EMBROIL [BOOK ONE]

Title 14: Our First Road Trip

~Published May 24, 2017~

We have been driving for six hours, six hours of awkward silence, six hours of anxiety, and six hours of wondering what was in store for us. I was currently sitting in the passenger seat watching Ian tapping along to some beat of some random song that was playing on the radio. For the past hour I have been trying to get Ian to talk to me but he just kept shushing me. So I have been staring out the window watching the empty fields breeze by my view. The sun was slowly setting and the baby was asleep in his car seat. My thoughts kept wondering back to Mickey and Svetlana they must be worried out of their minds. I hated that I had no way on communicating with them. My attention was brought back to Ian as he turned down the radio.

"You guys are going to love Florida!" He shouted in excitement his eyes lighting up.

It took me a few minutes to process what he just said, "Florida?"

"Yeah, and Lip showed me pictures from his visit and I have to say it was beautiful! I think it will be a great fresh start. Right Yevgeny?" He looked at the dash mirror and smiled at the baby, "We are going to stay by the pools, lay in the sun, and just have a great time."

"What do you mean fresh start?" I asked him as I completely turned the music off. 

The look he gave me was full of so much love and admiration and it hurt me, "Think about it Jo we can start over with our lives."

I couldn't believe what he was insinuating, "Your idea of starting over is kidnapping and fleeing the state?" 

"Just stop! Stop being such a fucking downer!" He raised his voice as his hands clenched the steering wheel tighter. 

The sudden loud noise caused Yevgeny to start crying. I reached behind me trying to sooth the baby as I avoided eye contact with Ian. I felt his hand grip my hand as he pulled me to face him again, "Look at me," His lips were in a tight line, "Think about it. We can start over, live together, and finally be together."

My breath was caught in my throat as I heard the last few words. I gave him a pained look because I knew he didn't mean it. He wasn't being Ian. The Ian I had with me was a complete stranger, "You don't really want that."

He quickly pulled off to the side of the road and put the car in park. He took his seat belt off as he completely positioned himself to face me, "After that night when I kissed you...I couldn't stop thinking about it. The way your lips felt and fuck they felt so soft." He looked down at my lips as he took a deep inhale and looked back up at me, "That kiss was amazing and it made me feel like nothing else in the world mattered. It made me realize just how much I love you." 

I felt myself gasp at those three words, "Ian...I..."

"Wait just let me finish." He placed his finger on my lips to quiet me down, "Remember the dress I gave you? The way that you looked that night...I forgot how to breathe. You literally took my breath away. No one has ever done that before." Watching him talk about his feelings made my heart swell but then his expression grew slightly darker, "Then that guy...that fucking guy who got to enjoy you in that dress. Jo, do you know how I felt when I saw you and him together that night? I nearly lost my mind and it fucking broke me. I was quick to walk out but I wasn't going to leave things that way. I waited to cool down and was shocked that he left right after me. It made me relieved seeing him leave. I needed to go back to you. That's what I did, you looked so beautiful and I just needed to touch you and..."

"Please just stop." I couldn't stand listening to him anymore. It hurts to much.

He gave me a confused look, "Isn't this what you want?"