Read Online Once Upon a Road Trip by Angela N. Blount - Free Book Online
Authors: Angela N. Blount
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more worried about you staying with single men. You know how things are…it’s just safer that they all still live at home. I’d hate for someone to try to take advantage of you.”
Angie smiled, grateful the woman would risking offending her rather failing to voice her legitimate apprehension. “I understand. I tried to be as careful about this as I could. I know the statistics—one in four women being sexually assaulted by the age of twenty-four and all that. Most of them by someone they know. But I have no intention of becoming a statistic. I taught a few self-defense classes last semester, and I’m about to be a black belt in Aikido. I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.
“Besides, even if I were some fragile dessert flower, these guys are all computer geeks and mamma’s boys. Nothing to worry about,” she assured. “Plus, I’ve already warned everyone that I have Mono. That should discourage anyone from getting too close.”
Sandra seemed to relax a bit. “Mono…isn’t that the one they call the kissing disease?”
Angie winced. “Yeah. But I happened to get it from sharing a smoothie with a friend—against my will. I think I lose glamor points for that.”
Sandra emitted a soft chuckle, abating her look of concern. “Tell me, why a road trip? Aren’t most girls your age dreaming of touring Europe?”
“Maybe the ones with money to burn.” Angie tucked her chin and laughed. “Not that I don’t like the sound of it. Languages, culture, art… But my family never traveled much, so I figure there’s plenty I haven’t seen on the continent I actually live on. I might work my way up to Europe after I get a degree, if I can save up enough. Or maybe Japan. I might look into one of those programs where you go somewhere and teach English for a year.” She shook her head, pensive. “I don’t know. I’ll see how this goes first.”
“Oh, to be young and unattached.” Sandra cast her a wistful smile. “Well, our little corner of the world may not be the most fascinating, but we’ll make sure you get a good feel for it.”
“I really appreciate you putting up with me. The company is a lot more important to me than the scenery,” Angie stressed.
And she meant it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By the time Angie pushed herself away from the computer in the downstairs study, it was late. She’d meant to go to bed sooner, but two things delayed her: her inability to locate her long-distance phone cards, and an unsettling email she’d received from her host in Ottawa. Zak’s message came in reply to one she’d sent the day before, letting him know she was still on schedule for her original arrival date. The message was as brief as it was cryptic:
Umm...about that. I know what I said, but I kinda didn’t ask my mom yet. And I don’t see her taking this well, so you might want to have a backup plan.
-Zak
Stunned, she’d written and re-written several replies before deleting them. She decided to call Zak the following day to sort out the issue.
This wasn’t good. She was supposed to spend four nights in Ottawa, and it was too late to rearrange her arrival times at other destinations.
Why would he tell me his family was fine with me visiting? What kind of jerk is this guy?
She thought back to the many playful conversations she’d had with him in the past. Zak had always been friendly, even borderline flirtatious at times. He was one of the first from the online community she’d seen a picture of. She’d gotten the sense that the nineteen-year-old wasn’t quite as mature as his appearance would suggest, but she’d never thought that he might leave her stranded. She had half a mind to chew him out when she did call him.
Frustrated, she swiveled around and stood, scanning the entertainment room behind her for any signs of Mark. At his insistence, she’d spent several hours watching one of his favorite TV series with him. Anything that warranted Mark’s interest also seemed to require his
Angie smiled, grateful the woman would risking offending her rather failing to voice her legitimate apprehension. “I understand. I tried to be as careful about this as I could. I know the statistics—one in four women being sexually assaulted by the age of twenty-four and all that. Most of them by someone they know. But I have no intention of becoming a statistic. I taught a few self-defense classes last semester, and I’m about to be a black belt in Aikido. I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.
“Besides, even if I were some fragile dessert flower, these guys are all computer geeks and mamma’s boys. Nothing to worry about,” she assured. “Plus, I’ve already warned everyone that I have Mono. That should discourage anyone from getting too close.”
Sandra seemed to relax a bit. “Mono…isn’t that the one they call the kissing disease?”
Angie winced. “Yeah. But I happened to get it from sharing a smoothie with a friend—against my will. I think I lose glamor points for that.”
Sandra emitted a soft chuckle, abating her look of concern. “Tell me, why a road trip? Aren’t most girls your age dreaming of touring Europe?”
“Maybe the ones with money to burn.” Angie tucked her chin and laughed. “Not that I don’t like the sound of it. Languages, culture, art… But my family never traveled much, so I figure there’s plenty I haven’t seen on the continent I actually live on. I might work my way up to Europe after I get a degree, if I can save up enough. Or maybe Japan. I might look into one of those programs where you go somewhere and teach English for a year.” She shook her head, pensive. “I don’t know. I’ll see how this goes first.”
“Oh, to be young and unattached.” Sandra cast her a wistful smile. “Well, our little corner of the world may not be the most fascinating, but we’ll make sure you get a good feel for it.”
“I really appreciate you putting up with me. The company is a lot more important to me than the scenery,” Angie stressed.
And she meant it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By the time Angie pushed herself away from the computer in the downstairs study, it was late. She’d meant to go to bed sooner, but two things delayed her: her inability to locate her long-distance phone cards, and an unsettling email she’d received from her host in Ottawa. Zak’s message came in reply to one she’d sent the day before, letting him know she was still on schedule for her original arrival date. The message was as brief as it was cryptic:
Umm...about that. I know what I said, but I kinda didn’t ask my mom yet. And I don’t see her taking this well, so you might want to have a backup plan.
-Zak
Stunned, she’d written and re-written several replies before deleting them. She decided to call Zak the following day to sort out the issue.
This wasn’t good. She was supposed to spend four nights in Ottawa, and it was too late to rearrange her arrival times at other destinations.
Why would he tell me his family was fine with me visiting? What kind of jerk is this guy?
She thought back to the many playful conversations she’d had with him in the past. Zak had always been friendly, even borderline flirtatious at times. He was one of the first from the online community she’d seen a picture of. She’d gotten the sense that the nineteen-year-old wasn’t quite as mature as his appearance would suggest, but she’d never thought that he might leave her stranded. She had half a mind to chew him out when she did call him.
Frustrated, she swiveled around and stood, scanning the entertainment room behind her for any signs of Mark. At his insistence, she’d spent several hours watching one of his favorite TV series with him. Anything that warranted Mark’s interest also seemed to require his
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