Chapters (44)
- TITLE PAGE
- COPYRIGHT PAGE
- DEDICATION
- CONTENTS
- START READING
- CHAPTER 1
- CHAPTER 2
- CHAPTER 3
- CHAPTER 4
- CHAPTER 5
- CHAPTER 6
- CHAPTER 7
- CHAPTER 8
- CHAPTER 9
- CHAPTER 10
- CHAPTER 11
- CHAPTER 12
- CHAPTER 13
- CHAPTER 14
- CHAPTER 15
- CHAPTER 16
- CHAPTER 17
- CHAPTER 18
- CHAPTER 19
- CHAPTER 20
- CHAPTER 21
- CHAPTER 22
- CHAPTER 23
- CHAPTER 24
- CHAPTER 25
- CHAPTER 26
- CHAPTER 27
- CHAPTER 28
- CHAPTER 29
- CHAPTER 30
- CHAPTER 31
- CHAPTER 32
- CHAPTER 33
- EPILOGUE
- JOYRIDE
- COMING SUMMER 2021
- AUTHOR NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“Then help me out. What’s going on with you?” He took in her stiff posture and getup. The clothes, the hair, her withdrawal from him. He recalled the bucket list clenched in her hand when she’d come out of the bathroom and sighed. He glanced up at the canvas top and briefly closed his eyes in understanding. “This is about Judy.”
“No.” She shook her head hard, then sagged in her seat like a wilted flower. “Yes. Judy never would have cheated on Todd.”
“Who’s Todd? Judy’s boyfriend?” he asked, recalling one of their previous conversations. What did he have to do with Joy?
Joy didn’t answer him. A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another.
“I really like you, Joy, and yesterday and last night, shit. I’d perform live at Madison Square Garden if it meant another night with you.” He angled his body toward her. “I got the impression you felt the same. Then Mark calls and you disappear into the bathroom without so much as a ‘good morning’ and come out dressed like your sister, acting like your sister—”
“How the hell would you know how she acted?” Joy snapped. “You never met her.”
“But I’ve caught glimpses of Joy. And she’s nothing like Judy. Joy’s incredible, if you ask me, not at all like this stuffy, old-fashioned woman you try to portray. Why are you dressing like her? What’s the real reason you’re on this trip?”
Joy started shaking. Her tears grew heavier. He touched her shoulder and she shirked away.
“I can tell you feel guilty about something.” He’d seen flashes of remorse whenever she saw or did something she knew Judy would enjoy. “What happened to Judy? How did she die? What are you hiding?”
She inhaled loudly. She was sobbing now and he wished to hell they were still in the hotel room. He wanted to hold her and let her drain her pain and troubles on him.
“God, Joy, whatever’s weighing you down, let it out. Holding on to it serves no purpose but making you miserable.” He recalled what she’d told him before they jumped off the bridge: Judy made me swear never to tell anyone what happened. “If it helps any, tell me. Trust me to keep your secret.”
“No.” Joy slammed the brakes, swerving onto the grassy shoulder. “Get out.”
He stared at her in shock. “What?”
“You heard me. Get out.”
“Joy—”
“Please. Just leave,” she whispered through tears.
Dylan’s pulse raced. He didn’t want to leave her alone like this, but he opened the door. He started to get out only to change his mind. How did he expect her to trust him with her secrets when he hadn’t shared his? He turned back to Joy.
“Do you know why I’m on this trip? I didn’t have a choice.”
“You said that yesterday,” she clipped.