What the fuck am I doing? What the fuck did I just do? I just asked my friend's roommate's girlfriend to take a fucking road trip with me. That's what.

Hearing her talk about cookie-cutter lives and specific life expectations had set something off inside of me. I had no plan and no idea what I had been doing when I'd asked. For some reason, I just wanted her to take a chance instead of signing her future away.

My parents had tried to maintain that and after a while it was just a semblance of happiness and not the real thing. Even though I didn't even know her, I knew Monica deserved better than that. She sure as fuck deserves better than a boyfriend who was just staying with her to nab her virginity.

How she had remained a virgin though must've been by sheer will-power because she's fucking gorgeous. I can only imagine the amount of guys who wanted her. That fact is probably why Carter has kept her under lock and key for the last three years. I'm sure those times when they broke up and he'd get laid were carefully calculated. I wonder if she even knew.

A part of me ponders if she's even aware how sexy she is and all of the sex appeal she has. Nah, she's got to be aware of that. There's no way should couldn't not be aware of that. Those curvaceous hips and those luscious thighs— I shake my head, ridding my self of the sexual thoughts entering it. 

For fuck's sake, Boston, what the fuck are you doing? About to road-trip with a sexy stranger who is supposed to be off-limits— that's what.

I walk up the pathway to the house taking in the lawn that is littered with cups and bottles. I pass a couple making out on the porch and a couple people passing around a joint before entering the loud house. Music is still cranking out and the party is seemingly just as it was when I had left.

Trudging past the table filled with booze I hear a drunken voice slur my name. I tense and turn around. Carter is sitting in a chair next to the table with a girl in his lap. I don't even know how I'd missed him. You're lost in thoughts about his girlfriend. Right.

"What's up, man?"

"You seen my girl?"

I eye the female on his lap. "Seems like you've got one right there," I'm gesturing to her.

"You know who I'm talking about. Monica. How do you know my Monica?" The way he'd said 'my Monica' makes me snort out an incredulous noise. "Is there something funny about that, man?" His tone trying to sound threatening but he's way too drunk to do much of anything right now.

"No, Carter, not at all. I was just laughing because she's the girl on the bench I told you about." His brow lifts at that.

"No shit?"

"Yeah, I just offered to walk her back to her dorm. Just looking out."

"Oh, well thanks, man." I wasn't looking out for you, asshole. I was looking out for her. "Grab a drink." He nods to the table beside me.

"Nah, I think I'm going to call it a night. I have to get up early tomorrow." Hopefully to meet up with 'your Monica'.

"Alright."

I turn around and make my way up the stairs to the bedroom. I'm thankful Eric isn't going at it with anyone when I enter. I blow out a breath before plopping myself down on the air mattress.

My hand fumbles around in my pocket around the pack of smokes and eventually I'm able to pull out my phone. Still no text from Monica yet. There's a slight disappointment that flows through me because of it.

✩✩✩

Sometime in the middle of the night, Carter brought the girl up to the room. She was that same one that had been sitting on his lap. He'd told her that they didn't have to do anything. That she could trust him and just sleep in his bed with him. No big deal. He had a girlfriend so nothing could happen. But soon after they'd crawled into his bed I could hear the sloppy sounds of drunk kissing.

I had never wanted to punch someone so badly in the face as I sat there there listening to that. The subtle groans falling from his and her mouth had made me clench my jaw. The entire time he was doing whatever he was doing with her, I thought of Monica sleeping in her bed; alone. No dude sucking her face off.

I also kept thinking of Carter's hands on Monica, trying to get her to do something she didn't want to do. It irked me in a way I didn't think possible. There he was, cheating on her after doing that because she didn't want to give it up.

Carter doesn't deserve her. Not that I do but he was going to lose her because of me. That was a promise I'd made to myself while overhearing that. She will not get back with that douche bag if I have anything to say about it.

Around three a.m. I received a text message from Monica telling me she was down for the road trip. The text had made me smirk considering Carter was still going at it with whoever she was. I sent her the time to meet me and spent the rest of the night awake.

Once five came around I packed up all my shit, air mattress included. I shoved everything into the two bags I'd brought and headed out of the room. But before I had I took one last look at Carter and the girl in his arms thinking— I am going to steal your girl, you asshole. Just you wait.

Currently, I'm parking my car down the street from where I'd first met Monica. Lighting up a cigarette after closing my door, I head toward the bench. I'm not surprised to see it empty, especially since its six in the morning. A Sunday morning on a college campus wasn't exactly hopping.

I sit on the bench and lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. Nervousness hits my veins when I don't see her after a good ten minutes. She finally appears with a duffel bag thrown over her shoulder and I can't help but give her an ear-splitting grin.

"Hey you," I call out once she's in earshot.

"You know you should stop smoking. It's really bad for you."

I quirk a brow at her but put the butt out saying, "already telling me what to do and you're not even in the car yet?" She shrugs at me as I stand up. "I'm surprised you decided to come."

"I mean, if you're having second thoughts then I don't have to." A ping of anxiety flows through me. "I'm probably not going to be that much fun, anyway and we're still on campus. I could just—"

"No!" The first came out way too intense so I repeat, "no, I want you to come with me." Coming together would be the ideal situation. Fuck. This is not a good start. "So, what do you say we head out?" Monica nods her head in agreement and I jerk my chin over to where my car is parked.

Once we come up alongside my GMC Yukon she says, "Jesus, this thing is humongous. How much gas does this thing guzzle?"

"A lot."

"I can only imagine." I gesture for her to hand me the duffle bag and she does. She hops in the passenger seat as I toss it in the backseat. "So, where are we off to first?"

Fuck. I have no idea. My 'planned' road trip with no plan.

"I was thinking about heading to Nashville." I close the door and start the engine. "You know, do the whole country music thing." I punch in an address to the nicest Marriott property. Thank god for my dad's Marriott status.

"You're into country music? That's pretty hard to believe."

"Why is that hard to believe?" I feign my best Southern accent as I pull onto the road. "I love me some good country music. I play the banjo and everything, y'all." 

She side eyes me with, "that is the worst attempt at an accent I have ever heard."

"Says the girl from Bahston who has no accent."

"No, I don't like sounding ridiculous." She's so matter-of-fact about it. "My dad has a wicked bad one though."

"If I ever meet Mr—" Fuck. I don't even know her last name.

"McCaslin."

"Right. If I ever meet Mr. McCaslin I'm sure he won't sound ridiculous." Why am I talking about meeting her daaaad?

"No." She fidgets in her seat a bit uncomfortably. "He definitely won't sound ridiculous." Something about the way she said that last word has me wondering exactly what he'd sound like.

"What would he sound like then?" I tried my best at nonchalance. Monica fidgets even more, staring out the window, not answering.

You are taking his daughter out of her first college classes. He'll probably sound pissed. Fantastic. Way to make a great first impression. Nice to meet you, sir. I'm the guy who kidnapped your virgin daughter for a little bit and took her on a road-trip.

"What, is your dad super intimidating or something?"

"Something like that. You know how dads are, over-protective and everything." 

"Ah, I see. What does your dad do for a living? I bet it's some super boring, well-paying, office job, right?" At least it had to be something like that because that school is not a cheap school.

"Uhm no. He owns a gym."

"That's cool." Great. She's got a buff dad. Topic change. "So, what made you decide to come?" She's thoughtful for a little while as I pick up the highway.

"You did."

A/N:
Hope you liked the chapter and are enjoying the book so far!

If you want to be updated when this book does be sure to add this to your library.

Thanks for reading ❤️