Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

“Mom and Dad are flipping out that you’re driving alone.”

“Believe me, they have both shared that they are not happy with me.” I roll my eyes. Maisie and Bernard, Jade’s parents, were two of my mom’s closest friends when she was alive. When she was diagnosed with cancer, they were there every step of the way. Then, when she passed, they took me in and loved me like their own. I love them to the bottom of my soul, but they really frustrate me when they treat me like a kid instead of a twenty-six-year-old woman.

“I’m also worried about it.”

“I’ll be fine.” I give her a reassuring smile. “I promise I’ll be safe, and I already loaded up on car snacks and drinks, so I won’t have to stop too often.”

“Just promise me that you won’t stop at sketchy rest stops when you have to use the restroom.”

“Promise,” I agree easily, then lean back when our drinks arrive.

When she picks up her lemon drop and holds it up, I do the same. “To new starts.”

“To new starts.” I clink my glass with hers, then shoot back the sweet-and-sour liquid that warms my stomach and relaxes me for the rest of dinner. When we finish eating and pay our tab, we head outside to the parking lot, stopping at my car since it’s closer.

“I’m going to miss you.” She pulls me in for a hug, and I hold her tightly, unsure where I would be without her support these last few weeks. Really these last few years.

“I’ll be back in two weeks.”

Keeping hold of my arms, she leans back and locks her eyes with mine. “I can’t wait to hear every detail when you get home, but promise you’ll call.”

“I’ll call you every chance I get.” My throat gets tight as I fight back tears. “I love you.”

She pulls me in for another hug. “I love you too. Try to have fun.”

“I’ll try,” I agree as she lets me go, wiping her eyes as she steps away.

“Just don’t do anything wild like fall in love with one of those Montana guys.”

Laughing, I shake my head. “I guarantee you that is not going to happen. No more men for me.”

Her face softens, and her head tips to the side. “Galvin isn’t who you were meant to be with, Cybil, and I think deep down you know that, given some of the things that happened in your relationship,” she says, and my stomach twists because I know she’s right. “It just sucks, because you’ve always thought of him when you’ve imagined your future, but he’s not who you’re supposed to be with. You’ll find your guy when you least expect it.”

I give her the nod I know she’s waiting for, and she shakes her head before spinning on her heel and heading for her car, shouting over her shoulder, “You’ll see! Your Prince Charming is out there waiting for you.”

Laughing, I get into my Bronco and start the engine. I’m not sure about Prince Charming, but I do know I have two weeks ahead of me that are going to push me out of my comfort zone, and that might be just what I need right now.

Chapter 2

CYBIL

Covering my mouth as I yawn, I glance down at my GPS and see I’m only about five minutes from the hotel I booked myself for the night. I drive through a town that looks a lot like the one I grew up in, with cute little shops lining the street, and scan the road on each side. I’m looking for somewhere to stop and get something in my stomach before I go find my bed for the evening.

I pass by a couple of fast-food places but keep going, knowing they probably won’t have anything for me to eat besides french fries, and sadly those crunchy bits of heaven won’t cut it tonight. After turning around at the end of town, I decide to head down one of the busy-looking side roads off the main drag, then spot the sign for a bar and grill off in the distance. Not seeing a space, I pass the restaurant and start scanning the road for a place to park, then sigh in relief when I spot an older woman getting into her car.

I flip on my turn signal and pull down my visor to check my reflection. After rubbing away the dark smudges of mascara under my eyes, I flip the mirror back into place, then watch in disbelief as a huge truck curves around me to angle into the space I’ve been waiting for. Tired, hungry, and now annoyed, I pull forward with my finger hovering over my passenger-window button, ready to roll it down and give the driver a piece of my mind for stealing my spot, but I stop as a man unfolds from the truck.