Something Bolder (Book Two)

LVI. Refuel

The night was so dark out that I hadn't been able to enjoy the landscape as we made our way through northern Italy, and I was too cramped in the car to become comfortable enough to fall asleep during the drive.

On top of not being able to sleep, Jane insisted on playing talk radio instead of music. I was beyond bored. I didn't even have Demetri to stare at, which I was more bummed about than I should've been.

Secretly mooning over Demetri throughout the drive was the only silver lining I had on the fifteen hour trip - via Switzerland, France and, of course, across the English channel - and that prospect was ripped away from me when he was assigned the seat directly in front of me. I couldn't even get a look at his profile, just the back of his head.

All of the lost opportunities for catching glances at each other and our knees brushing...I even wore a dress short enough to show plenty of leg! Leg that was covered with two layers of thick tights, but still.

'There really was no justice in the world,' I thought sulkily.

Once we pulled up to the nearest gas station, Andrei got out of the car and began refueling without being prompted; no one else bothered to move.

"I have to go to the restroom, too," I informed the group as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I'll be fast, though."

"Demetri. Accompany her," Jane commanded.

"Certainly," Demetri said smoothly.

I ducked my head and gave Jane a tiny, goofy smile. She glanced at me without changing her vacant expression, but I could see the miniscule shift in the look in her eye.

Awww. She kinda liked me!

I think.

"Hurry up," she barked at me as she gave her brother an empty look, who had turned around to give her a heated, bewildered stare.

"Aye, aye, captain," I said playfully before gracelessly ambling out of the car after Demetri.

Thankfully, Demetri held his arm out for me so I could steady myself after I stumbled out of the car, into the cold, windy night.

I held my hood up, pulling it tightly around my face as I attempted to retain as much of my body warmth as possible. Demetri kept his hand on my back as he escorted me across the slick parking lot.

The warmth of the gas station convenience store felt incredibly nice, albeit somewhat stale, as I hastily made my way to the back of the store where the bathroom was located.

I handled my business swiftly, though I couldn't shake the embarrassment of having to do so with Demetri standing guard on the other side of the paper thin wall.

I checked my appearance in the mirror before I left the restroom - the wind totally messed up my bangs, and my curls were mashed up from wearing my hood so tightly. I tried to readjust my bangs to no avail.

'Welp. This is me, I guess,' I thought dismally.

I gave Demetri a small, tepid smile when I reemerged, before quickly brushing past him to beeline to the snack section. I found myself feeling flustered underneath his cool gaze.

Demetri easily kept up with me, always remaining within a few feet of me. I didn't mind the closeness. If I were being honest, I missed it - though I also suspected that it was really the emotional intimacy that I craved, which is what I was deprived of the most.

He just had a way of making me feel so attended to, so safe. And in that moment, that night, when he looked at me, he made me feel so—

!!!!!!!!

I couldn't bring myself to finish the thought.

It was a delusion, anyway.

Wishful thinking.

I blushed profusely as I indecisively eyed the wide array of chip options. It was definitely not an appropriate time to sift through such thoughts.

"Is it safe to assume that it was your idea to drag that grunt along?" Demetri asked as he watched me pretend to read the packages of chips even though we both knew damn well that I didn't know a lick of Italian.

"I saw an opportunity and I took it," I shrugged.

"Do you have a plan?" he asked humorously.

"No. That's what I have you for," I grinned.

"Hmm. I bet we could convince Jane to make a pit stop somewhere in Switzerland. We could start a bonfire and leave his ashes out in the woods somewhere," he mused. "We'll have to make a stop before sunrise for you to rest, anyway."

"It's only been three hours. I can't stand being in that car for much longer, Demetri," I said fretfully.

"This will all be over in a matter of days. Just play nice and it'll be over before you know it," he assured me.

"Until Aro ropes me into another mission with you guys."

"It'll get easier," Demetri said, absentmindedly stroking my hair. "Follow Jane's lead and try not to worry about the rest. We'll get through this."

"Okay," I sighed, totally deflated. "I wish that I was sitting next to you and not Jane."

"Why? Do you miss me?" he asked teasingly.

"No," I blushed before peeking up at him.

"If it makes you feel any better, I miss you, too."

My heart raced and I bit my lip before I snatched a couple of random bags off of the shelf.

"Ah— let's get out of here," I said anxiously before making a break for the checkout counter.

Of course, as soon as I got to the counter I realized that not only could I not understand what the employee was saying to me, but I didn't have any cash on me either.

Demetri suavely stepped up and handled the transaction for me, to my immense relief, despite the fact that I'd just blown him off.

I hadn't actually heard him speak Italian before, and as I shyly watched him interact with the store employee in his native tongue my knees began to feel weak.

'Oh, my God. I need to be locked up in a home somewhere. I'm actually going insane.'

After collecting my little plastic bag with my treats in it, Demetri briskly walked me back to the car. The cool air sobered me up a bit, but my head continued to spin as I was tucked safely back into the car and we got back on the road.