For as long as Boyd can remember, he's been pushing pins into a map. Carson City, Las Vegas, Albuquerque -- all places he wants to see, for a dozen different reasons that wouldn't mean a thing to anyone else. When he finally gets a chance to purchase the '70 Plymouth Duster of his dreams, at a price that even he can manage, Boyd jumps at the opportunity.<br><br>Oliver seems like just another kid with a broken dream when their paths cross in Vegas. Against Boyd's better judgment, he offers to let Oliver hitch along for the ride when Oliver confides the need to get out and get gone.<br><br>But isn’t long before Boyd realizes Oliver's reasons for running are more complicated -- and more dangerous -- than Oliver let on. Boyd doesn't like people who play hardball, and he definitely doesn't like people messing with a man who's managed to light a fuse that Boyd forgot he had.

Road Trip

The car around them seemed to fade away, the sounds beyond it disappeared, and Boyd kissed Oliver like he was about to consume every bit of flesh he tasted. It wasn’t until Oliver’s palm found Boyd’s shirt and fisted it, that Boyd pulled away.


Wide eyed, slack-jawed, and speechless, Oliver continued to cling to Boyd’s shirt. He swallowed once, and then again, and made an attempt to speak that was nothing more than the soundless movement of his lips.


Boyd reached for Oliver’s hand, disengaged its grip, and turned back to the steering wheel. He felt entirely too pleased with himself. He cast a glance to his left and smiled. That reaction was pretty cool, too.


The car started to roll forward, Boyd shoved the eight-track into its spot, and just before the King began to croon, he heard Oliver slump back against the seat and murmur, “Wow.”


Chapter 34