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Keys, beach bag, bikini and shorts, I grab my shades and head out the door—and bump right into Ranger. Dressed in black, as always, even in this heat, he stands firm. I have to take a step back.

"Can I help you?" Right now I am not in the mood to be around anyone. I just want to drive far away, lay on a beach and drink something cold with lots, and lots of ice.

His eyes go past me to the couch where my "Off" cellphone lays forgotten, and unwanted. I don't want to talk to anyone. After the last few days I need a weekend to myself.

"You're forgetting your phone," he says seriously. He walks past me, picks it up, presses the power button and holds it out to me. We lock eyes. I don't accept the phone.

His eyes go to my shoulder. It's still wrapped in a bandage. The bikini top doesn't hide anything.

"I'm not forgetting it. I'm just not taking it. I need to be alone for the weekend which means I don't want my phone."

"Where are you going?" He questions.

"If you must know, I am driving up to Old Saybrook Connecticut to lay on the beach."

He holds up the phone again. "You just checked yourself out of the hospital prematurely, do you think you should be laying out in the sun with an injury that needs to still be monitored?"

"Yes." I don't even hesitate. I walk past him, but he grabs my hand and pulls me back. He sticks the phone in it and closes my fingers around it. "Have a great vacation."

I drop the phone in my bag. I sigh and square my shoulders. My hair is already sticking to my back. It is hot today, and the air conditioning in here hasn't worked since a lightning bolt fried the transmitter outside last week. Everything but the AC, and its summer. Go figure.

Rex has been at my mother's house for a few days now. He's on a vacation all of his own.

"What are you doing this weekend?"

He gives a shake of his head.

"Okay, just what I thought." I walk past him, but he grabs my hand again. We lock eyes. Is this even a good idea? I don't think so, but right now I am too pissed off to think.

"I'm driving," he says.

"No, this is my trip," I snap, "I am driving, and I am taking my car. Its brand new, and has satellite radio."

"I'm driving, YOUR car," he says, and that is that. I guess. Why argue? I am not going to win.

"You better get your swimsuit."

His eyes linger on mine. He shakes his head again.

My phone beeps a text message. I ignore it. I have no one to say goodbye to so I lock the door. I hand him my key and we go downstairs.

The car has AC, but the breeze is better. I rest my arm on the windowsill and lean back. My shoulder is killing me. I hope it's not written all over my face.

We drive and he talks on his head piece. Work. Why did he even agree to go? We pull up to Rangeman and he gets out and disappears upstairs. A few minutes later he comes back with a bag, and he is dressed in shorts and a rib back; both black. This is a different side to him that I haven't seen before.

He hands me a water bottle and two pills. I take them and drink the whole bottle. "Happy?" I question sarcastically.

"Quite," he says.

My phone beeps a few times. Multiple texts, which go ignored. I don't want to see them. I don't have anything else to say. If I see his face right now I will punch him in it. I will get arrested for assaulting a police officer.

Through the satellite radio I find a rock station with my high school graduation song. It was so long ago. I don't know where the time has gone. If most of my high school classmates could see me now.

Ranger puts the address into the GPS and the music returns. I see a hint of a smirk cross his face, and then disappear just as quickly.

"What was that?" I question.

His eyes don't go to me.

"You were just thinking. Tell me."

"I was wondering how long this car is going to last."

I swat him on his arm. "You're driving, you tell me. You destroy this car and you will be getting me a new one."

"Don't I always?" he questions. His headpiece talks into his ear and he is in his zone giving commands and keeping order.

I daze out of it. Its hot, and I am starting to stick to my seat. I unbelt my knee brace and take it off. My leg is very sweaty. My knee isn't swollen anymore. It still hurts, and is very bruised.

I search my bag for the tiger balm I got from Connie and put some on. The smell instantly fills the car. It's refreshing, but after a while it starts to get annoying and give me a headache.

Ranger holds his hand out for the container. I hand it to him and he sniffs it. He takes a little and puts it on the back of his neck before handing it back.

I put it away and pin my hair back into a ponytail. I lay my head on the windowsill and shut my eyes. I don't think I would've even made it to the beach if I was driving to the beach. The pain is even too strong for the pills to cover up. I won't say anything to him because then I'll be stuck in a hospital bed…

Handcuffed to a hospital bed.

He talks and drives. The GPS talks every now and then. We are still a way away. I want to sleep, but if that is a sign of weakness I don't want to wake up in that hospital bed.

My phone beeps in my bag. I have a notification from Facebook. It bings a text message, and then my ringer goes off. I toss my bag into the backseat. I get a smirk out of that. He isn't talking anymore.

"Sit back," he says. I do, and he rolls up the window and turns on the AC. He better have money for gas because the AC will drain the car.

"Sleep," he says, "we're still going north, not south."

"Reading my mind again?"

"The look on your face."

"What is that look?" I ask snippily.

"The look of someone whose had enough."

"If I had enough I'd be in this car by myself."

"Then why aren't you?"

I shrug as best as I could. I still haven't moved. I still haven't opened my eyes. I say the most honest thing on my mind.

"Spite."