”
I fought the urge to inquire about anything concerning the beauty in the front seat and decided to let her be.93, I assumed Lyric used if she was anything like Laike and me. It was the only thing that touched the engine of our vehicles.
Forcefully, I removed the pump from the hook and unscrewed the gas cap with my freehand. I inserted it and began filling the gas guzzling truck with premium fuel. I could feel my right eye begin to twitch as I swiftly became aggravated with every single thing around me.
Except her. Whom eyes I met as I stared through the back window into the front seat. I felt her rounds on me, causing me to glare in her direction and return the favor. Once I did, she snapped her neck and fed me the back of her head the duration of my time alone outside.
After pumping ninety dollars’ worth of gas, I slid back into the driver’s seat. Instead of waiting for Lyric where we were, I proceeded to pull into one of the empty spots near the door. The truck had barely stopped before she opened the door and fled.
Her body was as beautiful as her face. With bowed legs and brown skin, I knew my ass was in trouble. Though I’d try to keep my distance for the sake of it being Lyric’s homegirl, I couldn’t keep any promises – especially not with the way my mind was already recalculating the time I’d promised to spend alone before jumping into anything serious once I got home.
Both girls returned in less than ten minutes. I assumed they’d relieved their bladders and did a bit more browsing inthe massive store. They were both carrying bags when they re-entered the truck.
“Lyric, you sure you don’t want to sit up front?” she asked Lyric as she slid into the passenger seat.
The delicacy of her voice was addictive. I wanted to hear more of it.
“No ma’am. I need to stretch out and get some shuteye.”
“Not before you drink some of that Pedialyte,” I interrupted.
“That’s why you wanted Pedialyte?” Lyric finally realized.
“You too.” I turned in her direction, admiring her side profile for a brief moment before she turned to face me.
“We will be fine, Luca. We’re not even all that hungover.” Lyric sniggered with a slight groan that told me everything I needed to know.
“Drink it. Both of you, before we pull off.”
