Read Online Once Upon a Road Trip by Angela N. Blount - Free Book Online Page B

in edgewise.” Angie griped to herself as much as she was explaining the reason for the delay.
    “Anne Rice? As in…  ‘Interview with the Vampire?’ That Anne Rice?” Mark gaped at her, seeming to have forgotten the schedule he’d plotted out for the day.
    “That’d be the one.” Angie nodded, pushing off from the edge of the bed where she’d been sitting. “And I wouldn’t have believed it either, if I hadn’t seen the lockbox under her bed with each letter sealed in its own little plastic bag. Elsie claims that they’re pen pals, but I figure the lady must just be really nice to some of her fans.”
    “That’s impressive,” Mark said, still marveling.
    “Well, you know, Elsie is a pretty great writer. She wrote her first fan-fiction novel when she was fourteen. Maybe her talent is just being recognized and encouraged.” Angie paused to consider before admitting, “Or, she’s become so dedicated to a fantasy that she’s forging letters to herself from a famous author. I can never be completely sure with her.” 
    Mark emitted a low chuckle. “Well, if anyone could manage to get the attention of a respected author, I suppose it would be her. She seems like quite the character herself.”
    Understatement of the year .
    Glancing to the oak dresser beside the door, Mark grabbed Angie’s journal off the top of it and began inspecting the tome. “Speaking of writing—”
    Before she’d fully processed the impulse, Angie lurched forward and snatched the slim book out of his hands. “That’s…personal.” She kept up a light tone in an effort to counter the defensiveness of her action. While she didn’t believe she’d written anything negative about him, she didn’t want to risk hurt feelings.
    Mark looked all the more intrigued. “You keep a diary?”
    Angie shook her head, removing the pen that marked her last page. “It’s just a journal, for keeping track of things while I’m on this trip.” Hoping to satiate his curiosity, she flipped it open to the back page where she’d maintained a record of identifiable road kill using categories and tally marks. “See? So far, the raccoons are winning. But the deer aren’t far behind.”
    Mark peered over the list for a long moment. “Well, it’s not exactly something out of Robinson Crusoe, is it?” he said, unabashed in candor. He groomed his fingers through his beard in an exaggerated gesture of contemplation. “So then, does your journal have a title?”
    “I hadn’t really thought about it.” Angie shrugged. She snapped the book closed and tucked it under her pillow.
    Mark snapped his fingers. “Oh, I know! You could call it: The Chronicles of Peril,” he said, looking proud of himself. “…You see the double entendre?”   
    “Yes, that’s very clever.” She sighed, miming a courtesy applause before shooing him out of the room. “But I think that would be right up there with naming my car ‘Oh no’ —  just asking for trouble.” She pulled the door closed behind them as an additional measure, having observed Mark to be somewhat oblivious when it came to personal space.
    She was glad to be getting out and about. A good night’s sleep hadn’t done as much to improve her outlook as she had hoped.
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    On the whole, Angie was impressed with the Detroit Zoo. The grounds were lush and expansive, offering hours of self-paced sights and educational activities. Although, in Mark’s company, she struggled to keep any sort of casual pace. The young man flitted from one exhibit to another, reading aloud from the plaques and offering an array of accompanying details he recalled from previous visits or books he’d read. She was reasonably sure that anyone overhearing would think that he was vying for a position as a tour guide.
    At one point they passed through a tunnel-like construct overgrown with leafy vines and other foliage, supported by a grated iron frame that allowed sunlight to filter through. She called for