Lit (eBook)

Chapter
9

I parked my Subaru behind the bed-and-breakfast in the small gravel lot. Coyote and I would embark on our cross-country road trip to Washington in just a few short hours. The move was bittersweet. Josh and I were distant and no longer communicated, and I was leaving my job, home, and community. I was excited but also a bit nervous. I was giving up everything, and Coyote was gaining everything.

Coyote no longer rented the bungalow, and we spent hours online searching for rentals in the Seattle area. We fell in love with and settled on Squamish Lake. We were able to secure an adorable, small gray cottage in a quiet neighborhood. The landlord seemed a bit flighty, but we had developed a solid long-distance relationship with her. She loved cats and welcomed Roadster onto the property. Everything was falling into place.

I stood behind my car and examined the number of boxes packed into the trunk. Damn, I was good. I was slightly frustrated that Coyote did not help, but I managed. I was able to strategically stack each piece so that he still had room for his luggage. I did not pack anything onto the backseat as Roadster would spend most of the road trip there. His thick, pink furry bed was on the seat, food and water bowls behind the driver, and cat box and litter behind the passenger. I also tucked a few toys and kitty cookies into the center console.

“Why are you standing out here?’

I felt Coyote’s body against mine, and his arms wrapped around my waist. I was lost in thought and did not hear him exit the back door of the B&B. He kissed the top of my head and stroked my cheek with his hand.

“You smell good, Elsie. I want to taste you so badly right now.” Coyote exhaled slowly into my ear. His breath was warm and moist. “But we don’t have time for that now, do we?” He whispered softly and stroked my hair. I smiled, released his hands from my waist, and turned to face him.

“I can’t believe that today is the day. Are you excited?” I stared into his eyes, trying to read him. “Well, you certainly look excited. And I am impressed with your packing skills. Well done.” I felt slightly brushed off and disappointed in his lack of enthusiasm.

“Oh, yeah. Thank you. There’s room for your suitcases in the trunk.”

Coyote opened the hatchback. “Wow, I approve. I couldn’t have done it better myself. Good girl.”

I didn’t mention my frustration around his lack of help with the packing. I was just pleased that he was satisfied.

After an uneventful nine hours in the car, we arrived in Chicago. I pulled into a gas station so that we could find lodging for the night. Coyote placed his hand on my right thigh and stared at me. He appeared amused.

“Elsie. I have something to tell you.” He sighed and slid his hand between my legs. “I don’t have any money. I am waiting for an invoice payment that hasn’t come through to me yet. You will have to foot the bill for the rest of this trip until it does.” His hand slid further in between my legs. His smile widened.

Oh shit. I budgeted for half of the drive and only had a small cushion of extra funds. My stomach sank, and I was terrified of letting Coyote down. I didn’t want to disappoint him. “I-I wasn’t expecting that, but okay. I, uh, I will cover the trip. I guess.”

Coyote smiled. “That’s my girl. I knew that I could depend on you. Now, let’s find a hotel.” He pulled his hand out from between my legs and refocused on his lodging search.

I felt anxious and desperate. I had just taken on the financial burden of the trip, and I didn’t have the funds to do so. How would I make it work? While Coyote searched for a hotel online, I checked my checking account balance. $2,789.52. I stared at the balance and quickly came up with a plan. If we stayed in cheap motels, bought low-grade fuel, and stocked up on snacks and water, I could potentially make it work. I felt somewhat relieved.

“Is there a Motel 6 nearby?”

Coyote laughed. “Are you kidding me? I don’t stay in motels. You’re funny, Elsie. I just booked us a room at the Hilton in your name.” He leaned over and kissed my right cheek.

Coyote waited in the car while I checked in.

“Hello, may I help you? My name is Greg and welcome to Hilton, Chicago.” Greg was tall and lanky with thin black hair. His white button-down shirt had a yellow stain on the left pocket, but it was perfectly pressed. He wore a red and blue tie and a brown leather belt. His nametag was attached above the right pocket and etched with his name. I wondered why he didn’t move it to the left pocket to cover the stain. I would have.

“Hi there. Question for you. May I bring my cat into the room?”

Greg smiled and pushed his wire-rimmed glasses toward the bridge of his nose. His nose was long and thin and appeared oily in the lighting. “Of course. We do accept pets but at an extra charge of $25.00. I will need your driver’s license and credit card.” I reached into my purse and pulled out my wallet.

“Okay, great. We would like a room for the night.” I felt nauseated as I handed him my Visa.

“Your total will be $425.00.”

I sat on the bed and watched Roadster drink from his water bowl. His long black hair was shiny and healthy, and he had yellow eyes and long whiskers. His bushy tail waved gently back and forth, almost snakelike. He was calm and likely happy to be out of the car. I envied his simple life.

I could not shake the nervous feeling that had taken hold of me. Why didn’t I tell Coyote the truth about my budget? Why did I need to put myself in the wrong position just to make him happy? Why did he wait to tell me that he had no money? This was supposed to be an exciting adventure. Instead, I was feeling unsure.

“Let’s go out to dinner! There’s a jazz club around the corner, and they serve amazing food!” Coyote was in the bathroom styling his hair in the mirror. “You should wear that black halter that ties in the back. I love how it drapes around your curves. Fucking sexy.”

I didn’t feel sexy at all. I wanted to crawl into bed and hide under the blankets.

“Okay, I will get dressed now. I need to put on a little makeup too.”

I tried to sound excited. I was already dreading the dinner check as my funds were depleting rapidly. Coyote sure liked the finer things in life. Especially when someone else was paying for them.

By the time we reached Wyoming, my funds were scarce. We still had another two days of driving, and I was now ignoring the seriousness of the situation.

“Look at this little place! Let’s stay here for the night!”

Coyote pulled into the parking lot of a large log cabin. There were several small A-frames on the adjoining property, and it was quaint and rustic. Large pine trees surrounded the area, and pinecones were scattered on the ground. I had $424.00 left in my name, so I was pleased that the rate was only $150 for the night.

Coyote and I had fantastic sex the following morning. He was loving and gentle. The intense stress that I had been feeling faded away. He took his time and was focused on pleasuring me, and I returned the favor.

“I love you so much, Elsie.”

I didn’t respond but smiled as he said it. Coyote finished, kissed my lips, and headed to the shower. “Want to join me?” He smiled.

I loved showering with Coyote.

“Just a minute!” First, I needed to remedy our financial situation.

When I heard water spraying from the showerhead, I picked up my cell phone. I knew I could ask my friend, Claire, for help without judgment. I didn’t want to call her as there was a chance that Coyote would overhear, so I texted a summary of my situation. She responded immediately and, without hesitation, offered to send me $2,500.00 via wire transfer. I apologized for my actions that led to the request.

“Oh my God, Elsie. Seriously? You do so much for so many people, including me! I am happy to help. I am financially responsible and know you are good for it.”

I sank back onto the bed, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much, Claire. I will pay you back in a few days. You know I love you!”

I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything was going to be okay. I went into the bathroom and joined Coyote in the shower. I felt on top of the world.

We drove to the ferry dock and pulled onto the boat in front of us. I had never been on a ferry, much less driven onto one. There were rows of cars parked to our left and right, and a man holding an orange neon flag directed the passengers. He wore a blue jumpsuit, tinted goggles, and a blue baseball cap. The fluorescent lighting was bright, almost painful on the eyes. No wonder he was wearing goggles.

Coyote looked at me and smiled. “Let’s go!” He opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car stretching his arms into the air and rolling his neck. His green t-shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was slightly messy. His skin was smooth and his muscles very toned, with an olive complexion. The lighting made his teeth look abnormally white and his eyes even bluer. He looked like a Ken doll waiting for his Barbie. I giggled at the visual as I stepped onto the concrete of the parking lot.

“We will be back, Roadster!” I smiled at his lack of interest in my existence. He was curled up in the backseat with partially open eyes, and he made no effort to...