She turned to look at me. A small sad smile touched her lips. “Actually, I’m craving those breadsticks you mentioned.”

For now, I’d feed her. When she slept again I would decide what to do and how to handle it. Stone’s future depended on it and this time I wasn’t going to let him down.

Beulah

SOMEHOW I HAD MANAGED TO eat three breadsticks and an entire bowl of ravioli. When I had gotten sick for the first time I wasn’t sure I could ever eat again. If it wasn’t chicken or Mexican, it seemed I was fine in the hunger and eating department. The restaurant was more expensive than my budget. Jasper had threatened to make a scene if I didn’t allow him to pay for the meal. When I tried to order salad and breadsticks only, he ordered me ravioli, lasagna and fettuccini alfredo. I had to promise to eat the ravioli to stop him from ordering everything else on the menu.

Over lunch he didn’t mention Stone, the pregnancy, or what he thought I should do next. Instead, he told me funny stories about college. The story about Sterling when he had been locked out of the house without clothes and had to run naked to the neighbors to ask to use their phone had almost made me pee my pants. The neighbors had been in their late seventies and called the police on him. He’d run and hid in the woods, staying there all night until someone woke up in the house and finally let him inside.

I didn’t completely forget my problems. But for a short moment I laughed and enjoyed the distraction. Once we were back in the car, my sorrow returned. I closed my eyes and sleep came easily. At least that was something I didn’t have to worry about. My body was going to rest even if my mind wasn’t cooperating.

When I woke again the trees were different. They weren’t as green. It was almost as if fall was close and it wasn’t the end of August. I sat up and looked around. “Where are we?” I knew this wasn’t Georgia. With a quick glance at the clock on the dash I realized I’d been asleep for four hours.

“Somewhere in South Carolina,” he replied with a smile. As if that answer was sufficient.

“Where in South Carolina?” I pressed.

“Not really sure. Haven’t seen a sign in a while. Halfway through I’d guess.”

“Halfway through? What’s our the destination? I thought we were going to stop somewhere in this state.”

He shrugged. “I figured since you weren’t set on anything yet we’d look at North Carolina. See what you thought of it. We have time. This adventure is on me until I leave you where you finally decide.”

Frustrated, I grabbed my phone to see if I could figure out where we were and how far from Savannah we were. There had to be a city around here that would be a good fit. “North Carolina is too far,” I snapped.

“Didn’t say you had to settle down there. Just thought we’d check it out.”

“Ugh!” I groaned. “I need to find a job, Jasper. A place to live. I don’t have time to ride around and explore. Neither do you. You’ve got a corporation to run.”

“It’s fine for now. It’s a phone call away. Besides it’s getting late. You should get out and stretch your legs. Let’s find a place to stop for the night.”

I threw my hands up. “I have been sleeping at rest areas to save money. We aren’t both fitting in this car tonight comfortably and you aren’t paying for a hotel room. I’ve wasted a day when I should have been finding a home.”

Tears burned my eyes as the frustration grew. I shouldn’t have slept all day. This was my fault. I was messing it all up and I needed to focus.

“You slept in your car? In a rest area?” he asked me.

“Yes! It’s free!”

“Jesus,” he muttered something else under his breath but I didn’t understand him nor did I care. I wasn’t helpless. I was smart about it.

“I know where we can stop tonight. Tomorrow I’ll let you guide me. I promise. But tonight, you’re sleeping in a bed in a fucking hotel. Do it for my safety if not for yours. Because if Stone ever found out I allowed you to sleep in this car he’d murder me with his hands.”

I doubted that but I also knew Jasper wasn’t going to let up on this. I was sure he had never slept in a car in his life. I didn’t imagine he would start tonight. No matter how much I demanded.

“Fine. But tomorrow this ends. I find a town and I stay there. You get on a plane back to Manhattan and live your life. Forget what you know and trust my decisions.” Even as I said it I wondered if he would. There was a chance he’d tell Stone. Then I would be faced with that. Stone’s decision wasn’t going to change mine.

“I’ll do whatever you say,” he replied.

I had a hard time believing that. But I had to trust him and let him take us to a hotel. The day was almost over. And he was right, I wanted to get out and walk around. My legs ached from being in the car most of the day.

A sign up ahead said Beaufort. I’d heard of Beaufort. That was too close to Savannah. What was he doing? This wasn’t my idea of distance. “Why are we so close to Savannah. This is not the way to North Carolina,” I said stating the obvious. He hadn’t been taking us toward North Carolina.

He shrugged. “I thought we’d drive up the coast.”

More wasted time and gas. The coast was too expensive. I knew that already. I needed a small town away from the water. I shouldn’t have slept. I should have been making plans. And getting mad at him was unfair.

“They’ve got some decent hotels here,” he said as if that made it all better.

“Yes, hotels that will cost a fortune.”

He frowned. “Not really. It’s the river not the actual coast here.”

I just rolled my eyes. Jasper would think anything less than a five star was average. It was his world and I never belonged in it to begin with.

I stayed silent as he chose a hotel that wasn’t on the water but it wasn’t cheap either. When he pulled up to the front, he turned to face me. “They’ll get your bag.” I wanted to grab my beat-up duffel bag and haul it inside with me but I got out and managed to smile at the man holding my door open before heading in the building.

Angry and worked up, I stayed sulking while Jasper checked us into the hotel. He brought me a room key. “Try and get some rest,” he paused and his eyes seemed almost as if he were asking for forgiveness. “I only want to help. That was my goal. To make up for all the harm I had caused.”

I felt bad for being so difficult. He had been nothing but nice and patient with me. If I was honest, not being alone had made this easier. He wasn’t trying to upset me. This was just his way of doing things. “Thank you. You’ve been great today. I’m just . . . I’ve got a lot on my mind and I don’t mean to be so testy.”

He smiled. “It will be okay.”

One day maybe it would be—it wouldn’t be for a while. I didn’t say that though. I simply nodded. “Goodnight,” I said instead.

“Goodnight, Beulah.” The way he said my name sounded like it meant more. There was something in his tone that struck me. I paused and studied him a moment. Then figured I was reading too much into it. I was emotionally raw these days.

With one last smile, I left him there and went to find my room.

Stone

I STOOD OUTSIDE THE HOTEL in Beaufort, South Carolina that Jasper had said he’d take her to. When he called me earlier today I hadn’t wanted to answer his call. My father had just sent word from his lawyer to mine that if I continued the course of action I was taking that I would regret it.