Love, Sex, & Wanderlust

Literotic asexstories – Love, Sex, & Wanderlust by scribbleskillz,scribbleskillz Author’s note

Sometimes, how you get somewhere makes the destination all the more rewarding. In cases like this one, it’s all about the journey and the discoveries along the way. Buckle up; this one is long with plenty of excitement down the road.

This story had previously been cut into two chapters, however it is more impactful when delivered as a whole. Apologies in advance as that leads one longer tale.

If you have concerns over what content may be in a story, please read the story tags before continuing. If a subject is not of interest, this may not be the story for you. For everyone else, I hope you enjoy.

As always, all characters are over the age of 18.

* * *

PROLOGUE

Dad had a joke he used to say when we were younger. My sister, Dani, and I didn’t really find it funny, but it made Mom laugh.

“Judy is my wife, but Daisy is my mistress.”

Back then I didn’t quite understand the joke but my sister Danielle and I would still chuckle as if we did. Mom rolled her eyes and did the things that moms do, mostly humoring their husbands. But all things considered, you could tell he did harbor a serious attraction for Daisy, and none of us could blame him. Even Mom would occasionally stare at her curves as she passed. It’s true, she was a sight to behold, and my father’s pride and joy (yes I’m including his children with that statement). You likely would think the same if you had her, a beautiful blue ’56 Chevy Cameo.

I’d like to say we all loved her because Dad was always gushing, but we each found our own joy with that car. He’d spend hours tuning her up in the garage, me lending a hand where I could and learning a thing or two about how she runs. Dani would help too., though 10-year-old me would just say she was in the way. At the end of the day, when we came in with grease and sweat coating our smiling faces, Mom always wash away the grime before she and pops would take an evening ride around town.

It was Mom who actually gave Daisy her name. While Dad was a man with many talents, Mom had a very special eye and was without a doubt the artist in the family. She would sculpt, paint, write, you name it, executing some secret vision that always impressed. As Dad told us; it was when they were young, foolish, and madly in love, Mom painted a little flower on the glovebox. A tiny white and yellow daisy; hence her name.

Our family-owned a small hardware store outside of Dayton, Ohio. Dad originally wanted to name it “Campbells” after our last name, but Mom talked him out of it knowing it would only be a matter of time before a lawyer or two came knocking. It was a modest little shop, and our parents put everything they had into it. To Danielle and I, we lived like royalty, but in reality, we were just scraping by. So imagine our shock when during one family dinner, Mom and Dad laid the heavy news on us.

“Richard, Dani, we have to sell Daisy.”

I don’t mean to sound melodramatic but to say we were devastated would be an understatement. Daisy was part of the family; you can’t sell a family member! I had dreamed of learning to drive with that car! Maybe someday, perhaps Dad would even hand the keys over to me for keeps. But for all our crying and kicking, that’s what happened, Dad sold her to some car collector or something and the world somehow managed to keep spinning.

As the years passed, somehow I managed to graduate high school, and even more surprisingly, obtained a scholarship to Boston University for Engineering. Sure it meant heading a few states away from the family, but I still found the means to go back on holidays and breaks. As time went on, and college curriculum got harder, I found more and more need to lean into those moments away with family. I mean, sure, I still managed to let off steam as college kids do, and I did well enough in the lady department, but still, there’s something to be said about coming home and spending time with loved ones that reminds you of the simple things.

With the first year away under my belt, and when Dani was a senior in High School, everything else seemed to get easier. Yet that year, when I came home on spring break, it just so happened to be when Mom and Dad were vacationing in California’s Wine Country. Annoying as that was, it gave Dani and me a whole week just to ourselves. It was just one week, and it redefined our relationship in such an incredible way.

We caught up on our yearly shenanigans, dating lives, school and work, and whatever. We had a Star Wars marathon, played endless board games, and just messed around doing whatever stupid things came to mind. It was just good, honest fun. Then, just like that, the week was over and it was time to make the long trek back east. But not before we made a pledge to meet up every year after.

To really understand what happened next, one would have to better understand Danielle as a whole. I have nothing but love and respect for my sister. She, like myself, strives to be as kind and caring as possible, embodying “do unto others” lifestyle. Yet, at the same time, she is also pretty sarcastic, pretty snarky, and pretty… well she’s pretty.

Look, I know there’s no avoiding the obvious here, but when considering all context and narrative expectations, it should go without saying that yes, I think my sister is an attractive human being; inside and out. She has that cute personality of the girl next door meets a not-so-secretive nerd. She’s active; being in both track and volleyball, yet wanted to be in the drama club. If you took all the stereotypes in high school and turn them into a Venn Diagram; she’d be the one flipping you off in the middle. So yeah, she was that girl; cute enough to be voted Prom Queen, but hip enough to reject it.

So that’s Dani; my compulsive, spunky, witty, attractive, and almost filterless little sister. It came as no surprise when she moved to Austin, Texas to study Interior Design, followed closely after by Seattle, Washington for literature. Literally, every year after high school she was on the move, sometimes twice a year. I think it was when she was in Salt Lake City she finally stopped with college altogether. She made contacts, learned a thing or two, then would move on to her next destination that somehow piqued her interest. I wasn’t one to complain as each year, I’d go see her wherever she was and in so doing, got to travel the nation. It was our tradition. Yet while we had our adventures, back home things were different.

For our parents, it was a little hard at first with the empty house and quiet rooms. But I blame Dani and her exploits across the country for somehow passing on the travel bug. Wishing for their own adventure, they decided to move westward. Dad sold the shop and the house was next. They bought up some acres outside of those vineyards in California they loved so much. As Dad put it, they were gonna spend their next chapter tilling the earth or something like that.

And that was it, childhood was over. Adulthood coming in hot. Didn’t know what to expect next, but leave it to Dani to shake things up.

* * *

March 2004.

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

It never fails; when traveling at an airport, you will always find yourself stuck behind someone who is standing on the moving walkways. And so, here I was, backpack slung over my shoulder after a five-hour flight to North Carolina. Everything I brought was able to fit in the overhead bin, and now stuck behind a family with far too many bags just standing there, congesting the walkway. As my agitation began to rise, I calmed myself. I was in no hurry. None at all.

Maneuvering through the airport was a different challenge. After passing families reuniting, the businessmen and women running here and there as if perpetually late for whatever is next, I made it to the gaggle of chauffeurs all patiently holding signs to find their hired client. As I passed the last group, I suddenly stopped, a moment of doubt washed over me, but I know I saw what I thought I saw.

I turned back finding in the sea of signs and people, a lone female agent waiting for a “Mr. Dickhead”. And of course, the bearer of said sign wearing aviator shades, an oversized chauffeur’s hat & coat, and a shit-eating grin, was my dear sister, Dani.

With a smile on my face, I shook my head and approached.

“Mr. Dickhead?” she asked raising an eyebrow. Her smile was so bright it could be seen by the blind.

“Um, Mr. Dickhead is my father. Just Dickhead is fine. ” I replied. Fun to lean into it sometimes. I nodded to her cap, “Where’d you get that?”

She looked up, at least I think she did. Hard to tell with the glasses.

“Oh!” she said nodding to the gentleman beside her. “That’s Tommy’s,” she said as Tommy looked down at her nervously. Like so many of her victims, the poor chap had fallen in love with her with little effort of her own. He’s far from the first, and God knows, he is far from the last.

She handed him the cap and jacket, leaving herself in a deep green halter-top and torn-fitted jeans. She thanked Tommy and he mumbled his response, oblivious to his elderly guest who approached saying “Hello? Hellooo? I’m Ms. Cunningham. Hello?”

Dani looked back to me and burst with an excited “So good to see you!” as she yanked me into a firm hug by her surprisingly firm body. She was never one I would consider overweight but also was never one to frequent the gym as far as I was aware.

As quick as it started, she released me causing my senses to flood back.

“Good to see you too, Sis,” I somehow squeaked out as she pulled away, her hand staying on my chest.

“You,” she said with a soft pat-pat-pat of her hand, “Really need a shower.”

“What?” I sniffed my shirt. “Smell’s alright to me.”

“Oh jeez, I’m sure it does,” she rolled her eyes as she took off her sunglasses, hooking them into the collar of her top. Her blue eyes sparkled. “Come on smelly man. I parked in the hourly lot.”

Twenty minutes later we were on a backcountry highway. Dani drove us in an old station wagon that hugged the roadways as we ventured out of Greensboro.

Rolling green hills passed by in an endless cycle, peppered with old trees and fences in various conditions. The day was passing quickly and already the first few shades of pink could be seen as the sun began its descent.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” Dani said as we cruised along.

“Never been out this way before. Feel like we are in the good ‘ol heart of America.”

I could hear her smile. “I totally thought the same thing,” she replied before turning to look at me. “You got two weeks off this time, right? Just like I asked?”

Nodding my head. “I did but I may be in hot water when I get back. Gonna’ clue me in on what’s going on with this trip?” I didn’t need to look to know she was smiling.

“Soon! You’re gonna love this. It’s gonna blow your fucking mind.”

Rounding a turn revealed a field in the middle of a harvest. A large combine cut the crop like it was getting a haircut. The driver waved as we passed and my sister returned the gesture.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked.

“Heading out to a friend of mine. Been staying there for about the last few months.”

“In Greensboro? I didn’t even know when you moved out here.”

She cut me a side eye, obviously hiding something. “I don’t tell you everything.”

“So Chicago, Seattle, Portland, New York…” I began.

“Mm-hmmm” she smiled, hands at two and ten on the wheel.

“… I know I’m missing a few here, but these are major cities.”

“So astute.”

“Well, I mean, you’ve been in these big places and now here, the great expanse of nothingness,” I said gesturing with sweeping arms at the scenic landscape.

With her face aghast but a hint of a smile, she turned to me. “You say that like we are way out in the boonies! This isn’t-”

“Dani!” I shouted, eyes on the road.

Tires screeched as the car skidded to a stop. A mere two feet from us stood an unshaken lamb, staring at me as it casually chewed on whatever lambs eat.

“Jesus Christ,” Dani exhaled, unbuckling her seatbelt as she leaned out the window. “Charlie! Charlie, get your dumb ass out of the road!”

Charlie stared back, unmoved. He blinked, then sauntered off to the side, a dull bell around his neck clunking with each step.

Dani slipped back inside. “That fucking lamb. I swear he is the dumbest…” she trailed off.

“Friend of yours?” I asked.

She glared. “No,” and re-buckled her seatbelt. “But we’re here.”

We turned to the right, driving down a road of dirt and gravel. It sliced through a field of knee-high, green grass and scattered oak trees. From behind them all appeared a picturesque little blue house. White trim with actual shutters. Small porch in the front with an even larger red barn peeking out the back. The only thing that would make this more complete would be a sleeping dog on the porch… ah, there he is. The biggest damn sheepdog on God’s green earth reared its head as our tires crunched the gravel driveway.

“Hiya, Winston!” Dani called to him, and that tiny bear sprung to life like it was just a pup.

She parked the car and jumped out while the furry beast hobbled down to smother her in fur kisses. The two of them played in what appeared to be a ritual greeting, both jumping with excitement. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I climbed out of the car and into the warm evening.

“Winston! Down!” a voice called from the house. The dog instantly turned and lumbered back to his master.

On the porch near the now open door stood an older woman, composed and almost regal yet wearing an old plaid shirt tucked into her jeans. Silver streaks ran through her straight black hair, cut just at the shoulder. By the way she dried her hands on the cloth, we must have either interrupted her in prepping dinner or cleaned up from it. The sudden scent of roasting chicken answered my inquiry.

“Hey, Barb,” Dani called up to the woman as she skipped up the steps to the porch, ruffling Winston’s fur to his pure delight. The two women embraced in a warm hug.

“I was wondering when you’d get in. Figured I’d still have about half an hour,” Barb said as she pulled back, her eyes turning to me. “This handsome young man can’t be Richard.”

“I’m afraid so,” I smiled back, following Dani up the steps. “Barbara is it?” I asked extending my hand.

“Barb is fine,” she replied as she brushed my hand away. “No need for that. Come here,” and suddenly I was pulled into a tight hug by this stranger. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally meet you!” she said pulling back.

“Well, I am sure you must be exhausted. Danielle, why don’t you show him his room so he can get settled.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Is there a shower I could use to freshen up? I am told I am unfit for the public.” My side eye to Dani was not meant to be stealthy. Dani scrunched her nose and giggled.

Barb waved it off. “Oh, hush. You just smell like a man who’s spent a day in the sun. Dinner’s in ten minutes.”

And with that, she and Winston retreated inside the old house as Dani nodded to follow.

“Come on, right up the stairs.”

A room had been prepped for me and after my day of travel, it felt kingly indeed. It was a country house to be sure. Hardwood floors, a queen bed with a blue quilted cover, a dresser, a rug, and a cross-stitched picture of a sunflower hanging on the wall. In addition, there was a Jack-and-Jill bathroom connecting Dani’s room to my own.

I set my bag down on the bed and felt the gentle breeze from the open window, causing the white lace curtains to sway. From outside I could hear chickens clucking, followed soon after by the crow of an honest-to-god rooster. Downstairs the sounds of plates being set and Dani’s laughter bounced up the wooden stairs. After the business of the plane and airport, the serenity of this house and country was almost shockingly peaceful. These old houses were meant to breathe, and that simple fact helped me to take a deep breath and let out all the tension and stress. That baggage would be left behind.

After changing my shirt, I had just enough time to splash some water on my face before Dani poked her head into the bathroom.

“Hey! You ’bout ready?” she asked. “Barbara’s made her famous chicken. So yummy.”

“Yeah, totally. Been smelling it since I came in,” I said shaking the water off my hands. “So hey, you gonna fill me in on what’s going on? I mean, Barb, North Carolina, the fact that suddenly you are a total country girl? Compared to our normal yearly meetups, I’m a little in the dark here.”

“I know, I’m sorry. Just trust me, I’ll fill you in after dinner. Then we will have plenty of time to catch up.”

A heavy sigh left me. It was a long day, and I knew better than to argue with Dani.

“Sure thing.”

“Thanks, Dickhead. I’ll see you down there.” And just like that, she was gone again.

To say dinner was amazing would fail to do it justice. Barbara had prepared a small feast of a lemon & herb roasted chicken, cooked over carrots and onions which bathed in the savory juices of the meat. The skin was crisp, the meat was moist, and the homemade buttermilk biscuits almost brought a tear to my eye. Barb must have been working on this all afternoon but she insisted multiple times over that it took no effort.

We ate, we drank, and we laughed and laughed. There are few people I can say this about but it is amazing to me how a year can pass between these moments with my sister but as soon as we are back together, we instantly fall right back in sync. We quoted Ghostbusters, shared hometown stories, Barbara regaled us with the exploits of Charlie; the world’s dumbest lamb, and Winston kept searching under the table for any fallen scraps, nearly knocking over each chair he passed with his behemoth size.

After the dishes were cleared and collectively cleaned, Barbara bid us a good night leaving Dani and I to chat alone at the kitchen table.

We watched her leave with her sleepy dog trotting behind.

“She’s the best. I friggin’ love that woman,” Dani said as she poured herself another glass of Chardonnay.

“So how’d you two meet?”

“Ah!” Her eyes lit up as she leaned forward. “It was actually a couple years back when I lived in New York. I was working on a special project and ended up getting in contact with her late husband, Hank.”

She leaned back, placing a hand over her heart. “Honestly, he was the sweetest guy, Richie, he really was. Polite, caring, and thought the world of Barbara. That man loved his wife, no questions asked. To see them together, you’d think they just started dating.” Tears welled up in her eyes and she took a deep breath; composing herself.

“So,” she began. “I ended up getting in contact with Hank and we ended up chatting back and forth from time to time. When they found out I was passing through, they offered to put me up for a couple of days and that began to be a regular thing up until last Fall. I was coming down to spend a weekend here and found out Hank passed away not long before. I couldn’t leave Barb like that so the weekend turned into a week, then a month, and before you know it, here I am.”

“What about your job?” I asked.

“That I can now do from anywhere.”

I must have had a questioning look on my face, either that or she read my mind.

“I’m kinda like a journalist now. Kinda. More like editorials and stuff for… Have you heard of ‘Anastasia’? The Magazine?”

After a moment’s thought, I shook my head. “Sorry”

“No worries,” she said. “It’s kinda one of those girlie rags like Cosmo, but anyway, I met an editor for them in Seattle and started writing for them last year. Mostly I do little thought pieces and get paid when I post, then bonuses based on how many views, and, blah-blah-blah. They told me to get a laptop, get a camera, and wished me luck.”

“And you enjoy it?” I asked.

“I do.” She met my eyes and smiled.

I raised my glass. “Well, here’s to finding joy.”

She clinked her glass to my own. “To new adventures.”

We drank.

It’s the simplest things sometimes that can be the most rewarding. Like finding joy from throwing a perfect pass in football, hearing the same joke over and over but for some reason it still brings you to tears, or when you have seen something your entire life and never realized how beautiful it truly was.

She didn’t know it, but I could not take my eyes off her at that moment. Her own gaze drifted off into the distance, introducing whatever warm thought that could cause a smile. Time felt like a whisper, gently floating by. A slight breeze drifted in from the open window causing a strand of brown hair to fall from behind her ear. Without a thought, she causally brushed it back. She was at peace, blue eyes sparkling, lips turned in a subtle grin, the tiny hairs on her slender neck suddenly rippled with goosebumps as she suppressed a small shiver.

Dani’s eyes traveled back to mine as I leaned back into the corner of the sofa with my arm stretched across the top. She reached out and squeezed my hand.

“Thank you so much for coming with me,” she said. “Not just the trip, but always being there, and always flying out to meet me wherever I am. I know I don’t say it enough but it really means a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome, Dani,” I said. “You’re my sister. We’re family, it’s what we do.”

She let go of my hand.

“I know, and you say that and it makes sense, but you’ve been there for me a whole hell of a lot more than I’ve been there for you.” She squeezed into her own corner, tucking her legs under. “I mean you’ve helped me over the rough nights of bad decisions and shitty breakups, and… and…”

“I haven’t really had many for you to help with, I guess,” I admitted. In retrospect, kinda made me sad to say it out loud.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s such bullshit.”

“It’s true. I don’t really have any time for much with work and all.”

“But when you were in college-”

“In college, I spent most of my time studying or working part-time.” I laughed. “I guess I haven’t really reached out for help because I don’t have much going on that required it.”

“Yeah but now-”

“I don’t really have the time, Dani.” I was getting frustrated and failing to hide it. “I’m at work most days by five, spend most of the time running around the city inspecting attics or foundation and crawling into God knows what, then I’m in the office filling out the reports for my gigs and lining up work for the rest of the team until seven. Then have to figure out dinner which most of the time ends up being take-out on the way home which still has me fighting traffic, and then crashing on the couch because I’m too sore to make it to my bed. Then what do I do the next day? Same as the day before”

It wasn’t until the silence that I realized how loud I was getting. I shrank a little letting the quiet sit back in.

Dani just stared at me over the rim of her glass as she took a deep, long sip.

“Richie,” she said “You really need to reset your priorities.”

Oh, that hurt. “What?… I…”

“Man, no wonder it takes you so long to wind down and loosen up.”

“I’m plenty loosened up. They just ask a lot of me and no one else…”

“No one else works as hard as you? No one else is pulling their weight? You mean to tell me that you are the only one who can do the things you do?”

“No, I’m just the only one that does it right.”

She stared at me again letting my statement hang in the air.

“Richard, do you ever wonder if you may be spending so much time looking for issues elsewhere that you aren’t addressing the ones in your own life?”

If the couch could swallow me now, I would let it.

I took a deep breath. “Look, Dani, I know things aren’t the way I want them to be right now. But I got a job and I’m making a name for myself and if I keep at it, I mean…” try as I might, I couldn’t complete the sentence as it dawned on me I didn’t know where it would go.

Dani spoke.

“Do you like what you do?”

“I’m good at it.”

The wind blowing through the window suddenly informed me how heated I had become.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so defensive about it.”

She smiled and looked at me. “You’re fine. I’m your sister,” she said with a whimsical shrug. “It’s my job to rile you up.”

I laughed “Thanks?”

“Just know, I think you are more than your job.”

She smiled again and drained her glass before standing up.

“Come on,” she said. “I want to show you something.”

The air outside was cool, almost cold, but fresh. The moon had already fallen as we walked beneath a canopy of stars brighter than I’d ever seen it. This couldn’t possibly be the same sky that I’ve seen all my life. But of course it was, just without the city’s lights bleeding into the night. Dani sensed my awe and walked on, leading me to the red barn.

With a loud grumble and grown, Dani slid open the door to the barn and flipped a switch hidden on the side. Amber light filled the room showing much of what you’d expect to see; bales of hay, pitchforks, rakes, shovels, barrels, etc…

Yet in the back was a workbench, complete with wrenches and hammers and mason jars holding varying sizes of nuts and bolts and whatever. An engine joist earned its name holding an engine in mid-air with thick chains. A single lightbulb hung down from the rafters shedding light on the tiny motes of dust that danced in the air. Beneath it was the unmistakable silhouette of a car, hidden beneath a tan cloth.

I knew that outline.

“Holy shit,” I breathed as I found myself walking toward the back, drawn to this shrouded vehicle.

Reaching down, I grasped the side of the covering, then looked back to Danielle. She nodded, granting permission.

I peeled back the cloth revealing a familiar cobalt blue bumper. It was! I pulled it free completely and confirmed my hopes. There before me was a perfect 1956 Chevy Cameo.

Dani spoke, suddenly beside me.

“When I said I had a special project, this was it,” she said. “I wanted to see if I could track down a Cameo. Specifically a 1956 Cameo that spent time in Dayton twelve years ago.”

“Mom was a major help. She was able to find a copy of the correspondence with the person Dad sold it to back in ’94. It was some guy up in Akron who owned a bunch of restaurants. And without boring you with the details, it turns out it changed hands a couple times in a couple years until it was traded to a farmer in North Carolina.”

I reached the driver’s side door and grasped the handle, feeling that long-missed mechanical connection as the weight of the door opened. With a step, I climbed in and sat behind the wheel. The passenger door opened and Dani stepped inside.

A lifetime of memories washed back over me.

Gripping the steering wheel, I turned back to Danielle. “This isn’t just a car… this is Daisy?”

My sister shrugged, then looked at the dashboard. There, painted with enough detail to appear factory-made, was the flower left by our mother years before.

“Holy shit!” I said. “You found Daisy!”

Dani started laughing. “Surprise!”

“Holy shit!”

“And that, dear brother, is why we are here,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

Dani wiped away a tear. “Hank took great care of her for the short time he had it, but his work is unfinished. I know you and Dad used to work on it all the time, so I thought… maybe… you could help me get her back up and running?”

“Oh my god, yes! Absolutely!”

“Awesome!” she replied. “And, if we can get her running, if you want, you can help me drive her back.”

“Seriously?” I asked, nearly at a loss for words.

Dani nodded.

“Wait, back? As in…”

“California.”

“California?!”

She nodded.

“The state?!”

She nodded again.

“Dani that is basically across the whole country.”

Dani reached out, tugging at my sleeve.

“I know, I know. It’s a lot. Trust me, I know. But it’ll be fun! A family road trip and we will get to see the whole country instead of just a small chunk.”

“Dani-”

“We will have a great time! I promise. We can do trivia, we can sight-see, you name it. I even have the course plotted out for us and it should take about six, maybe seven days, depending on our speed.”

There is no denying it, this sounded incredible.

“But what about my flight back?”

“You will still be able to make it,” she said, though sheepishly.

“… care to tell me how? It’s already booked… isn’t it.”

“It is… from San Francisco.”

That conniving little…

“You conniving little…”

“Please don’t be mad! Please! That part wasn’t my idea. It was Mom’s.”

“Mom’s in on this?!”

“Kinda, sorta, but not completely. You know she loved riding in that car just as much as Dad loved to drive it, if not more so. When I told her I found Daisy, she was blown away! She had a heart-to-heart conversation with Barbara about it a month ago and here we are.”

The plot thickens.

“What about Dad?”

Dani shook her head. “He has no idea and Mom wants to keep it that way. She wants to give it to Dad as an early anniversary present.”

“And Barb’s okay with this?”

Dani shrugged. “They worked something out. If I’m being honest with you, I think she would have given it to me if I asked, but I never could do that to her.”

She reached out and squeezed my hand.

“Look, I know road trips suck. And I know I’m springing this on you last minute, which can make you look like the bad guy, but please know I was sworn to secrecy. You know how Mom can be sometimes.”

She squeezed again, then let go.

“Tell you what; think about it for now. We still have to make her sea-worthy before this ship can sail. Would you be able to at least help with that?”

I looked over at her, my dear sister. Of course I would do it.

With a heavy sigh, perhaps more for show, I said “I’ll do it.”

“You will?!”

Begrudgingly, I nodded. “Yup.”

“Thank you!” she leaped toward me, practically pinning me to the door in her hug. Then, just as suddenly, she pulled back. “Wait, just so I’m not jumping to conclusions; are you agreeing to the drive too, or just the fixing it up part?”

“Both,” I said.

Rarely have I seen her with a more pure of heart smile. She dove back into her hug, pressing her head to my chest. With little thought, I returned the gesture, left hand resting on her back while the right landed on her side, right on that space where her shirt pulled up just enough to leave the smooth of her skin bare.

It wasn’t intended to be intimate, perhaps that’s why she allowed it to linger, or maybe that’s why she squeezed just a little tighter. Maybe for her, it was an innocent hug showing appreciation to a loved one, but for me, it was a reminder of the feel of a woman melting across my body. It had been too long. My lines were blurring and try all I could, my hormones were refusing to acknowledge a difference between kin and conquest. And the results were starting to rise.

“Thank you,” she said again into my chest. “And I was just giving you shit earlier.” I could feel each breath she took. “You smell fine.”

She shifted for a moment, then pulled away.

“I’ll see you in the morning. Bright and early.” She started to climb out of the car. “You coming?”

“In a moment,” I told her. I needed to calm down in more ways than one.

She yawned “Don’t stay up too late. Tomorrow we get this kitty to purr once more.” She patted the hood and shut the car door.

“G’night Dickhead,” she said as she walked out.

“Goodnight,” I replied, watching her shape as she went.

Shit, I was in trouble.

I slept hard. Like, check my pulse hard. I half expected to rise with a crowing rooster but was only slightly disappointed to find that wasn’t the case. Instead, it was the fresh smell of bacon and coffee and the sound of birds chirping outside. Damn, this was nice.

Stumbling out of bed and throwing on jeans and a shirt, I found my way downstairs, following my nose to the kitchen where a plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and fried tomatoes was already waiting for me. A barely steaming cup of coffee sat beside it with a note.

“Mornin’

Barb’s out doing farm stuff.

I’m doing yoga.

Eat up and I’ll meet you in the barn.

D”

Oh, I went to town on those eggs and downed the coffee just as quickly. With a second cup poured, I made my way outside.

The sun was shining through the trees onto the green grass and what I can now see as a cornfield stretching out behind the barn. Chickens were strutting along here and there, pecking at insects and seeds. Birds were chirping, the wind blowing, and way far off one could just barely make out the sound of a tractor rumbling away doing whatever it is they do.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I spotted Winston, stretched out and resting on the porch next to me.

“Morning pooch,” I said to him. He raised his head, then lowered it again with a heavy huff. Oh, the life of a dog.

Just then, I noticed a small splash of color beneath a tree about a couple dozen yards away. Dani was stretching in a very tight, pink tank top and equally right black leggings. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun keeping her shoulders and neck bare. Little of her form was left to the imagination.

Taking a moment to ruffle the dog’s fur, I began to make my way to Dani.

So serene and centered. Here I found my dear sister balancing on one leg while her hands pressed together as if praying. She was facing away from me but casually looked over her shoulder having somehow heard my approach.

“Aren’t you up early,” she said before taking a deep breath now with greater posture than I’ve ever seen her hold. Seriously, how is she not falling over?

“Guess I was just too excited to get a start on the day,” I responded. “This new?”

“What?” She turned slightly yet her body stepped forward like she was frozen mid-stride, pointing her arms straight up. “Yoga?”

I took a sip. “Yeah.”

“Not really.” She leaned forward and rotated her torso, keeping her feet firmly planted while one hand touched her forward calve and the other stretched to the heavens. My god, it was a sight.

“I started about ten months ago for my column. It’s kinda about… health. Enough people recommended this so I gave it a go and kinda like it. Great for a morning workout.” She switched sides, now facing me as she stretched and blew a stray strand of hair out of her face.

“… Kinda weird if you just stand there and watch,” she said.

“Sorry,” I replied but didn’t bat an eye. “I’m just having a hard time understanding how this is a workout. This is just the stretching you do before it, right?”

“Smart ass. You know very well what this is.”

I shrugged. “Well, I have heard, but never seen. Doesn’t seem like much.”

This time it was her eyebrow that raised. “Oh really? That why you over there being all pervy?”

Feigning shock. “What?” I said “Me? Pervy?! How dare you?!”

She then straightened back up pointing her fingers to the air once more.

“Oh, I dare, alright!” I could sense the jest in her. “You just wish you had a girlfriend who could do what I do.”

“Yeah right.” I laughed. It was true, but I’m not telling her that.

“But you’d only date good girls, knowing you,” she said as she wiggled her hips finding a new center.

Her eyes narrowed as a look of mischief danced in her smile.

“Hey Dickhead,” she said as she stood up straight, legs together. “You know the difference between good girls and bad girls?”

“What’s that?”

She shrugged. “Oh, not much. Just good girls bend at the knees. Bad girls…” She locked eyes on me “Bend at the waist.”

And with that, she leaned down, legs straight, and went into the only pose I knew; Downward Dog. She was like a small pyramid with her hands and feet on the ground but her back, arms, and legs straight. She knew I had an unobstructed view of her ass, firmly squeezed into those yoga pants, and she did nothing to hide it. Such a boss move.

“Jeez, alright, you win. Well played, Dani.” I said as I turned to head back to the house. “I’ll see you in the barn.”

All I could hear was a sing-song reply of “Love you Big Bro!” from her direction as I retreated, knowing she was still holding that pose with her perfect ass in the air.

It took us the better part of a week to make that car sing. Each day we’d get up at dawn and have an amazing breakfast, followed immediately by Danielle getting in her morning workout. I myself would go for a walk around the property with Winston trotting at my side as I marveled at the beauty of the country slowly waking.

By mid-morning, we’d get to work on the truck. Hours and hours of grease, sweat, and dirt would pass while Dani and myself labored inside and under Daisy; lubing, tightening, turning, cranking, and a whole lot of swearing (mainly from me). At times we’d have to make a trip into town for various parts, then again when we found it was the wrong one. The days were long, but man, this was a work I truly loved.

Each night when the light began to fade, we’d retreat to the house to clean ourselves up. Barb, like a magician, had dinner ready each and every night by the time we were both freshly showered.

We would feast, drink, and reminisce about days past, then retire to the living room to continue the merriment. Dani was an endless trove of joyful randomness, while Barb would tell of her own adventures with Hank as they traveled across the US by motorbike before freeways were established. Having not much to add, I would take it all in, listening to tales of other lives while trying to convince Winston that he was not in fact a lapdog as he tried to curl up with me on the couch. It was a battle that I always lost.

As the evening would draw on, eventually Barb would bid us goodnight and leave Dani and me to our devices. It’s funny to think about but every night, after our host left, we would move closer to each other and lower our voices as if we had a plot we were concocting, or something worthy of utmost secrecy. Those secrets worthy of such actions were actually not far away, but for now, there was something else in the air. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the day of hard labor, or maybe it was that feeling that even though we spent the day side-by-side, it wasn’t until now that we were actually together. Each of us basking in the warmth of drink, relaxation, safe space, and good company.

Eventually, I could fight off sleep no more and would head back to my room, leaving my sister to the night. And each time, as I ascended the stairs, I could already hear the clicking and clacking of her typing away on her laptop writing God knows what.

Dani, she really was incredible. I felt honored that she had so much faith in me to be able to restore Daisy to all her glory, but if I’m being honest, I would not have been able to do any of it without her. She was like a perfect partner, willing and able. If I was about to ask for a tool, she’d already be handing it. When unable to squeeze into a space, she’d volunteer before being asked. Chances are too that we’d have been wrapped sooner if it wasn’t for me. For you see, she wasn’t just my greatest aide, she was also my greatest distraction.

At the start of the first day, she had a tight denim button-up and her hair tied in a handkerchief looking like a modern-day Rosy the Riveter; ready to tackle any challenge. At times this wasn’t an issue at all until she moved and the fabric hugged her in just the right way to remind one that a feminine figure was beneath. I knew then I’d never be able to look at those Rosy posters the same way. Yet that wasn’t even the worst of it. It was her banter that nearly did me in.

She’d giggle when we lubed up the pistons. Kept saying “She’s so tight” when trying to unscrew the engine bolts. Called herself a “Dirty Girl” after she spilled the engine oil on herself. Then, after she insisted on getting under Daisy with me, both on creepers (which of course she laughed at), she would make quips about how it was always a good time to “work on my back”. It should go without saying that all this had been done to get a rise out of me, but none was as impactful as the accidental touches.

When my bare elbow would bump against hers for only a moment while we worked under the car.

When she would hold open the hood and I would stretch in front, our sides brushing together.

When we would both entwine our arms trying to rotate the tire jack to replace the tires.

Each time felt electric. I felt like my own engine had been started; a low, tumbling roar deep within just idling and waiting for a green light. I would chastise myself, try and shake it off as my body sensed the closeness of a woman but paid little attention to blood relations. I knew who she was, and I knew it was wrong. But it has been too long. That was why I felt this way. That had to be it. There wasn’t anything there; I’m just picking up on the wrong signals again.

But then our eyes would connect.

There would be just a moment, a brief twinkle that I saw in those blue eyes. A spark. A flush to the skin, still visible beneath the light sheen of sweat and oil. It was the way she brushed a strand of hair back. I could see her breath catch, as I know mine had.

And then we’d blink, and the moment was gone.

There’s nothing there. There couldn’t be… right?

A loud thunk could be heard through the whole shed as I closed the hood. If I was correct, that should be it. Job’s done. But then again there may be something I’m forgetting. Mentally I was checking and rechecking all our work as I wiped my hands on a rag.

Mumbling to myself, I looked over the car. “Engine’s balanced. All lines were connected, belts on tight but not too tight. She’s got oil. Alignment’s correct…”

“Hey, Richie!” I hear calling from outside.

Turning, I spy Dani dangling a set of keys as she struts up with a smug grin.

“Wanna do the honors?” she asked.

I remember the feel of the key sliding into the ignition; each tumbler clinking as it slipped into place. My other hand gripped the steering wheel tightly. Dani sat beside me holding her breath. The world felt muted in the cabin, but though we said nothing, our excitement was all but screaming through our weak composure.

I looked at my sister, “Finger’s crossed…”

With a foot on the clutch, I turned the ignition… and Daisy sang.

Her roar was like music, accompanied but the percussion of the rumbling engine. Holy shit we fixed her.

Dani was ecstatic, she screamed for joy and launched herself in for a hug across the bench seat. I turned to accept only to find her lips pressing hard into mine. Those lips, those soft, yet firm lips of my sister’s sparked my own plug. It felt like a damn burst and I could hear the world.

And then, just as quickly, she pulled back, giggling with excitement.

“I’m gonna go tell Barb!” she exclaimed as she dove out of the car as if a major thing that we don’t do wasn’t just done.

She kissed me. That wasn’t our thing. We were hugging siblings, we don’t kiss.

But I could still feel her on my lips like a phantom touch.

What the hell just happened?!?

Cold water was a blessing. I faced the shower, head lifted up with my eyes shut and let it pour across my heated skin. I could feel it washing away the sweat and grime while pacifying this furnace inside. Looking down, the unmistakable signs of an erection still lingered. Not quite full mast, but if the wind blew just right, I might lose consciousness by the sudden relocation of blood.

I could just rub one out right now, can’t I? Would that be weird? That’s all I need to do, I’m sure. Too much baby batter on the brain. I don’t need long.

Already sensing what was to come, literally, my cock had risen to the occasion while I debated the politeness of jerking off in an old lady’s bathroom… Well, guest bathroom; as if that somehow made it better.

Reaching up, I steadied myself on the tile wall with one hand while my other grasped my turgid rod. It felt like fire, furiously refusing to yield to the cold water raining down from the shower head. Steady, with purpose, I began to stroke.

Images ran through my head as I searched for an image to fuel me. Memories of pleasure cascaded through my consciousness in a chaotic parade of lust.

I saw Juliet, my first love bending over her father’s bed the time her parents went out of town. She shuddered in a seemingly endless wave of orgasms as we both discovered a magical angle to thrust.

There was Stacey. She was older than me by a couple of years. I was at a crowded campus party sitting on the couch when she sat down beside me, right on my hand. It was an innocent accident anyone could make while forgoing panties and only wearing a dangerously short skirt. She looked at me, raised an eyebrow, and settled in. She sipped her solo cup while my fingers squeezed inside her.

And Gloria. My god Gloria. We fooled around all summer in ’03, but I will never forget the time we just stayed in and listened to grunge rock all day long, rarely bothering with clothes as we just kept tearing them off each other. The way her tits brushed against my chest when she rode me… That will do it.

I could feel the wave approach.

“Richie!” Dani’s voice called from beyond the door. “Ritchie, dinner’s ready. You comin’?”

Oh shit, Dani. My sister. Images of her flashed in my mind, now twisted by my perverse state. Glancing over her shoulder at me while she stretched in the morning, wiggling her hips suggestively. Or her looking at me over her wine glass while we sit on the couch. Her eyes burn holes in me as she bites her lips and slowly spreads her legs. I see… no… I can feel her pulling on my collar while we are in the car. Pressing her lips to mine then opening as her tongue snakes into my own willing mouth. Her arms wrap around my neck as she presses her body against my own, straddling my lap.

“Rich?” she called again.

Fuck, now all I saw was Dani. She was bending over Juliet’s bed, beckoning me to slip inside. She was sitting on my fingers at the party with a playful look. Listening to Alice and Chains while grinding on my cock harder than… what was her name?

Oh fuck.

I felt my body tense, muscles tightening.

Not to her. Shit, shit, shit!

But I couldn’t stop as a final image entered my head of my dear sister, standing in front of me naked, hair disheveled and skin sweaty and flushed. I see her lips move, mouthing the words to come for her as her chest rises and falls with each deep breath. Her body lowers, she’s on her knees while never breaking eye contact. She holds her breasts, lifts them, raises them, and says it again, tells me to come, and I do.

With a final heavy thrust into my fist, my cock erupts painting the checkered tiles. Waves of bliss crash through me as I shudder to each string of ejaculate. Through clenched teeth, I slowly return to earth.

“Rich?”

Oh shit!

I stop. Catch my breath and turn off the water.

“Yeah?” I call back.

There is a brief pause.

“… Dinner’s ready,” she said. “You okay?”

I can see my come dripping down the wall and a shudder trickles up my spine knowing who caused it.

“Yeah,” I said. “… I’m done.”

“Kay… See you down there.” Footsteps fading away. I was alone again, only this time, awash with shame and confusion.

It was tough to sleep that night. Perhaps it was the excitement of the journey to come or the sadness of the newfound friendship being left behind, but I found I had come to cherish this place. The sounds of the world waking up in the early morning. The way the wind seems to sweeten as it blows through the cornfield. Even Charlie, that good-for-nothing lamb that stalked us in the shadows. I have no idea why I’m going to miss that stupid animal.

Sleep eventually did arrive, and the slumber was deep.

The sun had barely risen over the oaks when we were loading up the car for the ride. Honestly, it took no time at all as both Dani and I carried what we could in a backpack, one each, plus an extra bag holding her Yoga mat, emergency repair kit, rope, and a quilt that Barbara insisted we take.

While Dani finished up inside, I bid my farewells to our host on the porch. Thanking her for her overwhelming hospitality and parting with Daisy. She kissed my cheek and wished us safe travels before looking me in the eye.

“You take care of her,” she said. “She’s a special one.”

I nodded knowing she wasn’t speaking about the car.

Giving Winston one last scratch on his head, I made my way down the stairs and began roping together the bags in the bed of the truck under Winton’s watchful gaze. Then, with her bag on her shoulder, Dani exited the house for the last time.

She placed a hand on Barb’s shoulder as they softly spoke, then hugged tightly with teary eyes. Eventually, they parted and Dani walked away wiping her tears with the palm of her hand. She climbed into the passenger seat and hugged her backpack in her lap. Following suit, I hopped in and started the car feeling the almost therapeutic vibrations of the rumbling engine.

I put Daisy into gear and began the trek down the driveway watching the house disappear behind the old oak trees as Barb still waved from the porch.

Dani looked back once, then turned to me with a smile on her face.

“Away we go,” she said as the tires rolled over the last feet of gravel and met the smooth surface of the roadway. Our journey westward had begun.

* * *

NORTH CAROLINA TO TENNESSEE

My dear sister really did have this whole trip mapped out, highlighted and everything. The plan was to travel westward along the highways and stop every 6-8 hours or so. Instead of heading straight to our destination too, we were aiming for Southern California first as Dani wanted to take Daisy along the coast before we reached home. We’d then shoot up to the Bay Area, then out to wine country where our parents lived.

It felt weird. Kinda like between this middle ground of anticipation and expectation. When you have that pit in your stomach that feels like pure energy knowing that you just started something big, but at the same time you feel like you just crested a hurdle, or climbed a mountain and now you are in free-fall, aimless, weightless. What was this? Excitement? Apprehension? Whatever it was, neither my sister nor I braved breaking this silence. And so that is how we started as we cruised along Highway 40.

“Minnesota!” Dani cried out, slugging my arm with her fist.

“Ouch! Jesus! What was that?” I flinched as Dani burst out laughing.

“Out-of-state plates,” she chuckled pointing to a Buick beside us. Memories of a long-forgotten road trip game resurfaced.

First, to spot the license plates on a car that are different than the state you are in, they get to slug the other person. They were always gentle taps, but my bicep still tingled from her punch.

“Dang, Sis,” I said shaking my head. “This is gonna be a long ride.”

“That’s right, Buddy. How far we’ve gone so far?”

“About fifty miles. Got a loooong way to go still.”

“That’s for sure,” she said as she pulled her laptop out of her backpack. Within moments the cab was filled with the sounds of a clicking keyboard.

Curiosity then hit me.

“So your work, your job… you just articles for a magazine?” I asked glancing her way.

“Kinda’. I mean, yes, I do but not for print. Not yet. I have a web blog that I post to-”

“Web Blog?” I asked.

“Just a website. My contributions are in a space I call ‘Kitty’s Corner’.” She must have heard me roll my eyes. “I know it’s super cringy but it draws in readers.”

“It’s fine,” I shrugged. “I shouldn’t be one to judge. So what kind of things do you write about?”

“Really, whatever I want. But based on our readers and the branding of the magazine, subjects tend to be more adventurous in nature?”

“Like travel?”

She tilted her head. “Kinda, sorta, but no. Maybe more along the lines of ‘Going to the beach? What bikini-line is best?’, or ‘How to sneak out after a one-night stand’. That kind of thing.”

“Right. I think I get it. But what do you write about?”

She paused a bit. “You really want to know? It gets into stuff we normally don’t share with each other.”

“Well, now you’ve piqued my interest.”

Dani giggled, scrunching her nose. “Alright, um… so, okay, here’s one from a month ago.” She settled into her seat. She read, “‘Covered in Kumquat: Can your diet change your flavor?'” She turned the computer to me showing a feminine face in profile from nose to chin, tongue extended to lick a gap in a suggestively sliced fruit.

“Flavor?” I asked softly.

“Yeah, like, you know…” she said, eyes pointing down to her groin. “… Your flavor.”

It hit me. I could feel my face redden as Dani burst out laughing.

“I told you,” she said between breaths.

“Man you really just dove in there, didn’t you,” I said now laughing myself, then glancing at the picture for a second time. “Wait, is that you?!”

She nodded. “Visual aids lead to clicks, and clicks lead to big bucks. I try to include something eye-catching. And fruit can be surprisingly vagina-like.” She giggled some more as I rolled my eyes.

She continued as she turned the screen back to herself. “It’s not what I expected but I’m really enjoying it. It’s what got me into yoga, met a lot of people, and get to open up a part of myself that I never really explore.”

Millions of thoughts were streaming through my mind at once. It was only when I felt the thumps of the lane dividers that I snapped out of it.

I nodded, maybe more for myself. “… If I’m being honest, this was not what I was expecting, but then again, I don’t know what I thought you would write about otherwise.” I kept nodding. I don’t know why. “So that’s pretty cool. You write about sex-”

“Sexual health,” she corrected.

“Is there a difference?”

“Well, yeah,” she continued.

“What? Like sex positions, or how-to’s on orgasms?”

“No, we don’t… actually we have articles on both of those…” She tilted her head again, “Well shit. It is just a whole bunch of sex.”

I started laughing. “I knew it!”

“Buuuuuut,” she interjected. “There’s more to it than the down and dirty. There is a mental factor, emotional. And for a lot of women; there are some societal hurdles that need breaking down.”

“Okay…”

“Like, okay, how often do you masturbate?”

“What?! Jeez, Dani! You can’t just ask me that!” Once again, my face was flushed.

“Ugh,” she rolled her eyes, somehow annoyed that I didn’t answer. “Alright, whatever. Let’s just assume it’s around one-to-three times per week…”

I kept quiet. Best not to argue with her ’cause God only knows what she’d say if she knew she was low-balling the estimate.

“But for a woman the same age? So while 20-25% of men admit to doing it that frequently a week, only 7-8% of women do.”

“Okay,” It was a hard conversation to participate in and my thoughts were turning dirty.

“That’s one of the things we talk about. That number should be higher! Chicks get handy-randy too!”

An image flashed in my head of Dani, lying on her back on the couch with her knees up, her hand between her thighs.

“So we help them to find peace, not guilt, in spending that special alone time.”

The image returned, this time she was in the shower. Condensation covered the glass but her back pressed up against it as her passion-filled voice echoed off the tile.

“I’m sure you know what I mean. Things can be kinda zen-like after a good… session.”

Another image. Dani was on a bed, ass in the air while she bit the pillow. Her fingers rubbed between her thighs. Then my own guilt washed over me as I imagined the sheets as my own.

My face must have reddened something fierce, or maybe it was the tightness of my pants as my lonely cock strained against the confines of my trousers; I had to have visually indicated shame, desire, or something. Whatever it was, Dani shifted in her seat and was silent for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and shifted again.

“You’re right, we don’t normally talk about these things, do we?” she said.

I laughed, though not because it was funny. “No, not really.”

She pondered for a moment, “Why do you suppose that is?”

“I don’t know. Isn’t it weird if we did?”

“Maybe. Well, yes, and no.”

“I mean somethings are kinda’ private,” I said.

“Yeah, but why?”

“Why what?”

“Like why can’t we discuss this? Why does it have to be private?”

“I don’t know. Isn’t that the polite thing to do?”

“Seriously, Richie?”

A long, heavy sigh escaped my lips. “I don’t know, alright? I just don’t know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. I don’t know what I’m supposed to think. I don’t know why I feel I’m supposed to know what to say, or think, or do, or whatever. This whole thing is a little uncomfortable.”

From her, for a moment, there was just silence as I stared ahead guiding the car between the lanes.

“Richie, I hear you,” she said. “I do. But If I’m being honest here, something I have found is that it is good, no, it is healthy, to discuss personal things with someone you trust.” Her eyes waited for me to meet hers. “But I don’t have anyone who fits that except you. There are things I’m working out, some things I need to get off my chest, and others that, honestly,” she pointed to the laptop, “I’m just figuring out on the fly.”

She closed her laptop, deflated, then continued.

“Look, I’m sorry if I haven’t been keeping in touch as much as I should. Also, I can see how it is weird for most brothers and sisters to talk about these things. Yet, for some reason, I feel comfortable doing that around you. I know you hear me, and you listen, but I also understand that you need that too so if talking about this stuff is weird for you, we don’t have to.”

The hum of the road filled the cabin again as no words were spoken.

I relaxed my grip on the steering wheel after noticing my knuckles were white.

“Sorry, Sis,” I said. “I may have overreacted.”

“No, you didn’t. I kinda’ sprung this all on you. So I should be the one to apologize.”

Daring to steal a glance over, she met my eyes and smiled that smile that can melt anyone’s heart. Damn you, Dani.

“Okay, okay,” I said. “I tell you what. We have a long ass trip ahead of us so we might as well get the most out of it as we can. As far as I’m concerned, Daisy has always been a safe place. So, anything you want to talk about, anything at all, I will try and be open.”

Her eyes sparkled once more.

“Thank you, Richie!” she said as she suddenly leapt toward me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I barely was able to keep Daisy in her lane.

“Jeez! But let’s try to get there in one piece, alright?!” I laughed.

“Oops. Will do,” she said as she settled back into her seat. “Oh, and that goes both ways, by the way.”

“What?”

“The open-book thing. If you will be that way for me, the least I can be is available for you too. Oh! This could be a great opportunity for a blog!”

I chuckled and shook my head wondering what on earth I got myself into.

* * *

COOKSVILLE, TENNESSEE

The sun had begun to set when we decided to call it a night. We made it to a small town east of Nashville. Our pace had been a little slower as the car wasn’t exactly as aerodynamic as modern vehicles, and we tried to go easy on the engine. The last thing we wanted was to blow it out so far from home. Needless to say, what would normally take about five hours was considerably more and we were in much need of some rest.

We snagged a bite to eat at a diner, found a hotel with two twin beds, and both collapsed groaning from the aches earned from the first leg of the journey. I didn’t even make it under the covers as I passed out on the bed, shirtless and still in my jeans, exhausted and grateful to be finally off the road.

I woke to the sound of a computer keyboard clicking, rousing me from a deep slumber. My back hurt, legs and neck cramped, and my cheek was surprisingly moist. Cautiously, I opened an eye to be blinded by the morning sun shining directly through the horizontal blinds in an otherwise dim room, highlighting dust motes that floated through beams of light.