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“You finally got the El Camino,” he said as I slid into the driver’s seat.
“I did. I love it. I’m glad you get to see it.”
“Hmm.”
Maybe stopping was a mistake, but this still felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. He was the reason I’d considered pulling over, he was the one who needed help. “You here for work? You live here?” Can I buy you dinner some night this week? You’ll like Kandace. She’s responsible like you.
“Hmm.”
This was going well. “What are you doing these days?” I’d heard rumors, but no details. Anyone who was close with Eli was aware he didn’t want anything to do with me.
“Bit of this, bit of that.”
A longer answer with no more information. “That’s specific,” I teased. Anything to lighten the atmosphere in here.
“Look, I appreciate the ride.” Eli’s tone made it sound like he wasn’t certain he meant it. “And I think fate’s a cruel bitch that it was you who stopped for me. You, of all people, in the middle of fucking nowhere. But you don’t owe me conversation or anything. You explained yourself the last time we talked.”
I did. And my explanation wasI’m sorry, I had no idea. I never would’ve let it happen. “Does that mean the past is behind us? I have a whole new name. We could start over.”
“We really can’t.”
The only time either of us spoke on the rest of the ride to Wendover was when he called the rental company to tell them not to bother meeting him at his car.
Fucking. Awkward.
“Let me buy you lunch,” I said as we pulled into the gas station. “We can catch up. Shoot the shit. Whatever.”
“I’m good, thanks. You should stay here though. Eat, or whatever, and I’ll grab a cab back.”
“I don’t think many cabs, Ubers, whatever, run out of this place.”
Eli shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”
“At least let me pay for the gas,” I offered as we stepped into the small building. A rack of keychains stood near the register, and I couldn’t help my smile. Some were novelty phrases, and some were license plates, both Utah and Nevada.
That had been part of our road trip plan too—keychain at every stop, to commemorate our trips. One of them had anEon it, and I added it to the bill as I paid for gas and a canister for it.
Eli raised an eyebrow when I handed it all over, gave a quick shake of his head, and shoved the keychain into his jeans pocket. That was something, wasn’t it?
“So, I’m heading to the casino across the street.” I nodded in that direction. “If you want to join me for lunch, I’ll be there for at least an hour.”
“I won’t.”
Sigh. “It was good seeing you again.”
Eli shook his head. “Hmm.”
I waited in the casino’s diner, the way I said I would, but Eli didn’t show up. I wasn’t surprised, but it did hurt. When it came time to pay the bill, I fished my wallet out of my pocket.
Something fell to the ground.
I crouched to find a keychain resting against my foot, and a smile threatened as I picked it up.
Glad you’re not here.
Oh.
Eli was long gone when I got outside, of course. And his car was gone too, when I reached that part of the freeway.
