Page 44 of Chasing Stardust

“If you’re that worried about it, you can pay me back.” His lips curve into a slight smile, not mocking but definitely amused. “You can even transfer it to me with your fancy phone.”

Relieved, I relax into the seat. “I can do that.”

“Good. Now that that’s settled . . .” A jaw-cracking yawn interrupts him. “Let’s go check in before I fall asleep at the wheel.”

My room smells like a basement—decades of wet towels and cigarette smoke hiding under cheap pine cleanser. The ancient air-conditioning unit rattles away as it pumps stale icy-cold air into the room. I drop my tote on the corner chair and lay my wet things over the vent to dry before stripping off Dash’s clothes and stepping into a hot shower. Once every square inch of me is thoroughly scrubbed, I dry off and slip on Dash’s boxers and T-shirt, wrap a towel around my hair, and crawl across the bed to call G-Lo.

“Well . . . ?” She drags out the word. “How’d the trip go?”

“Really good.” I leave out what happened in the parking garage. “We went to almost all the places you and Mom went.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too.” I crisscross my legs and pat the temporary swell of my stomach. “I ate too much—probably gained five pounds—but it was worth it.”

“Did you get your picture?”

“I did. The old auditorium isn’t there anymore, but Dash took some pictures of me in front of the new one. And at least twice as many around town.” The weight of the day finally catches up to me, and I uncross my legs and lower my voice. “I felt her there with me.”

“She was,” she agrees. “I’m sure of it.”

Letting her words wash over me, I scoot down and settle into the pillows. “I’ve decided to finish the trip once the car’s fixed.”

“Good.” Her voice softens. “Life moves pretty quickly. You can’t let a little thing like a broken radiator slow you down. And don’t worry about the car. Everything’s taken care of. You’re good to go once they install the new parts.”

“Dash said something today.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I finally get how important it is to finish what I started.” Saying his name sparks a warm tingle that spreads from the center of my chest down my arms to the tips of my fingers.

“You like him.”

The smile in her voice makes me wonder if she’s been eavesdropping on my thoughts. I sit up and yank the wet towel from my hair, tossing it aside with a groan.

“Come on, now,” she prods. “You aren’t fooling me with your brooding silence.”

“What difference does it make if I do?” I shake out my hair, sending microscopic water droplets everywhere. “He’s taking me to get my stuff in the morning, then taking off to wherever. I’m never gonna see him again.”

“You don’t know that. With all the technology out there these days, there’s no reason you can’t stay in touch.”

“He doesn’t have social media. Even you have Facebook. He doesn’t have anything on that stupid phone of his.”

“I still have his number. I’ll text it to you.” She pauses and a moment later, my phone vibrates with an incoming message. “And don’t forget, Cecil’s busy digging up all his dirty little secrets.”

“It doesn’t matter. After tomorrow, I won’t have any reason to talk to him again. Besides, I have a boyfriend, remember?”

“Right. Fabian.”

“Damian.” His name leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I flop back again, spreading my wet hair across the pillow. “Which reminds me, I need to call him. He’s been blowing up my phone all afternoon.”

“Okay, honey. You call Dominic.”

“Damian.”

“That’s what I said.” She chuckles. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I love you, Zoey.”

“Love you, too.”

After we hang up, I pull up the pictures Dash took in Memphis. I look sad, sitting on the sidewalk with the silver spaceship behind me and total strangers walking by. I scroll through the images until I reach the selfies of us in front of Sun Studio and the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum.

In every shot, Dash gazes down at me as if he wants to kiss me senseless. My stomach flutters. Damian has never once looked at me like that.