Her fingers loosened on the cotton and she let the shirt drop back into place as Rev’s Bronco pulled around the side of the motel and into the spot in front of his room.
Had he caught her sniffing his shirt? Damn it.
The engine cut off, she heard the unmistakable sound of the parking brake being engaged, then the driver’s door was flung open.
He climbed out of the truck and went around to the passenger side, opening the door, leaning in—unfortunately, from where she stood, not giving her a good look at his ass—and then shutting the door with his knee since his hands were now full of bags.
His face actually looked haggard, much older than his twenty-eight years. Likely due from a lack of real sleep, drinking too much, and, if he spent time in that house this morning with those people, he was probably emotionally worn down again.
He paused in front of her and whatever was in the bags smelled like heaven. Food! Hot food! Not vending machine shit.
“You look like a goddamn deer in headlights standin’ out here. And you don’t got any fuckin’ pants on.” He pushed past her and into the room.
She blinked, hurried after him and shut the door behind her. “You took my keycard. I’m locked out of my room.”
“Yeah,” was his only response, his back to her as he set the bags down on the tiny table in the corner.
She planted her hands on her hips and when he turned to face her, his expression was unreadable. “What do you mean, ‘yeah?’ I need to get in my room to shower and change.”
“You can do it in here.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would I do it in here when I have a perfectly good room next door?”
His mouth twisted and suddenly she knew exactly what he was going to say before he said it. “Decided no point in payin’ for two rooms. Gonna share one.”
Her eyebrows launched to the top of her forehead. “We are?”
“Yeah. We are.” He tipped his head at the other queen bed in the room. The one that was still perfectly made. “Got two beds in here. Last night proved we can sleep in the same room without fuckin’ up.”
It did?
They had both passed out!
But, wait… She shouldn’t argue this turn of events. Not at all. This might actually help her plan.
She rolled her lips under.
He frowned when he read her face. “You in that bed. Me in the other.”
“Okay.”
His bloodshot eyes narrowed.
She smiled.
He jerked his head toward the bathroom at the back of the room. “Go shower.”
She had no idea what he bought for breakfast or lunch, or whatever, but it smelled way too good to wait. “I’ll shower after I eat.”
He wrinkled up his nose. “Gonna shower before we eat.”
She lifted her arm and sniffed her own pit. “I don’t stink.”
“Thought a fox always smells his own fuckin’ hole first. Guess that’s wrong. Shower. Then eat.”
“But I’m dying of starvation!”
He cocked one eyebrow and looked her up and down.
She rolled her eyes. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“Didn’t say shit.”
He didn’t have to. “I know I need to lose weight. I’ve done nothing but put on the pounds since working at the shop. We eat like shit. Donuts, snacks—”
“Shut the fuck up, woman. You don’t gotta lose even one goddamn pound. Any weight you put on was needed and it all went to the right places.”
“Yeah, my fat ass.” She slapped one hand on each of her ass cheeks, then shook the junk in her trunk.
His blue eyes became more intense as he watched her. “Men like to smash an ass like that.”
She grinned.
“Men who won’t die doin’ it,” he corrected himself.
Her lips flattened out. They would have to have a discussion about that once she showered, changed and her stomach was no longer complaining.
“Do you happen to have aspirin in your bag?” she asked, hopeful.
“In the Bronco.”
Oh, thank fuck. She needed a handful. “I guess you needed some, too.”
“Go shower, Reilly. I’ll grab the aspirin and set out the food. You take too long, I’m eatin’ without you.”
After her shower, she was glad she hadn’t put on her jeans. Instead, she pulled on cotton shorts she had shoved into her backpack. She was thankful that she did since her stomach now felt twice the size after stuffing herself on the smorgasbord he had set up on the table during her quick shower.
A whole cheesesteak hoagie and a few fries later, all washed down with a large bottle of water, she couldn’t even glance at the food on the table that still remained uneaten.
She placed her hand on her gut with a groan and stared at the movie he had turned on. She guessed it was an old John Wayne movie, but wasn’t sure. It certainly wasn’t something she would watch if given a choice.
With the aspirin and carbs kicking in along with the drone of the TV, she was starting to nod off. And here it was only early afternoon.
She glanced at Rev propped up against the headboard on “his” bed, his eyelids also getting heavy. His fingers were laced together and his hands planted on his belly. He was barefoot once again but he still wore his jeans and today’s choice of T-shirt, otherwise she might have been tempted to eat him instead of the cheesesteak.
Less calories, hopefully more satisfying.
However, if they remained in this room—in separate beds—both of them would soon be asleep, then wide awake tonight. “Maybe we should head down to my storage unit today.” At least that would get them out and moving. She paused. “Unless you’re afraid to go too far from your parents’ house.”
He’d said nothing about his visit there earlier, but she could tell it was eating at him. Just like it had yesterday.
And, of course, he had to have smoked at least half of a joint while she showered.
She didn’t bother taking a hit or two since she had already been ready to gnaw off her own arm. Smoking pot would have made her inhale that damn cheesesteak even faster. She had to force herself to slow down so she wouldn’t choke as it was.
His words were a little sluggish but nothing like last night. This time it was only exhaustion and weed causing it, not copious amounts of alcohol. “That stubborn old fuck ain’t gonna die today. Doubt it’ll be tomorrow, either. Thinkin’ we go get your shit tomorrow mornin’ since it’s forty minutes away. Matthew’s got my number, he can call me if anythin’ changes. No point in puttin’ off emptyin’ your storage unit, ‘cause as soon as that motherfucker’s black heart stops beating, we’re headin’ home. Already sick of this place and we’ve only been here two days.”
Not even two days. Just a little over twenty-four hours. And even that short amount of time was taking a toll on him.
But she understood his impatience to go home and put this all behind him. What little interaction she saw yesterday between Rev and his parents couldn’t be healthy for him. And he was even out of the house and grown. It had to be so much worse when he’d been too young to leave.
Reilly was damn lucky she had Reese to step in place of their shitty mother. Even though that was a burden a young child should never have to bear. But Reese sacrificing her childhood to raise her baby sister was what helped Reilly survive and become a functioning adult in society.