Scattered Souls

Chapter 35 - Road Trip

There was a good few moments of silence between us as I pondered over what he just said.

"Bribery?" I finally asked, confirming if what I heard was correct.

"You heard me. " he said with a wink.

"A bribery for what exactly?" I was seriously confused at this point.

"Get ready, love. We're going on a road trip." he said with a wide smile.

A road trip? We just went on a hike yesterday and now he wants to go on a road trip? Why has his adventurous side suddenly awakened?

"So let me get this straight: you woke me up early and got me coffee and blueberry cheesecake just to get me to come on a road trip with you?" I expressed my confusion. I mean that's a lot of effort for a little road trip.

"You could've just asked you know." I pointed out. "You take this favor for a favor thing way too seriously." I teased. "Perhaps if you asked me nicely, I would've readily agreed."

"I don't think you'd like where we're going." he said with a sheepish smile.

Why wouldn't I like it? Where is he taking me exactly. My curiosity was piqued once again.

"Where are we going?" I wondered out loud.

"The McCleod farm."

"A farm? That doesn't sound too bad. " I said, mildly relieved. I was expecting something extreme. My mind was already imagining the worst when he said I wouldn't like it.

"Actually, it's where my remains are. We're going to fetch it." he said those words as if it was an everyday thing to collect remains.

"Your remains?" I screeched out, with my eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Yes, that's what I just said. Why do you always have to repeat everything I say?" he teased.

"Because I always need confirmation when you say absurd things like: 'We're going to fetch my remains.' " I deadpanned.

"I've never heard of the place." I pointed out as an afterthought.

"So does this mean that you'll come with me. " he beamed.

Wow, he wasted no time, did he?  I took a deep breath as I contemplated whether I'd accompany him or not. I mean I didn't have any issues with going in particular. It was a farm after all. How bad could it possibly be.  And I was a sucker for a little adventure.

"Okay, I'll come." I said, a little reluctantly.

"How do you even know it's there?" I wondered, as an afterthought.

"I called in a favor from someone higher up." was all he said. I always hated it when he was so vague.

"That explains a lot. " I said, in the most sarcastic tone I could manage.

"Let's do this then." I said, realizing I didn't mind going.

"How are we going though?" I added as an afterthought.

"I'm borrowing Jordan's car." he said, as if it were the most obvious thing ever.

"Jordan's car? Do you even know how to drive?" I wondered.

"Well, of course. You do know cars existed in my time, love." he said with a teasing smile.

"Just don't get us killed." I said with a wink.

What the hell?  Since when do I wink? I think his knack for winking all the time was rubbing off on me.

"Shall we?" he asked.

"Well if you'd be so kind to give me a few moments to get ready. A girl's gotta shower you know." I said,  ushering out of the room.

"You mean I don't get to watch?" he winked.

Cue my school girl moment. I was full on blushing by his little comment. Get yourself together, Robyn. Unleash your sexy, confident side.

"Not this time, you don't." I teased,  pointing at the door for him to leave.

Instead of leaving the room, like I'd expected him to, he started walking towards me. Then he wrapped his strong arms around me and pulled me closer to him until our faces were touching. The intensity of his eyes on mine made my heart do these tiny flip flops. I gasped, and he seized the opportunity to engulf my lips in his. It was our most sensual kiss thus far. The usual fireworks that I felt every time that he was this close to me were magnified. I was left breathless and amazed when our lips finally unlocked.

"That keeps getting better and better." he surprised me by saying. He was also looking flushed and out of breath. I was actually glad to know that I had a similar effect on him.

"You read my mind." I said with a smile.

"Now would you please let me shower." I said as I literally pushed him out of my room.

Half an hour later,  we were on our way to McCleod's farm. I was both excited and a bit hesitant. Excited because I was discovering a part of the area I hadn't known existed. Hesitant because I wasn't sure if it were just remains that we were collecting or would bits of the past randomly resurface again, like it did yesterday.

I hadn't even fully processed the events of yesterday. However, maybe this was exactly what I needed to clear my mind for a bit.

I was still a little weary of Xypher though. Especially after he hid something as huge as my resemblance to Julia from me. However, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I guess only with time would I be able to tell whether that was the only thing he was hiding or if there was more to it. More secrets that he wasn't ready to tell me about.

The fact that he was so eager to collect his remains was another cause for suspicion on my side. Why was he in such a hurry? We hadn't even found an Irish priest yet, and now he wants to collect his remains the day after we find the locket. Was he on some kind of deadline?