Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 59: Hayden

Monday, 7:42 P.M. EST

I had Rob stop off earlier than whatever gas station he’d intended to abandon me at. 

One, Hayden isn’t about to walk up into any gas stations looking like this. I had a chance to check myself out in the passenger side mirror; between Sierra and Dane, I look like I’d gotten into a motorcycle accident or something!

And two- I’m not going to lie, I’m still trying to figure out a way out of this. It just... cant happen. I dont care what Rob thinks he knows, Dane isn’t going to let me walk away from all of this. 

“How are you going to call the tarts if you aren’t going to the gas station?” Rob asks anxiously, though with frustration. He pulls off into a small opening in the thick woods we’ve been driving beside for the past twenty minutes anyway. “- and what are you going to tell the cab service? Pick me up on the side of the road 60 miles north of the closest gas station to civilization?”

I roll my eyes, but can’t help a small laugh from escaping my lips at his sarcasm. He knows this would be a smarter idea than to drop Hayden off at a gas station looking as terrible as I do, but in very Rob fashion, he just has to go and doubt my logic. He has to go and think I’m trying to pull something.

I mean... I guess it’s with reason though, because there is no way in Hell this is actually happening. I’m getting back in that car and doing my time. That’s the only way to survive this. Dane is way too invested at this point to let me walk away- right?

His life doesn’t revolve around you, Rob’s voice rings through my mind, bringing a sour taste to my mouth.

I don’t like it…

And I don’t know if it’s the taste that I don’t like, or the thought itself. 

But that’s the end of it. Voices are quick to flood my mind the moment it gets uncomfortable. 

“Come here,” is all I say before I open the door and hop out of the car. I turn back to glare at him expectantly through the open window until he rolls his eyes, hops out and makes his way over to me. 

“I’ve got to get to the damned cabin, Jen!” he says when he finally makes it to me. “What do you want? You need to get out of here...” 

I can tell that Rob is on edge, but I can’t even help from pushing his buttons. 

“Damn, you’ve got no time for me, huh?” I ask, pouting playfully. “I’m having your baby, Rob! What kind of treatment is this?!”

Rob rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest impatiently. He’s kind of cute when he’s mad at me, but trying not to be a douche about it.

“The kind of treatment you get when you dilly dally around while I’m trying to save our child’s life!” he snaps after a moment. “Like- do you even get what we’re trying to do here? Or-?”

I do. Well, a part of me does... but there are a couple other parts of me that are taking a detour, and going off on a tangent I think Rob’s comment about Dane might’ve brought on...

“Chill, I just want to show you...” I find myself saying after a few moments. I very strategically reach down into my panties and pull out the small flip phone I’ve managed to smuggle into all this craziness. “I’ve got it all covered, so... you can relax…”

Rob’s face goes from surprised to angry, and finally relief before he let’s out a small sigh. “You really like to play with fire, huh? Dane would have killed you if he found that.” he says, “-but I’m glad you have it... if they’re going to call a cab for you, have them do it now. I-“

I cut him off, knowing that his time is limited because he already informed me in the car that once Dane “takes care of some business,” he’s on his way. 

“Dane never knows when I strike my matches, so I can afford to play with fire,” I tell him in a confident voice I can only attribute to my monster waking up. I wrap my hands around my belly, glancing down at it for a moment before I raise my eyes back to him wearing a look I know will drive him nuts. “How do you think this happened?”

For a second, I swear I see him blush. But Rob likes to play hard, so he quickly covers it with an eye roll.  

“Okay, well-“ he stammers. “I uh- I got to head out of here, so lets make sure we get the cab on the way at least so I know you guys are good.”

I roll my eyes this time, letting out a small laugh as I contemplate my next moves. Despite the contemplation though, my monster moves faster than my mind. Before I know it, I’m closing in on the space between us until my lips press firmly against his.  

He’s frozen in shock at first... I can tell by the small gasp he took in before my lips sealed his.  

As soon as he gets a chance, he pulls away from me.  

“We can’t do this-“ he rushes to say. “Ev is in the car… and Dane-“

I close in on the space again, rolling my eyes before wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing myself against him.  

“Evelyn’s not waking up any time soon.” I state,  glancing over my shoulder at her still knocked out in the back seat. “And Dane... doesn’t know about my love for fire...”