Halfway House - Lisa Worrall,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Halfway House | Lisa Worrall
2
Halfway House
T
YLER
sat behind the wheel of his Camaro, his elbow resting
on the rolled down window and his eyes hidden behind dark
glasses. The sun was beating down and the air conditioner
was on the fritz, so he leaned over to roll down the passenger
window while he waited. He had no idea who he was waiting
for, but that was the interesting deal with this whole car
sharing thing. You posted a note on the student board
offering a ride home, obviously splitting expenses along the
way. Then you waited to see if anyone wanted to take you up
on the offer. Tyler had received one voice mail on his cell,
from some guy called Eliot something-or-other. Not that that
was important, he wasnÔt gonna make friendly with the guy.
He was just giving him a lift home to his hometown, Austin,
Texas. Okay, that was almost 1,500 miles from the Strayer
University Campus in Washington, where they were now. It
was twenty-two plus hours of driving time, but Tyler had
plans to stop at a cheap motel overnight somewhere along
the way, so it would take almost two days to get home.
Out of habit, Tyler checked his reflection in the rearview
mirror and ran a hand through his chocolate-colored curls.
Then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
Someone was heading his way with purpose. Casually he
turned his head and watched as the boy with the suitcase
moved slowly toward the car. He couldnÔt quite contain the
ÑOh crapÒ that fell from his lips. Tyler realized that he did
Halfway House | Lisa Worrall
3
actually know Eliot Something-or-other. He was in TylerÔs
English Lit class, and he also had a reputation for being the
smartest guy in college. He was the ideal student by which
Tyler and his friends were constantly measured and
inevitably found to be seriously lacking. Mr. Walker, their
English professor, was very fond of saying, ÑTyler, maybe you
should take a leaf out of EliotÔs book.Ò Fuck, the next two
days are gonna feel like a lifetimeÐwhat the hell do we have
in common?
Ñ
F
UCK
,Ò Eliot muttered under his breath as he walked
toward the yellow Camaro. He recognized Tyler immediately.
The next two days are gonna feel like a lifetimeÐwhat the hell
do we have in common? Nothing in the note had given him
any clue that it was the boy from his English class. Stuck in
a car for three days with the basketball teamÔs golden boy.
What the hell am I gonna do? This is going to be excruciating.
Eliot desperately tried to come up with an excuse not to get
in the car during the seven steps it took him to reach the
passenger doorÐhe counted themÐbut came up empty.
What could he say? I canÔt take the lift because you have
nothing interesting enough to say for me to listen to? I know
nothing about sports? Oh, how about, IÔve been dreaming
about your hazel eyes and pouty lips and long legs wrapped
around my waist for the last two years and can think of
nothing more embarrassing than sitting next to you with a
boner for two days? Yeah, that last one, Eliot. ThatÔs the one
to go with, good choice.
Eliot bent down and stuck his hand through the open
Halfway House | Lisa Worrall
4
window. ÑHey, you must be Tyler,Ò he said gruffly. ÑIÔm Eliot
Robbins.Ò
Tyler reached out and grasped EliotÔs outstretched
fingers. ÑYeah, Tyler Andrews. I think we have English Lit
together.Ò
Eliot nodded, a blush spreading across his freckled
cheeks as Tyler acknowledged that he knew who he was.
ÑYou wanna pop the trunk?Ò He indicated his suitcase to
Tyler, who climbed out to open the trunk, taking the suitcase
from EliotÔs resisting fingers and stowing it inside. ÑI can
manage a suitcase myself, man,Ò Eliot said, unable to stop
the irritation in his voice. Shrugging, Tyler returned to the
driverÔs seat and, squaring his shoulders, Eliot opened the
passenger door and slid into shotgun.
Tyler slammed the door closed behind himself. He
glanced over at Eliot as he started the engine, taking in the
lean and slim figure, the long feminine fingers, the wire-
framed glasses perched on a straight nose, and the soft full
lips. Clear green eyes stared at Tyler from behind those
glasses, eyes he hadnÔt looked at this closely before, and,
unbidden, the word ÑprettyÒ skittered across his mind before
he could squash it. He turned away, berating himself for
allowing himself to even think things like that when he was
still parked outside the school. It didnÔt matter how pretty
his companion was, he needed to focus on ÑnerdÒ and the
fact that Eliot quite frankly looked like a good strong breeze
would blow him over. Tyler quirked an eyebrow and
muttered not altogether quietly under his breath, ÑWhatever
you say, Supernerd.Ò
Both boys sighed as Tyler pulled out onto the street,
Halfway House | Lisa Worrall
5
leaving the college in the rearview mirror; it was going to be a
very long two days.
Ñ
A
RE
you kidding me?Ò Eliot groaned as they passed the
same road sign for the third time. After driving along the
main roads quite happily for five hours, they had decided to
take a more scenic route. He glanced over at Tyler and
frowned. ÑI thought you said you knew a shortcut.Ò
ÑWell, I thought I did. Obviously I may have made a little
tactical error,Ò was the bitten out response. ÑJeez, dude, un-
bunch your panties, will ya? WeÔve got plenty of gas.Ò
ÑUnless you hadnÔt noticed,Ò Eliot snapped, ÑitÔs dark,
and we havenÔt even passed anywhere to eat for the last
three hours. I knew we shouldnÔt have gone off the main
roads.Ò Eliot turned the map this way and that and tried
unsuccessfully to make sense of the route they were now on.
He refolded the map and ignored TylerÔs attempts to slap it
out of his way. ÑI told you, if weÔd stuck to the main road,
weÔd be in a diner eating hot food by now. You do realize
that, donÔt you?Ò
Tyler ran a hand through his hair. ÑHow could I not?Ò he
said in exasperation. ÑYouÔve been telling me every three
miles for the last hour and a half.Ò
Eliot was searching desperately for a quick and witty
response when the CamaroÔs lights stuttered. The engine
suddenly coughed, stalling in the middle of the road.
ÑWhat the fuck?Ò Tyler swore loudly, turning the wheel.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]