Chapter 1
Brielle
The problem with leaving your entire life behind with barely an idea of a plan: It constantly leaves you scrambling to catch up.
When Kinsey and I arrived in the small town of Brackenridge, home of the bar Sweet Whiskey, it didn't occur to me that we’d probably need jobs to afford the next place to stay.
My naivety probably comes from everything being taken care of for me because of my parents’ money.
I really had no idea how differently everyone else lived and why they were so insistent on marrying me off.
Thankfully, Kinsey has enough experience to get us tryouts as waitresses, but nerves are already setting my anxiety aflame.
“You really want to work there?” I ask her.
The place is just a pair of bare titties and a solid pole away from being a strip club.
I’m fully aware sex sells, and I can appreciate any of those ladies dancing on the bar.
My parents would kill me if I ever did. I pause, thinking that over again.
My parents would kill me…and suddenly I can’t wait to work there.
We’ve just settled into our room at the only inn in town, and I know the lady gave us a discount on the stay, even if she didn’t mention it. No way they could be that cheap and still be in business.
I grimace, looking at the thin mattress and comforter. I swear if I wake up with bug bites, I will become capable of murder. I take a breath.
Calm, nonjudgmental thoughts, Brielle.
When Kinsey doesn’t answer, I look over and find her staring down at the photograph of who she thinks is her father.
Besides the car she inherited from her mom, it's all Kinsey has left, and she carries it in her back pocket. It’s why she was so determined to come, to hopefully find her other parent.
I haven’t had the heart to ask her what she’ll do if she finds out he’s dead, because I’m not sure if she’s even thought of it.
Just desperately clinging to the hope he’s alive.
Amusingly, I’m doing the opposite, actively hiding from my parents.
“Kinsey?”
She blinks, finally turning to me. “Hmm?”
“Thinking about that cowboy?” I tease, breaking the somber mood. When we arrived at the bar, a local had quickly welcomed Kinsey. Sparks were flying in all directions.
She rolls her eyes, tucking the photo away and lying back on the bed with a sigh. “No, I mean a little. He was very handsome.”
I snort. “More than handsome. I think I saw a little drool come out of your mouth when you were staring.” I point a finger at the corner of my lips.
She lifts her arm and flips me off.“I didn’t even get his name.”
“And?” My eyebrows furrow.
She sits back up and crawls off the bed. “And obviously if he was interested, then he’d have given me his name, no?”
I follow her lead, and change out of jeans into more comfortable clothing. “I mean, he did say he’ll see you around.”
Kinsey ties her auburn hair into a big, messy bun and laughs softly.
“Yeah, but like, that’s such a guy thing to say when you’re leaving.
I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I’m focused on finding my dad, not a hot-ass cowboy.
” She gives me a pointed look to drop it, so I smirk and hold up my hands in surrender.
It’s easier to focus on Kinsey’s problems instead of mine.
She sinks back onto the bed with a groan. “It feels nice knowing that we get to sleep, and not have to hit the road again.”
I try to find the same relief, but struggle. The road offers a little sanctuary, the constant moving a reassurance that they could never find me. But I know it’s ending; this has always been the destination.
“I’m just glad it still exists. You never know with photos that old.”
She sighs, moving farther under the blankets. “Yeah. I just hope he wasn’t a passing stranger like my mom was. Then it was all for nothing.”
I lie on the other bed, facing her. “Not for nothing. We got to do this. Just the two of us and the road.”
Kinsey smiles, blowing me a kiss. “I’m sure you can’t wait to get back to your much comfier bed and reliable shower. Oh god, and your closet. Even I miss your closet.”
I smile back. I can admit that if there’s one thing my parents did, it was keep me stocked with everything I could need to dress to impress. “Yeah. Though, I will admit not having many options has made getting dressed easier. Less thinking.”
Kinsey snorts, rolling onto her back with another sigh. “Yeah. Don’t think we’ll be needing many dresses anyway.”
“I will say that the academy severely overestimated the need for dresses.”
We attended the same omega academy and both ended up packless, even with the endless parade of candidates.
Probably their least favorite graduates and definitely disappointed my parents, but I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side.
Out of everyone, I know Kinsey would understand why I’d want to leave my life behind, especially the pack my parents were trying to set me up with.
Some nights, I feel like confiding in her what really happened, but with every passing day, I shove it further down in my mind.
I don’t want to ruin the vibe of our road trip, so I just focus on the future.
My only regret is not taking more money; if anything, my parents owe me for what they put me through.
Her breathing changes, and I know she’s fallen asleep.
I swallow down the ache in my throat, pulling the blanket over my shoulder as I roll onto my other side.
With my eyes squeezed shut, I try to sleep just as easily, but every creak and moan of the place settling has me jolting up to stop and listen more carefully.
Each time, it takes several minutes to convince myself that no one is coming through the door to haul me back to my parents or the Westin pack.
It’s not until I can hear the rustling of our room neighbors getting up and the first peek of the morning sun that I finally succumb to exhaustion.