Back Side Trip Save as PDF
Chapters (44)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. START READING
  6. CHAPTER 1
  7. CHAPTER 2
  8. CHAPTER 3
  9. CHAPTER 4
  10. CHAPTER 5
  11. CHAPTER 6
  12. CHAPTER 7
  13. CHAPTER 8
  14. CHAPTER 9
  15. CHAPTER 10
  16. CHAPTER 11
  17. CHAPTER 12
  18. CHAPTER 13
  19. CHAPTER 14
  20. CHAPTER 15
  21. CHAPTER 16
  22. CHAPTER 17
  23. CHAPTER 18
  24. CHAPTER 19
  25. CHAPTER 20
  26. CHAPTER 21
  27. CHAPTER 22
  28. CHAPTER 23
  29. CHAPTER 24
  30. CHAPTER 25
  31. CHAPTER 26
  32. CHAPTER 27
  33. CHAPTER 28
  34. CHAPTER 29
  35. CHAPTER 30
  36. CHAPTER 31
  37. CHAPTER 32
  38. CHAPTER 33
  39. EPILOGUE
  40. JOYRIDE
  41. COMING SUMMER 2021
  42. AUTHOR NOTE
  43. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  44. 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.