A shiver of fear wrapped around her spine.
Misty:I will. No worries.
Bobby:Move ur fuckin’ ass. NOW.
Sliding her phone in her jacket pocket, she scooted to the edge of the booth. “I have to get back out there. Thanks again, Shirley. I’ll pay you back. Promise.” She pushed the coins over to her. “That’s for my tea.”
“Take care of yourself. Be careful whose cab you go into.”
Misty smiled. It’d been a long time since someone cared about her well-being. For a split second, Shirley reminded her of her mom. “I will. See you around.”
The wind slashed through her as she rushed over to the middle row of trucks. Several of the drivers honked, and a couple flashed their lights. She waved at them, holding up her hand indicating that she was going to visit them all.Someone’s on my side tonight. I’ll definitely make more than what Bobby’s expecting.
Happy that she’d avoided a beating, she opened the door of a semi and pulled herself in.
***
At four inthe morning, she quietly turned the doorknob and went inside the RV. Bobby’s snores greeted her, and she hoped he’d stay sleeping when she was ready to slip between the sheets. The last thing she wanted was to have him paw her.
Turning on a small lamp on the counter, she saw numerous beer cans strewn across the counter and the small table. Elation coursed through her—he’d passed out and would be out cold for the next several hours.
After drinking a bottle of water, she went into the bathroom and jumped into the shower. The warm water made her relax for the first time in the past several hours, and she rubbed her skin over and over, trying to wash off the memories of that night. Taking a shower after her shift had become a ritual she looked forward to every night. It gave her order in a life filled with chaos.
She padded to the bed and gingerly slid between the sheets. Bobby kept snoring. She closed her eyes, waiting for the refuge of sleep to take her away for a few hours.
***
Rays of sunlightpierced her eyes as she slowly opened them. The scent of coffee permeated the room, and she heard the clang of pans and the low sizzle of something frying in a pan.Breakfast links.How she hated them. The smell alone made her want to puke. She pulled the covers over her head to block out the sun and the smells.
“Get up, lazy bones.” The bed dipped, Bobby’s hand running over her hip and leg. “You did real good, baby. Seven hundred and fifty bucks. Fuck, you must’ve been on fire last night. Crystal and Amber Jade didn’t bring that much in for the two of them. You hungry?”
“Not really. I’d rather sleep for a few more hours. I got in late last night.”
“You can sleep while I drive.”
A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. “Why’re you driving?”
“We’re pulling outta here.”
It was as if he’d thrown a bucket of ice water at her. Her heart beat in overtime, hitting against her chest so hard she feared her ribs would break and her skin would rip apart.
I can’t leave. How will Paco know where I am?
“Although, I’m tempted to stay after the money you brought in last night. If I hadn’t made the arrangement, we’d stay a bit longer.” He pulled down the covers and stroked her hair.
Don’t touch me, you disgusting asshole. I can’t go.Then his thin, cold lips kissed her. It was a sloppy kiss, and it turned her stomach.You’re being ridiculous. You’ve moved so many times. Why is this any different? And don’t you dare think about Paco. You’re being ridiculous. Like he’d ever come back here looking for you.
“What’s the matter? Did you give it all away last night?” He laughed and roughly squeezed her breast under her thin nightshirt.
“Do we have to go? I don’t want to.”
Suddenly he wrapped his fist around her hair and yanked it hard. Her eyes watered and she cried out before he brought his face inches away from hers. “I’m not asking you what the fuck you want. You don’t have an opinion. You don’t think. All you do is fuck. I own you, and I tell you what the fuck to do, when to do it, and where to do it.” Spit from his mouth wet her face. For good measure, he pulled her hair so hard she feared it’d rip out of her scalp.
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever question me again, slut,” he growled as he smacked her hard across the face then walked out of the room.
She rubbed her tingling scalp, then buried her face in the pillow, suppressing her sobs.
Thirty minutes later, Misty sat in the front passenger seat as Bobby pulled away from the gas pump. Hitting the highway, she glanced in the rearview mirror and stared at the truck stop as it became smaller and smaller, then eventually disappeared. She put on her sunglasses and focused on the mountains in the distance as the sand and sagebrush blew across the highway.