He needed his lips touching hers. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Thank you, Renie.”
“Don’t thank me, Billy.”
“No, don’t close your eyes, look at me.”
She did.
“I needed this. I needed you. I needed to know we were still connected, that’s why I’m thanking you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t get to see you this mornin’.”
He laid her down on the bed and started to take off her clothes. When she tried to help, he stopped her. “No, let me. I need to do this.”
She rested her hands at her sides and watched his eyes linger over each part of her body he uncovered. When she was naked, he tangled one hand in her hair. “Renie, I…”
She reached up and put her hand over his mouth. “Shh. Just love me, Billy. Please.”
“But—”
“Shh,” she said again before she lifted up to take his mouth with hers.
It was nine before she got back on the road, and that was after begging Billy to let her go. She almost wished she’d let Ben fly over to get her.
Her phone rang again.
“Hey,” she answered, without looking to see who was calling. She assumed it was Billy.
“Hi, honey,” said her mom. “How far are you?”
“I’m not even to the Springs yet.”
“Have you listened to the weather? Monarch Pass is closed.”
No, she hadn’t. She’d been too wrapped up in Billy to think about the weather.
“Oh, no.”
“I’m glad I reached you before you got further. Ben will come get you.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I can wait until the weather clears up. I’ll head home. I mean, to Billy’s.”
“See whether he can give you a ride up to the airport.”
Renie didn’t want to tell her mom that Billy and Dottie were going to Texas, or why. She didn’t know when they were leaving, or how they were getting there. She could drive herself to the airport and leave her car there.
“I’ll call when he’s leaving.”
“Are you flying over with him?”
“Not this time, honey. Ben is flying over with his dad. I’ll
call you when I know more.”
She called Billy when her mom ended their call. “I miss you too much. I’m coming back.”
“Wait. What? You’re comin’ back? Really? Shit. That’s great!”
“Monarch Pass is closed.”
“You are such a brat.”