Road Trip

By Janet Valentin

Leah Carter is a control freak who likes to have a schedule for everything in her life. When summer comes and she wants to visit her boyfriend in Seattle, she is stuck in between choosing to stay at home or taking a road trip with someone she despises.
Jake Watson is a carefree soul. He takes his life one day at a time. Leah despises Jake before meeting him, but what will happen when she is stuck in the car with him for an entire road trip across the United States?
Will she learn to like Jake, or will she hate him even more?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rodsan House Publishings
• Release date: Apr 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370289790

Janet Valentin

Janet Valentin was born and raised in Texas. Road trip is her first ever novella and is now in the process of writing another novel.

Book preview

Road Trip

by

Janet Valentin

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Road Trip

Copyright © Rodsan House Publishings, 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronically, photocopying, mechanical, or otherwise – without prior permission of the publisher and author.

CHAPTER One: Before the Storm

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There were so many things I should have done differently. First, I should have never agreed to go on a road trip with someone who I completely hated before I even met them. Second, I should have not let them throw away my schedule out the window while they were driving. Third, I should have just bailed on them since the beginning. I couldn’t though, the only reason I was in a car with a person I hated was because I was the one interested in coming on this trip. They were just here for the ride, yet somehow, we were in their car, not mine. Two days, that was all it was going to take. I could do this, right? I was not going to be bothered by him anymore, right? Who am I kidding; he was going to bother me until the end of this trip. New York to Seattle, that is how it was going to go. No stops, just driving. Well, maybe just one stop. But that was it. I guess he had something else in mind.

The reason I planned to go to Seattle was to visit my long-time boyfriend. He had been working there for about a year. Two years was all it was going to take and it was only one year down. I was currently attending NYU and was about to embark on my last year of uni, but before that, I had planned to spend the entire summer in Seattle with Lucas, my loving boyfriend. We had planned to give our relationship a break since I wasn’t keen to a long-distance relationship and he was moving to another state, but he didn’t want to as he had declared his undying love for me and had proposed for me to move in with him once I had graduated from the university. I wasn’t planning to move, since New York had always been my dream city, but he was in Seattle, so I had to follow him. To be honest, I had no choice. He had never asked me if I wanted to stay in New York, he just assumed I would want to move too. I dreamed of working in a big company in the city, but that was soon cut off when I got the news that Lucas had received an offer to work in Seattle and had accepted. He had everything set for us. He had our home, our life, and even our finances set since the day I started dating him. I thought it had been a bit too extreme but then I realized he only loved me. He had our lives planned, even the name of our children even though we had never spoken of marriage before. But I loved him, so I didn’t mind.

I had planned to travel alone, but my father did not allow me to go alone. Yes, I was old enough to make my own decisions, I was even old enough to drink legally, but I had always respected my father’s orders and opinions, so I did not want to disrespect him. Lauren, my best friend, had agreed to go with me, but her father had just gotten back from the military, so they decided to go to the Bahamas, to which Lauren had ditch me for. So now I had no choice than to pick him to go with me.

There was no reason I hated him, well maybe there was. He was the most annoying human being I had ever met in my entire life. Want to know how much I hate him? Let me just tell you the story from the beginning.

҉

Oh, so you’re not going with me? I asked Lauren as I was packing for my trip. It might be one week until I left, but I always liked being ready. The control freak inside me must have been very proud.

I’m not, I’m sorry Leah. I really wanted to go with you but my dad came back – I cut her off before she could speak any further.

"Lauren, don’t worry. I mean, your dad did come back. I think I would have done the same if I was in your position. I’m happy for you and your family. Even I’m happy because I haven’t seen your dad in the longest time. Have you seen him yet?"

Not physically. I’ve seen him through video chat, but that’s it. I haven’t gotten the chance to go home. Finals have been a burden. I can’t wait ‘til it’s all over! Just two more days! Lauren shouted excitedly.

When do you guys leave?

I’ll be heading home after my last final. We’ll spend several days there until everyone arrives, then we’ll head to the Bahamas. Don’t worry, I’ll be there to see you off.

You’re so lucky. I want to go to the Bahamas. I’ve told Lucas about it, but he needs to work so that is why I’m going to spend my time with him in Seattle. I really miss him.

I still don’t understand why you are dating him. He’s an idiot.

I love him. And you’ve never really liked him. She doesn’t even make the effort to know him better.

I know, but it’s because I still think there is something iffy about him. I don’t trust him.

Honestly, he is not that bad. You’ve had three years to know him better, but you just can’t seem to take the time and try. There’s always an excuse to when I want you to hang out with him.

I just honestly don’t trust him. Plus, I don’t like the way he treats you. It’s like you give him everything, yet he doesn’t appreciate it or doesn’t even take the effort to give you something in return. It’s like a one-sided relationship. Do you honestly think he would do the effort to visit you if it was you who was working and couldn’t come? You do a lot for him and I have seen it and he doesn’t look thankful for it. Plus, what about him asking you where you wanted to live? Did he even consider that you wanted to stay in New York? Don’t think I didn’t notice you quitting your dream when he told you about Seattle. Why would you do that? Actually, why would he not consider staying here?

I love him. I would follow him anywhere. I was getting irritated by this conversation because I knew she was right. He never considered my dreams. But I love him and I want to be with him.

I know you. I have known you longer than Lucas has. I know your dreams were always set in New York. You have dreamt about it since you were a little girl. But if you say so. She shrugged. All I am saying is I do not like him and don’t expect me to ever like him, and I’m not the only one, ask Jeremy or your parents. They don’t seem to like him very much.

What? That’s a lie. They like him. What is she saying?

Are you sure about that? Apart from him being very proud and arrogant, your parents don’t like him, doesn’t that tell you something?

Why do you say they don’t like him? They are nice to him, if they didn’t like him, I don’t think they would have been nice.

Leah, when it comes to family, you would do anything for them just because you love them, that means being nice to the boyfriend. Have you ever heard them wanting to hang out with Lucas, or asking how he has been? No, they only ask about you. Yeah, maybe they ask about your relationship, but they don’t ask specifically for him. They are trying to make you do the right decision without them deciding for you.

Lauren was being irrational and I had no idea why she was now telling me this. Every time I wanted to talk about Lucas, it was like she would immediately judge him no matter what. That was the only thing I hated about her, that she didn’t agree to the boyfriend I had. Other than that, she was my best friend and I loved her. To stop the rude noises she kept making whenever I mentioned his name, I changed the subject.

Anyways, my dad is not going to let me go now that you are not going. I was sad about it because I wanted to go.

I was talking to Jeremy and told him about the Bahamas and how I wasn’t going to be able to accompany you, so he suggested a friend of his. I’ve met the dude, he’s a nice guy. She shrugged as she laid on her bed and continued to look at me pack.

What? What do you mean? Have I met the guy?

I don’t think so. He’s a friend of Jeremy’s. I think he met him in college. Or maybe while backpacking in Europe. I’m not sure. Anyways, like I said, he’s a nice guy. He even agreed to go with you because he wants to go to Seattle to visit his friends.

So, you guys have a guy to go with me without me knowing? I don’t even know the dude and you are making me go with him?

Leah, he is not a stranger, he is a friend. You should be happy about this; your dad wouldn’t let you go if you don’t have someone to go with.

Does my dad know he is going? I asked surprised. I couldn’t believe everyone had already planned this without even telling me. Seriously, what has gotten into this family?

Oh, no. We haven’t even mentioned it to him yet. They are going to tell him this weekend. They are just waiting for you.

So my dad doesn’t know him either?

Oh, he does know him. He has known him for about a year now. He gets along really well with him.

So, I’m the only one who hasn’t met him? I was surprised I didn’t know a friend of Jeremy’s.

Pretty much. I mean, you always spend your time in school or talking to Lucas on the phone. I bet you’ve seen him before but never paid attention because you were focused on your phone.

What’s his name? I think I would remember meeting a friend of my brother’s. It isn’t hard to forget since he doesn’t have many friends.

Jake Watson. Jake Watson? His name doesn’t sound familiar, but I think I was starting to hate him because my whole family praised him, but they couldn’t praise Lucas?

Oh shoot, I have a final in about ten minutes. I’ll see you later, okay? She suddenly said, getting up from her bed and gathering her things.

Yeah, bye. I tried to say, but she was already out the door.

Other than packing my suitcase for the road trip, I was packing up my dorm. I had planned in the past that by my third year in college I was going to rent an apartment, but that changed when Lucas moved to Seattle. I decided to stay in a dorm since I wanted to save money on rent for when I moved to Seattle with Lucas. After packing up several things from my dorm, I headed home to where my parents lived. I drove for an hour to Mountain Lakes, New Jersey where my parent’s and Lauren’s parent’s house were located. As soon as I arrived, my brother greeted me, opening the car door for me.

Jeremy! I shouted out as I jumped on him. Thankfully, he caught me.

Hey sis. Long time, no see. It’s been two long months. It had been two months since I hadn’t seen my older brother. Either he was out working or I was busy with school.

Jeremy is two years older than me and he owns an apartment in the city, but he sometimes stays with our parents since he likes being at the lake.

He helped me out with my things, taking them inside the house and into my room. But before Jeremy could leave with the first things, my father came out of the house to help.

Hi sweetheart. You got here just in time for lunch. Your mother is making spaghetti with meatballs.

Yum! I am starving. I said as I felt my stomach growl like an angry animal.

Go on inside. Jeremy and I will get the rest and place it in your room.

Thanks daddy. I hugged him and gave his cheek a kiss, then headed inside and straight towards the kitchen where I knew my mother would be. Hi mommy. She quickly turned around and smiled.

Hi baby! I thought you weren’t getting here until later. She came towards me and gave me a hug and a kiss.

I was, but I didn’t have any finals today so I decided to come earlier.

Well good because you are just in time for lunch. I’m making spaghetti with meatballs. She sounded excited, maybe because it was her favorite food.

I know, it smells delicious. You need any help? It looked like she had already finished but I asked