Time flew by for the five of them as they made their way back and forth across the desert. The three women got them thrown out of more bars than their new friends could count but it was all in fun. So what if some people were too proud to admit a woman had beaten them over a pool table, or a dartboard, or a table full of cards.
Mark and Adam were awed by them. Here was this group of women like none they'd ever seen. Sure, Mark had spent his share of time on the road but never had he met anyone like these three. Tanya was as independent as they came and had more energy than should rightfully belong to one person. Sometimes she came off as brash or rude but underneath was a fun loving, brutally funny person. Ashley was young and tough. Both men could plainly see she'd been hurt but there was an innate sweetness in her green eyes that melted Adam's heart. Then there was Erica. She was the oldest of the three and just as strong and no-nonsense as her friends but it was masked by this calm, collected exterior. She was an open book and she loved her friends with an almost sisterly ferocity.
Each of them had something the two men admired and drew them to them. Neither of them were sure how, but these three had made themselves integral parts of their lives and their time with them was getting shorter by the hour. Neither Adam nor Mark wanted to admit it, but soon, they'd have to go back to their regular lives.
The sun was just beginning to touch the horizon when the small, auburn haired woman put her right arm out to signal her turn. Her four friends followed as she killed her engine in the parking lot of a tiny, out of the way, truck stop.
"What are we doing here?" Erica called over the rumble of the engines.
"Have to pee! NOW!" The younger woman giggled and yanked off her helmet before racing off toward the door of the rundown gas station.
"Well that's a little more information than I needed today." Tanya giggled but she put down her kickstand and followed her inside. Erica shook her head and leaned backward over her saddle stretching her back.
"Hey darlin." Mark grinned walking up to her and blocking the sunlight across her face.
"Hey yourself." She smiled broadly as he looked down over her.
"Were you ladies planning on stopping tonight or just pushing though?" He asked crouching down and folding his arms over her thigh.
"You'll have to talk to those two. I'm just riding along today." She chuckled and pulled the rubber bands out of her long red hair.
"You guys want anything? I'm going inside." Adam asked walking up to Erica's blacked out bike.
"Caffeine!" The two of them said in unison. Adam raised an eyebrow and shook his head before walking away.
"Do you ever wear a helmet girl?" The big man asked standing and mussing her hair.
"Only when the law makes me." She smiled wryly up at him before swatting his hand away. Mark shot her a frown. "Hey, I grew up knowing that when my number was up, it was up. No amount of DOT endorsed plastic is gonna stop it." The big man shrugged and leaned down, kissing her softly on the lips.
"I just worry about you is all." He drawled. Erica loved his soft Texas accent. "I found ya, I'm not about to lose ya."
"You mean, if I had a closed head injury and was drooling down my chin you wouldn't want to hang out with me anymore?" She said as sweetly as possible. Mark rolled his eyes and tugged on her arm.
"C'mon, let's see what they're up to."
Cool artificial air hit Adam when he walked through the old glass door. He sighed and nodded to the uncomfortable looking country boy behind the counter before he ducked down one of the aisles. The big blonde couldn't help but smile when he found the two women. Tanya was wearing a beer hat and Ashley had on the ugliest pair of sunglasses he'd ever seen. Both of them were laughing heartily at a rack of bumper stickers.
"Jesus loves you." Ashley said to him as he walked up.
"But everyone else thinks you're an asshole." Tanya finished for her.
"Oh, that's nice." He chuckled dryly.
"But wait… there's more!" Ashley giggled spinning the rack to a different side. "I need someone very bad. Are you very bad?" She read. Adam shook his head.
"So I take it you two are having fun?" He said as Tanya stuck a beanie with a propeller on it on his head. Adam removed it.
"Never better. Especially now that you're here." Ashley teased stepping closer to him. Adam stiffened as she touched his arm. "How YOU doin?" She said in a bad Italian accent.
"Um…good?" He asked pleadingly, his pale eyebrows bunching into an uncomfortable frown.
"Oh for cryin'…" Tanya sighed at his expression, pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "Don't look so afraid. We don't bite."
"Much…" Ashley finished dancing past him and brushing into his arm again. Adam made an audible squeak and turned letting his eyes follow her as she walked down the aisle away from him. He couldn't help but smirk as he watched her go.
"Well well…" Tanya said as he turned back to the bumper stickers. Adam's hand froze on the rack.
"What!" He asked incredulously, his eyes as big as saucers. Tanya couldn't help but grin as a faint redness came up in his cheeks.
"Nothing dear. Not a damn thing." She smiled up at him. Adam's eyebrows came together in a disconcerted frown and he became significantly more interested in the display than what she was saying. "Don't worry; I won't say anything to the little girl."
"So, are you guys about ready to get back on the road?" Mark said, his voice saving Adam from further interrogation.
"Huh? Oh yeah. Let's get going." The big blonde jumped before anyone else could disagree.
"Hey guys!" Ashley called as she came barreling up to them. "We've gotta stay here tonight!"
"And why do we have to do that?" Erica chuckled.
"There's a HUGE poker tournament! I've got to enter!" The smaller woman squeaked as she jumped up and down with the flyer in her hand.
"We can do that." Mark smiled down at her. "Where's the tournament?"
"There's a bar and a motel not too far. I had the shop guy over there call and make reservations for us."
"So we've already got rooms?" Erica asked sagging against Mark's arm. Ash nodded simply. "Fabulous. I need a nap." She yawned.
"I could use some sleep too. It feels like we've been riding for days." Mark agreed.
"That's because we have genius." Tanya laughed, throwing her beer hat at him. He caught it and set it back on top of her head.
"Alright. Where is this fabled motel?" Adam asked as he stifled a yawn of his own.
"Just behind the store." Ash told him. Her four friends raised their eyebrows. "Well, it's actually back a ways, and down a mesa."
"Can we get the bikes back there?" Erica asked as they all headed toward the front of the store.
"Sure can ma'am." The country boy at the register answered smiling broadly at the redhead as she walked up. "There's a dirt road just back to the west of the parking lot. It should do the bikes just fine."
"Why thank ya kindly." Erica smiled, affecting her best southern drawl and dropped an armload of sodas on the counter.
"Anytime ma'am." He smiled wider than the group thought possible.
Ashley and Tanya glanced over at Mark. The poor kid's flirting was more than obvious and the two women were afraid their very large friend might just take exception to it.
"Thank ya ma'am. Come back anytime ma'am…" He started ringing her up and bagging her sodas. "Or should I call you something else?" He pressed boldly, his sparkling blue eyes dancing as he handed Erica her change. Tanya couldn't be sure, but it looked like he was trying to hold onto her hand.
"Yeah, you can call her Mrs. Calloway." Mark grumbled snatching the bag off the counter and staring the poor kid down. Adam stifled a giggle and ushered the other two women out the door.
"Ah…" The kid nodded looking slightly flustered. "Y'all have a great day then."
"Yeah…great day…" Mark muttered and took Erica's hand without ever taking his eyes off the kid. "You ready to go baby girl?"
"After you." The redhead chuckled. Mark nodded resolutely toward the clerk and headed out the door with Erica trailing slightly behind.
The heat outside hit them like a fist in the gut but Mark didn't slow down until he reached her bike and had stowed the sodas safely inside her saddle bag. Their friends had already saddled up and were waiting to leave. Erica touched Mark gently on the shoulder as he headed off for his own bike.
"What was that about?" She asked. Mark put up a hand as he walked away but didn't answer. The redhead raised and eyebrow and watched him swing his long muscular leg over his saddle and kicked the engine into life.
"C'mon! Let's go!" Ashley yelled to them inching her bike toward the dirt path ahead of them. "I want to get signed up!" Tanya raised her hand in acknowledgement as she and Adam moved up to meet her. Erica glanced back once more at Mark on his bike. He seemed preoccupied. She made a mental note to talk to him about it later. At that moment, all she was terribly concerned with was a very long nap. Shaking her head once more, she stood and kicked down hard, her Night Train roaring into life, and gunned the throttle kicking up sand and rocks as she tore down the path behind her friends.
Before they'd even checked in, Ashley had stolen Adam and headed off to find the registration for the tournament leaving her three friends to deal with the rooms. None of them seemed to mind. Erica looked like she'd been awake for a month. Tanya looked tired as well but it seemed she couldn't sit still. No sooner than they'd taken in their things, the small brunette had disappeared into the bar.
"I need a shower…" Erica grumbled as she flopped down onto one of the beds. The artificial cold was making her sleepier still.
"So go get into the shower baby girl." Mark offered. Erica lifted her head and shot him an incredulous look.
"Thank you oh great king of the obvious." She laughed and forced herself to crawl off the end of the bed. "I think I will."
Mark waved her off as he kicked off his big black boots and positioned himself against the headboard, television remote in hand.
"Care to join me?" The redhead asked, leering at him from around the bathroom door just as Mark pulled his filthy black T-shirt over his head. He raised his eyebrow and threw it at her. "I'll take that as a no…" She muttered and threw it back at him.
"What are you doin? I don't want it, it's sweaty." He chuckled.
"Keep your own sweat Taker." She grinned evilly.
"Don't call me that." The big man said becoming suddenly serious. "I don't want you to call me by my stage name. I want you to know me for me, darlin."
"I'm sorry. I was just…" Erica stumbled over her words.
"I know baby girl." He reassured her, his eyes were flashing with emotions Erica couldn't place. "Go get in the shower." Nodding slowly, the redhead disappeared into the bathroom locking the door behind her.
Half an hour later, she emerged dirt free and feeling a thousand percent better. The room was still empty save for Mark, now snoring loudly against the flat motel pillows. Erica couldn't help but grin when she saw him. He looked so cute, almost vulnerable laying there half dressed with one leg hanging over the edge and the remote control sitting squarely in the center of his chest.
"Aw Geez…" She giggled and pulled a tank top and shorts out of her bag. She slid into them and eased herself up next to the big Texan. Instinctively, he wrapped his arm tight around her, pulling her to his chest as he slept. The redhead sighed contentedly and picked up the remote, scanning channels while she listened to the steady beat of his heart. Before long, her eyes were drooping as well. She abandoned the TV and curled herself against his side. She yawned heavily and before she knew it, she was out as well.
Erica could hear the phone ringing but she refused to move to get it. How dare someone call just as she was falling asleep! The redhead felt Mark stir next to her and rolled away from him, cuddling up to the itchy motel comforter.
The bed squeaked softly as he stood up. Erica tried to protest but she wasn't entirely sure the sound made it out of her mouth.
"Hello?" She heard him say groggily. Apparently he'd answered the phone. "What? What do you mean she got arrested?" Erica shot to attention.
"Who got arrested!" She asked crawling to kneel at the end of the bed next to him. Mark raised his hand for silence.
"Ok…Ok…" Mark's voice was agitated, his tone apprehensive. "Where is it? No, the police station you idiot. Where are they holding her? Did they take her bike?"
Erica chewed her lip in frustration. She could only hear one side of the conversation and she didn't like what she was hearing one bit.
"What? What's going on? Who's in jail?" Erica pestered him. Mark shot her a look and put his finger to his lips. Erica sighed heavily and slumped down silently, waiting.
"Alright. We'll be right there. Yes, we'll get her bike too. Ok, bye." Mark snapped the phone shut and looked over at Erica, his eyes dark.
"What's going on Mark?" The big man sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair.
"Ashley got arrested." He said simply.
"WHAT? What do you mean she got arrested? She hasn't had time to get arrested!"
"Look at the clock baby girl, we missed the whole tournament." Erica raised her eyebrow at him but turned at looked at the clock. It was three thirty in the morning.
"SHIT!" Erica squeaked and jumped off the bed, grabbing a pair of old jeans out of her saddlebag and darting into the bathroom to change. "What'd she get arrested for?" She called from the other room.
"I don't know. That was Adam on the phone and he didn't tell me much more than where to go. I guess she got into a fight with someone during a game. Apparently, it was her fault."
"How could she do that much damage? She's so small! I mean, have you looked at her?" Erica muttered as she wandered back toward the bed and pulled on her boots. "Let's go find out what's going on." Mark nodded and pulled a black thermal shirt over his head before following her out the motel door.
"Whoa, we can't take your bike darlin. We've got to pick hers up from the bar." Mark called out when he saw her walking toward her own bike.
"Where are the keys?" The redhead asked climbing onto the back of Mark's chopper.
"Tanya said she and Adam stuck them in her saddlebag. They were going to impound it but they managed to persuade the police to leave it where it was if someone came to pick it up." Erica sighed heavily and softly pounded her forehead off of Mark's back in frustration.
"Alright. Let's get this over with." She grumbled and wrapped her arms around the big man's waist. He nodded and pulled up the kickstand before gunning the throttle and racing back up the dirt road and onto the interstate.
After a short trek to the bar, Erica retrieved Ashley's V-Rod and followed Mark back to the road. It was a good forty five minutes to the police station. The redhead couldn't believe they called it a station. When she killed the engine and looked up, she was greeted with something straight out of Maybury. It was a very small building complete with well maintained shutters covering all the windows. The light inside cast strange shadows through them. Erica could see the silhouettes of bars behind the deceiving shutters.
"You ready?" Mark asked, walking up and putting his hands on her shoulders. She nodded and leaned back against him momentarily before making her way up the freshly painted steps and into the office.
A bell jingled above the door as they walked in. Tanya and Adam were sitting against the wall staring at nothing and waiting.
"What happened?" Erica asked stalking over to them, a murderous but worried look in her eyes.
"Well…" Tanya sighed and rubbed at her eye with the back of one very bruised hand. "Ash was winning. It was the last game and she caught the guy across from her cheating or something. We couldn't really see from where we were standing."
"All we could see was Ashley throw her chair back and grab the guy by his shirt." Adam continued.
"The guy put his hands up and like a dozen cards fell out of his sleeve." Tanya chuckled. "I guess Ashley lost it. She just pulled back and clocked the guy."
"I think she broke his nose." Adam giggled.
"Ashley hit the guy?" Mark asked chuckling as he walked up and leaned against the railing separating the waiting area from the desk. Tanya nodded. "Who'd have thought that little girl could do that kind of damage."
"Then what happened?" Erica pressed.
"The guy fell over in his chair grabbing his face. He must've had a lot of friends because the next thing we knew, these three guys dove on her." Adam said.
"Erica, she didn't have a chance!" Tanya breathed and held up her swollen hand. "I managed to work my way down there. I got one of them before the crowd reacted and started rushing the table. Then I got thrown back."
"So how'd she manage to be the lucky one in handcuffs?" Mark asked shifting his weight and crossing his arms over his chest.
"She started it. They're holding her responsible for the whole mess." Tanya explained. "And the guy whose nose she broke, I guess he's pressing charges."
"Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ!" Erica sighed and rolled her neck around until it cracked loud enough to make her friends flinch.
"Can I help you?" An officer asked them as he came into the room. Startled, Erica glanced up and walked over to the desk.
"What's the bail on the woman from the tournament tonight?" She asked through her clenched teeth. The cop stared at her for a moment then looked down flipping pages idly in a large ledger book.
"It's been paid. She's being processed out." He told her as he adjusted his glasses and sat back heavily in a wooden desk chair. It creaked a protest under his ample weight.
"Wha…" Erica stammered and blinked at him.
"It's been paid. Go sit down until we process her through." He repeated. The irritation was evident in his voice.
The redhead looked back over her shoulder at her three friends. Every one of them had an all too innocent look about them.
"Tanya, did you use the rest of our cash to bail her out?"
"Hell no! Everything we had didn't even begin to cover it." The little brunette said; her eyes wide.
"I…took care of it." Adam said quietly as if he was embarrassed by his own generosity.
"Adam…" Erica started. "You didn't have to…"
"I know I didn't. I wanted to."
"Look, I don't know how, but we'll pay you back." Tanya said turning to him. "It might take a while but we'll do it. Right Erica?"
"Of course we will. Just give us some time and you'll get it all back." She agreed.
"I don't want it back." The tall blonde said simply. "I'm just glad I could help her…er…help." He blushed. Mark raised an eyebrow.
"Son, if I didn't know better I'd say you had a crush on the kid." He grinned. Adam pulled his eyebrows together in a disconcerted frown and slumped down in his chair, crossing his arms in front of him.
"You do don't you?" Erica asked, a lopsided grin playing across her face.
"I…was just trying to help." He muttered, his face turning redder under the gaze of his three friends.
"He does." Tanya giggled, her nose wrinkling happily.
"So what if I do!" Adam squeaked.
"Then I'd say she owes you at least one real date behind all of this." Mark chuckled wryly and sat down a chair away from him.
"Don't tell her I sprung her." Tanya shot him a questioning look. "I…just don't want her to know."
"If you say so." Tanya said standing to stretch her legs.
"At any rate, thank you for the bail money." Erica said sincerely. "But what about the guy with the broken nose?"
"Taken care of." Adam smiled.
"What!" Tanya said louder than necessary. The officer at the desk glowered at her. "When did you do that?" The brunette continued a bit quieter.
"Right after he talked to the police. Sometimes being famous has its advantages." He grinned. The three of them were staring at him again. "What! I just walked over to him and offered him twice as much as the contest was worth if he'd leave her alone." Adam said smiling even as he stared down at his lap. "He went back and withdrew his statement."
"No, Adam…That's just too much money!" Erica protested. The blonde waved off her concern.
"What? It's one week's pay. I'm on TV, remember?" He chuckled.
"Well you're just full of surprises today aren't you?" Mark was laughing outright. Erica shook her head and moved to sit down on the big man's lap.
No sooner than she'd sat down, a door in the back opened and out walked Ashley with two officers trailing behind her.
"Hi everybody." She sounded very tired.
"Why did you hit that son-of-a-bitch?" Mark asked as the little auburn haired woman as she signed her name one final time. She shrugged.
"He was cheating. I don't like cheaters." She said simply and ran her hand through her hair exposing a hearty bruise along the right side of her jaw.
"What's that about?" Erica asked pointing to it.
"His friends weren't happy with me." She smiled ruefully. "But don't worry; I made them even less happy with me."
"Here you go ma'am." Another officer raised her attention holding a plastic baggy. "Your personal effects."
"Oh! Great! Everything's in there right?" Ashley asked looking the younger officer directly in the eye. He blanched slightly under her gaze.
"As…far as I know ma'am." He dropped the bag on the desktop and busied himself with paperwork. Ashley frowned at the top of his head and snatched it up.
"Hey, where's my pocket knife?" She blurted, dumping the contents out.
"It wasn't of legal size, we confiscated it." The older officer cut in.
"You can't do that!" She yelled, slamming her hands down on the counter.
"Yes they can little girl. Let's get out of here." Mark told her. He could see the situation getting worse, the longer he let her talk. The younger cop smiled nervously then nodded before quickly going back to the stack of papers. Ashley grabbed her wallet and shoved it into her back pocket. The rest of it, she left laying there.
"But they took it…" She grumbled as Mark put his hands on her shoulders steering her away from the desk and toward the rest of their group. Adam stood up as they approached.
"You okay?" He asked jamming his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah… I'm fine. I'd be better if I had my knife!" She shouted the second part toward the desk. No one behind the desk paid attention to her. The auburn haired woman glanced over to the desk and made a face at them before falling into Adam, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Hey! Wow, are you sure you're alright?" He asked again nervously and gingerly returned the hug.
"Can we go back to the motel now?" She whined. "Today sucks."
"Yeah. This whole night can suck my ass and swallow it." Tanya agreed and peeled her young friend off the blonde. Adam caught her hand as she turned away and brought it up to his lips, kissing it softly.
"I'm glad you're alright. I was worried. We were all worried." He grinned. Ashley opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Suddenly, she smiled, nodding quickly and wandered toward the door.
Outside, Ashley took a deep breath and screamed as loud as she could out into the night. There was nothing for miles around the police station and a ghost of her voice came echoing through the desert back to her.
"Ahh…" She sighed contentedly. "I feel much better. You guys ready to go?" Tanya and Erica were staring at her strangely as the little girl walked calmly over to her bike. "Keys?"
"Oh yeah, here." The redhead said tossing her the ring. Ashley caught it as she slung her leg over the saddle and started the engine. Tanya and Adam were on their bikes and ready to go as well.
"C'mon baby girl, let's get out of here." Mark said walking his bike over to her. Erica smiled and hopped up behind him.
"Ready." She announced and scooted up to wrap her arms around him. The big man nodded and waved to everyone else. One by one they skidded out onto the highway and back toward the motel they were calling home that night.
The ride back to the motel seemed to rejuvenate Ashley. She parked her bike outside their rooms and hopped off dancing in circles.
"I take it you're feeling better." Tanya laughed pulling up next to the V-Rod and cutting her own engine. Ash nodded goofily and took a bow before yawning.
"Still tired." She said and stretched.
"Come my dear, let's get you to bed." Adam said softly reaching for her hand. Ash smiled and took his hand, letting him lead her toward one of the rooms. Tanya yawned and covered her mouth with one had, waving at her two remaining friends with the other and headed for the room Mark and Erica had been in before.
"G'night Mr. and Mrs. Calloway." She laughed before opening the door and disappearing behind it.
Mark cringed slightly and glanced over at Erica. She was looking at him strangely.
"What?"
"You didn't answer me the last time I asked." She said raising an eyebrow and shifted her weight with her hands on her hips.
"Are you really worked up about me trying to keep that kid's eyes in his head?" He asked. Erica shrugged noncommittally but kept staring at him. Mark frowned and shook his head. "Look, the way I see it, you're mine. I'm not about to stand for some punk kid eyeing you up like a piece of meat."
"Who said I was yours?" Erica asked. There was a hint of anger behind her words.
"Well…" Mark started crossing his arms. "I did." The redhead shook her head in disbelief.
"So you just made up your mind and that makes it law?" She took a step toward him. "I never said this was a forever thing Mark. Shouldn't I have some say?"
"That's how you feel eh?" He growled; his eyes narrowed.
"What am I supposed to do? Was I supposed to go back with you to wherever the hell it is you're from and give up my life? No, I don't think so."
"What do you have out here that keeps you?" Now Mark moved closer.
"What do I have?" Erica yelled. She couldn't believe he'd said it. "Look around! I've got the road; I've got my friends, what more do I need? What can your world give me Mark?"
"Someone who loves you." He said simply.
"You don't love me." She spat. "You barely know me."
"I thought I did. I was apparently very fucking wrong." He snarled.
"How could you even think that? What do a couple of weeks tell you about someone? Yeah, we get along. Yes, we're attracted to each other. Yes, we're great in bed together. But then what? You're on vacation Mark. This is my LIFE! When things go wrong out here I don't pack it up and go back to my little job and my little house and tell all my rich friends about this crazy chick I shacked up with!" Anger flared behind the big man's green eyes as she spoke. "No Mark. When I don't have enough money, I sleep on the fucking ground and find my way to the next bar I can hustle. Tanya and I have been out here for years. YEARS MARK! I won't give it up."
Mark put his hands up and turned his back to her. He didn't want to hate her but she was pushing all of his buttons. She didn't know what he had or hadn't done. How dare she insinuate he didn't know anything?
"Woman…" His voice was nothing but a rumble in his chest as he turned back to her and stepped dangerously close. He could feel the heat from her body, he was so near. "Don't you EVER assume I'm naïve. Do you hear me? I've got almost twice the years on you. I've been through more than you could imagine…"
"This isn't a contest, Mark. We're not playing 'whose life was harder'." She snapped and pushed him back.
"So that's how it is…" He grumbled looking down at his chest where her hands had been. "I might was well say all this now then, since it don't matter anymore."
"Who says it doesn't matter?"
"You do!" He yelled. "You say I don't love you, fine, think that all you want but it ain't gonna change anything little girl. When I said you were my soul mate I meant it. You are mine. You fit, I fit. That's just the way that it is."
"No, I don't belong to you. I don't belong to anyone." She said simply and folded her arms across her chest.
"Yes, you do. You're mine!" The redhead snorted and shook her head. Before she could respond Mark was on her, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her savagely.
"Let go of me!" She snarled. He held her tighter.
"Tell me you don't care about me!" The big man continued. "Tell me there's more to you that this selfish, self righteous, bitch!"
"Fuck you! Get the fuck off me Mark!" She growled against him, trying with everything she had to pull away. "Just let me go! Let me fucking GO!" She continued and kicked him in the shin.
"God damn it!" He roared and staggered back a step. When he looked up, Erica was stalking back toward their room. "When was the last time you let someone see past that hard assed, holier than thou, attitude of yours?" Erica stopped walking but she didn't turn around. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
"That's none of your business." She spat.
"Of course it's not. You won't let me in. You won't let anybody in."
"You don't know anything about me. Just let it go." She said tiredly, turning back to him finally.
"You're wrong. I know a lot about you and that's the problem. You are not what you pretend to be. I can see it in your eyes when you're layin next to me in bed. I see what you're hiding."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Erica asked skeptically and took a tentative step back toward him.
"What's that mean? I'll tell you exactly what it means. It means there's a fucking woman inside there!" He was all but laughing with frustration. Erica's eyes were as huge as saucers as she stomped back over to him.
"How dare you…" She hissed.
"I'll tell you exactly how. I came out here to find what I was missin and I found you! I know what you're doing out here, little girl. You're searching just like me. You know god damned well that this works but you're too scared to admit it. Pull your head out of your ass woman! You're not one of the guys. You play a good game but you're not, I've seen it!" He was all but pleading. "Underneath all this bullshit is the woman of my dreams and she's too fucking stubborn to let go and see where this leads!"
"You don't know anything." Erica said quietly shaking her head. Mark took a deep breath and looked up to the sky to try to catch his breath.
"Fine…" He began again. "Tell me you don't love me and I'll leave. You'll never have to see me again. I'm too old to play these games baby girl. Just tell me that somewhere under all that bad girl bullshit you don't love me and I'm gone." For a long moment, the redhead just stared at him. Then, as if ashamed of what was about to come out of her mouth, she dropped her head.
"I don't love you." She whispered still looking down at the ground.
Time seemed to stop. Mark felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. Her four words echoed over and over through his head. When he'd finally regained enough composure, he looked at her through a haze of tears he didn't know were coming. She was still standing in front of him, her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the ground.
"Alright then." He said bitterly and nodded before walking past her and throwing open the door to their room. He emerged a moment later with his saddlebags slung over his shoulder and Tanya, quite obviously in pajamas, hot on his heels.
"What the hell is going on?" She called out to Erica. The redhead just shook her head. Tanya rolled her eyes and continued after Mark as he pounded on the door to the room Adam was in.
Erica watched from a distance as the big blonde opened the door and spoke with Mark. Adam was rubbing his eyes, but nodded and disappeared into the room. He came out with his saddlebags as well.
"Mark…" Erica tried to say as they walked past her.
"Tanya, keep your girl on a leash." He snapped pointing at Erica but never looking over.
"Mark what's going on?" The small brunette asked as she watched both men reattach their bags. They were clearly preparing to leave and she wanted to know why.
"Ask the little hard ass. She knows. But ask her after we're gone. I don't want to hear her fuckin mouth right now."
"Adam?" Tanya pressed. The big blonde came around his bike and pulled her into a brotherly hug.
"I'm not sure either." He said and reached down for his wallet. Flipping it open, he pulled out a card and handed it to her. "This is my cell phone number. Give it to Erica and Ashley. Call me if you guys happen to be where we are and I'll get you tickets. Alright?" Tanya nodded. "I don't want to lose touch with you."
"I don't either." She said quietly and glanced over at her friend. Erica was standing in the same spot but her eyes were focused on nothing. "It's been a hell of a ride." Tanya said turning back to Adam. She couldn't help but smile when she thought of the last couple of weeks.
"Yes it has." Adam grinned in agreement.
"Adam! Let's GO!" Mark boomed over his shoulder and kicked over his engine, gunning the throttle in his impatience. The big blonde looked over his shoulder then back at Tanya.
"Call me. I don't care when, just call and please…please tell Ashley I'm sorry I had to leave without saying goodbye. Let her know I'll miss her."
"I will." The brunette smiled wryly and waved the card in his face. Adam nodded and looked over at Erica to say good bye. She didn't seem to hear him she was so lost in her own thoughts.
"Tell her I said g'bye too." He said giving Tanya another quick hug and hurrying over to his bike, tying back his long hair on the way.
Tanya stood in the gravel parking lot and watched them leave, waving as their tail lights disappeared around a turn in the dirt road. When nothing was left of them but the distant rumble of their engines she turned back to where Erica had been standing. The redhead was gone.
She sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose. This whole night had given her a headache. Taking another deep breath, she walked back to her room.
"What happened?" She asked the unmoving lump on the far bed.
"He's fucking insane." Erica answered cryptically. She couldn't be sure but, Tanya thought her voice sounded thick; like she was crying.
The smaller woman stood there for a long moment waiting for her friend to elaborate. Apparently, she wasn't going to.
Tanya shook her head in the darkness and crawled back into her own bed. Tomorrow she'd drag the truth out of her.