The Unwanted Runaway

On The Road

Anna’s POV

This morning, I took the time to prepare some hot coffee and poured it into thermoses for our journey. I also packed some lunches in a small icebox to keep in the back seat of the truck . With It's just Denton, Jason, and I on the road .

Well, on the bright side, even though this is considered a work trip. I’m gonna think of it as taking a mini-vacation should help distract me from all this mess. Unfortunately, after reading those disturbing messages and listening to that voicemail, I had no other choice but to arm myself with a gun.

Last night, I purposely smashed my phone. I know it's old, but it can still be traced. I packaged the USB drive and addressed it to Carter. This morning, while Brooke and Jason were preparing to load the Colts onto the truck, I slipped the envelope to Brooke. I made sure to let her know it was from me, so she could give it to Carter when she sees him.

I even wrote a little note to go with it, although I'm not sure what's on that USB drive. I'm not sure I even want to know. But Joey's message was pretty clear - something about the cartel and him being in trouble with them, which now puts me in danger. Ugh, why did I have to fall for such a bonehead? I know Carter and I will never have anything more than a friendship, and I'm okay with that. But, damn, I still feel lonely. And Denton has this effect on my body and heart that I can't explain. I highly doubt he feels the same way though. He just loves to tease me. Like that time I caught him coming out of the shower... now that's a mental image I won't soon forget.

"Well, looks like I'll have to embrace the single life. Maybe I should explore some adult websites that cater to my needs for pleasure and purchase some of those s*x toys they rave about. Oh yeah, they call it a "Bob" - a battery operated boyfriend. At least he'll always be faithful and dependable, unlike most real men. And let's be real, the only s****l satisfaction I can count on is from myself. At least with a toy, I won't be let down unless the batteries run out or I upgrade to one that needs a charger. Honestly, it's a foolproof way to never be disappointed .

As we load up, both Jason and Denton walk up to the front of the truck where I'm leaning against the passenger side waiting for everyone to load up. Jason takes notice of my attire and comments, "Anna, it's about time you started dressing like one of us. You look nice."

I thank Jason for the compliment, but Denton just grunts and nods in agreement. I open the door to the passenger seat, a nice heavy duty black Dodge, and reflect on how I'm getting used to this ranch life. But I also can't help but think about how temporary it may be, as I never know where I'll end up after this trip.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear Jason speak to me until he says, "Hey, what are you doing? You should sit up front with us."

I reply, "Oh no, it's fine. I'll sit in the back. I might take a nap or something. And besides, I don't want to be subjected to any farts during the competition like you mentioned the other day."

Denton and Jason both chuckle, with Denton saying, "I can't believe you sometimes, Jason. Your humor is too much."

Jason quickly clarifies, "No, I was actually planning on taking the backseat for the same reason Anna just mentioned. Maybe catch a few snoozes."

Denton then suggests, "Yeah, Jason, you should sit up front with me."

I add, "Besides, if I sit up there, you guys won't like the music I'll play on the radio."

Jason teases, "Do you even know how to work it? It's one of those fancy satellite radios."

I sigh and reply, "Fine, I'll just sing to myself in the backseat." Denton smiles and says, "I don't mind that."

Jason adds, "Yeah, I do mind to hear all the time." I’m not saying Anna isa bad singer It’s just I can only listen to so much Green Day don’t you know any other songs Anna ?”

" I retorted to Jason with a sly grin, "Of course I do, but I like to sing Green Day just to get under your skin." I playfully tapped him on the shoulder from my spot in the backseat while he sat in the front.

Denton interjected, "Alright, enough with the singing. Let's hit the road. We're already running 20 minutes late." He added, "That means no restroom breaks."

Feeling a little frustrated, I chimed in, "Wait a minute, guys. That's not fair. You can just whip it out and pee anywhere, but us girls have to find a spot to squat. Not all of us are lucky enough to have the luxury of a penis."

After being on the road for 16 hours, Denton and Jason took turns driving for 10 and 6 hours, respectively. When Denton needed a break, I suggested he take the backseat, but he insisted on taking the passenger seat and pushing it back to accommodate his tall 6'8" frame. This caused me to have to move over.

Finally, after what seemed like an endless drive, Jason found a small motel in Illinois. As Denton went to check us in, I made sure the horses in the trailer were okay while Jason grabbed our bags. I double-checked the locks on the trailer to make sure they were secure. When Denton returned with the room keys, he only had two instead of three.

"Denton, you forgot my room key," I reminded him.

"Actually, Anna, I thought you could have your own room while Jason and I share one," Denton replied, handing me the key to room 209 with a queen-sized bed while he and Jason took the room 208 with two twin beds. As I smiled at his consideration, we made our way to our respective rooms.

Looking around, I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped back in time to the 1970s. The carpet, bedding, and even the rotary phone all screamed retro. But after a long day on the road, I was just grateful to have a place to rest.

Feeling hungry, I reached for the phone book and was pleasantly surprised to find it right next to the phone. I flipped through the pages, my stomach growling as I searched for a local pizza joint to satisfy my cravings.

As I eagerly awaited for the pizza to arrive, I decided to explore the vending machine and see what delicious snacks it had to offer. To my delight, I stumbled upon a soda vending machine. I couldn't resist and hoped the sodas weren't expired. Thankfully, they were only $.50 each, so I grabbed six cans to quench my thirst.

Back in my room, I grabbed the ice bucket and filled it up with ice. I placed it on the counter by the sink, ready to cool down my drinks. Just as I settled in, the pizza guy knocked on my door. I eagerly handed him the money and happily told him to keep the change, which was over five dollars.

I strutted over to denton and Jason‘s room, next-door, with a piping hot pizza in one hand and four cans of soda in the other. I gave the door a loud knock and hollered, "Hope you're decent in there, we don't need any funny business!"

As soon as Jason opened the door, he grumbled, "What's up?" I flashed him a cheeky grin and replied, "Just bringing some pizza and soda for you guys. Courtesy of yours truly." Denton, sprawled out on his bed, eyed the delicious pie as I strolled in with Jason by my side. Setting the pizza down, Jason chimed in, "You really didn't have to do that, but we appreciate it." I shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "Hey, no problem. Anything for my favorite neighbors."

I casually asked Denton, "Hey, what time should I set my alarm for tomorrow?"

With a smirk, Denton replied, "Oh, you better set it for 4:30 AM. We're hitting the road at 5."

I nervously chuckled and responded, "Well, I don't have a phone anymore. Could you guys just knock on my door to wake me up?"

Denton raised an eyebrow, "What happened to your phone?"

I hesitated, not wanting to lie but also not wanting to admit that I smashed it. "Uh, it finally broke," I muttered before walking out the door.

As I settled onto the bed, I realized I forgot to pack my pajamas. So, I just threw on a t-shirt and underwear and crawled into bed. I grabbed the remote and started flipping through the TV channels.

Just as I was getting into the show, there was a knock on the door. I groaned and got up to unlock it. To my surprise, it was Denton. I quickly remembered that I was just in my t-shirt and underwear. Oops.