Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
T he trip to Rockhampton had been fun and Evie let Bob drive most of the way, feeding him Fantales and reading the facts on the lolly papers. Once they drove away from the Cairns area and travelled further south, he talked to her more and they laughed about some of the funny things that had happened over the past year.
‘I’m really glad you came with me, babe. You know I love you.’
It was the first time he had declared that he loved her in a long while, and she reached up and touched his neck. She twirled his long hair around her fingers. For once it was clean and trimmed. ‘I can’t believe you went to the hairdressers. Your hair looks so good. It’s still really long, but much neater.’
As she pulled his hair between her hands, she peered at his neck. ‘There’s a mark on your neck,’ she said, taking a closer look as she pulled her hand away.
‘What sort of mark?’ he said .
‘Looks like a love bite to me. I haven’t done that this week.’
‘Must be an old one.’
‘No. It’s new.’
He laughed as he reached over and stroked her bare leg. As usual, she wore tiny shorts and a singlet top. Bob liked it when she didn’t wear a bra and she enjoyed the freedom of nothing under her top. ‘You worry too much,’ he said. ‘A couple of the girls at the hairdressers were mucking around when I went in there the other night. Just a bit of fun.’
‘Was it Isla?’
As soon as she asked the question, she regretted it, as his demeanour snapped into a different mood. His words, which had been friendly and happy a minute ago, were now surly and angry, and she looked out her window as he spoke. ‘I don’t like jealous bitches. Don’t be one, okay?’
They drove a long way in silence, the Pink Floyd cassette they were listening to suddenly losing its appeal. When they arrived at a rest area with a toilet and grassy area to park, he pulled in.
‘We’ll stop here. I’m not paying for a motel,’ he said. ‘We can sleep in the car for free.’