He immediately went into a spiel about what I needed to do.

“Dude,” I held up a hand to silence him, “I’ve got this.”

He grinned at that, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You do,” he agreed, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I’ll shut up now.” He held his hands up in surrender.

I started to drive away and the car jerked a bit. I didn’t miss the look of panic on Dean’s face.

“Give me a minute to get used to the feel,” I defended.

He stretched out his limbs and looked out the window and I knew it was so I wouldn’t see him laughing. Too bad I could see the shaking of his shoulders.

I smacked his arm. “You’re totally over there laughing at me.”

“Am not,” he snorted.

I took a deep breath and ignored him. I wouldn’t lose my focus. I could do this.

This time when I put it into gear there was no jerking. Everything was smooth.

Dean gave me an impressed nod.

I smirked at him, saying in one look, “See I could do it.”

“Are you comfortable driving in the dark?” He asked as the sun receded further.

“I have driven in the dark before, Dean.”

He chuckled huskily. “I don’t doubt that, but you’ve never driven my car in the dark before.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

He looked doubtful, but he slid further down in the seat and I knew he was close to falling asleep. He looked so tired, and I was sure that had played into his cranky mood. I wondered, idly, what had kept him up last night.

I hoped I hadn’t kicked him in my sleep.

That would be embarrassing.

Since Dean was so tired he didn’t bothe

r trying to read the map to navigate us in the direction of Cullman. Instead, I drove around hoping to eventually find a hotel with vacancy.

One of the previous hotels we stopped at the receptionist had explained that there was some kind of festival going on. Apparently it was a big deal and people came from all over the United States for it.

Thirty minutes later I spotted an exit off of the highway with several hotels.

Dean was fast asleep, so I took it upon myself to stop and check for vacancies.

All full.

It was completely dark now and I was growing anxious. I was fine to keep driving for a while, but I couldn’t drive all night.

I came out of the seedy motel I’d stopped at—which I’d been beyond shocked that they didn’t have an empty room since the place was gross with a capital G—and Dean blinked his eyes open groggily.

“Did you find a place?” His voice was deeper than normal from sleep. He looked around at our surroundings, trying to get his bearings.

I shook my head and pulled back onto the road. “No. Everywhere is full. I can drive a little further, though.” I didn’t want him to worry.

His brow furrowed and he yawned. “Let me drive for a bit.”

Tags: Micalea Smeltzer Us Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net