2. Ever
Chapter 2
Ever
A fter driving around aimlessly for hours, I pull into a tiny gas station in the middle of nowhere and power up my phone on my way inside. There are several missed calls, voicemails, and texts, but I don’t have any interest in hearing my ex’s pathetic excuses or him gaslighting me into thinking I’m overreacting. What can someone even say to justify cheating on their girlfriend? Oops, I tripped and fell into her dick first…repeatedly? That it’s my fault he needed to sleep around because I’ve been so busy lately?
Bullshit.
At least have the balls to break up with someone if you aren’t happy before sleeping with someone else. It takes five seconds to send a text, even if that’s a shitty way to break up. Still better than cheating.
The gas station is old, rundown, and on the smaller side, but has the basic necessities at least. It makes the giant corkboard that takes up a solid chunk of one wall all the more noticeable, and I’m surprised they wasted the shelving space for an old fashioned paper map of the United States. The thing has definitely seen better days, too; there are hundreds of tiny holes stabbed into it.
My growling stomach spurs me into motion, and I comb through the aisles, using my shirt as a pouch to load up on way too many overpriced snacks. It took almost thirty miles of empty highway before I found this place, and even if I pass a fast food joint in the next fifty miles, they’ll likely be closed this time of night. No way am I risking being stuck on the side of the road with nothing to eat after an already shitty day.
“This it for you then, hun?” an older gentleman asks as I dump my haul on the checkout counter, ringing up my snacks while I scowl at my vibrating phone, declining Adam’s call and blocking him for good measure.
“Actually, I was wondering.” Tucking my phone away, I gesture to the wall. “What’s up with the map? Target practice?”
A raspy chuckle brings on a coughing fit that has me offering to call someone, but he just waves me off. “Bit of a local tradition. Most of the kids around here want to get the hell out of this backwater town they’ve been trapped in their whole lives, but have no idea where to go besides ‘away.’ So they trust in the universe and throw a dart at the map to start dreaming up their escape.”
A sad smile crosses his wrinkled face. “Plenty fall into the generational trap and stay, but I’ve seen my fair share that hopped a bus and took the leap. Wish I knew how it worked out for them, but those that were brave enough to leave are smart enough not to come back. I just hope that even if they didn’t end up where they planned, that first step led them to the place they belonged.”
An ache in my chest has me giving it a second look. “Local kids only?”
The wry twist of his lips morphs into a knowing grin as he slides a well-worn dart across the counter alongside my change. “Anyone that’s feeling a little lost.”
If that isn’t the understatement of the year.
Nodding absentmindedly, I take the dart, testing the weight in my hand. This thing with Adam sucks, but it really was the wake up call I needed. I’m sick of being replaceable. Sick of running the second things get hard. And sick of the fact that I can disappear at the drop of a hat and barely anyone would notice or care that I was gone.
With a deep breath, I close my eyes and promise myself that no matter where it lands, I’m doing things differently this time. Putting down roots and making a life that can’t be packed up in an hour.
I’m going to be happy even if it kills me, damn it.
A soft thud echoes around the abandoned gas station, and I slowly peel my eyes open to face my fate. I frown when I see it nestled in a mountain range, swiftly adding an addendum to my promise. If there’s no internet, I get a redo. My only joys in life are on the internet.
“Mercy Ridge, huh?” the man says, coming around the counter and giving me a curious look. “Looks like someone out there’s looking out for you, missy.”
“You know it? There’s internet, right? The high speed kind, not shitty, spotty service?”
He snorts, holding my bags out for me. “You kids these days. Yeah, yeah, they have everything you’re looking for and more. Nice small city; a real hidden gem.” He winks. “I stuck a map in there for ya. Mercy Ridge won’t show up on your newfangled GPS.”
I frown. “It’s off grid, but still has internet?”
He rolls his eyes before catching sight of the burn on my inner wrist and frowning. Lips pursed, he hastily shoos me out the door. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to judge a book by its cover? Now, off you go, I’m closing up for the night. And this town is the last place a young lady like yourself should be caught in after dark. You drive on straight to Mercy Ridge, you hear?”
Well, that’s not ominous or anything.
Sounds about right. The one town I find around this endless wasteland, and it’s the sort old men are terrified of women being out alone in. Don’t need to tell me to get a move on twice.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was holding you up.” Cringing, I hurry out the door.
He watches me hastily cross the parking lot with a furrowed brow. “No worries, darlin’. Something tells me running behind tonight was a blessing in disguise. Do me a favor though?” At my hesitant nod, he continues, “If you happen to bump into a young man named Ledger when you get there, tell him to send old Oscar a letter, yeah?”
I pause with my hand on the open car door, narrowing my eyes on the old man. He seems a little too helpful.
Maybe he’s sending me off into a trap? No, I’m the one that threw the dart. Chances of someone else from this town over the last few decades ending up hitting the same town isn’t that crazy.
“Will do. Thanks for all your help.”
With a wry smile, he waves, locking up and getting in the only other car in the parking lot. As he leaves, I try to pull up Mercy Ridge on my phone, but get zero hits. Zero. What kind of city doesn’t have so much as a news article or Wikipedia page?
Feeling an awful lot like I’m getting pranked, I bring up the next closest town and set my GPS. It’s fifty miles away from my destination, but I can use the paper map to find my way from there. Probably. Hopefully.
“I’m going to end up lost in the mountains and fall off a cliff. Run out of gas and get axe murdered by a serial killer. Or worse, have to wander through the woods for help, fall into poison ivy, and starve to death while tearing my skin off as the mosquitos feast on my flesh.”
I fasten my seatbelt and turn on the car. “No, that’s ridiculous. A mountain lion will eat me long before I starve, and I’d probably thank it for the assist.”
Shaking off my nerves, I pull out onto the road, fully committing to this fresh start even if it kills me. After all, it’s not like I have anywhere else to go.