Truck Stop Read Online Free PDF Page A

stops you from seeing things?”
    “No, not completely, but it helps. Stronger shit works way better, but hey. I went down the heroin highway, and it wasn’t leading me anywhere except rehab. So, yeah. Now all I’ve got is the weed and a prescription for anxiety.”
    Kat took a moment to absorb all this before speaking. “Dude, I always thought this place was haunted.”
    Roger smiled; her limited understanding of his hell was so innocently charming he couldn’t help himself. “It’s not just here. It’s everywhere. Usually there’s a reason behind it.”
    Kat jumped in eagerly. “Right. Like when someone left something unfinished, or they died unexpectedly. Or they were really happy someplace, or really sad.”
    Roger took a moment to just look at her; she was a bit deeper into this than he thought, but still naïve. “I’m guessing someone’s been watching Ghost Hunters on The Travel Channel.”
    Kat smiled proudly. “Just, like, every chance I can.”
    Of course. Ghost Hunters . Those idiotic jerks with their night vision cameras who locked themselves inside haunted houses at night. It was like saying you felt like you’d been to Switzerland after riding the Matterhorn at Disneyland.
    Roger shook his head. “Yeah, well that’s all bullshit. They think they got it down, but they don’t. Half the time it’s someone farting, and they think they’ve recorded a spectral voice.” He held up the joint for her again. “You want?”
    Kat shook her head. “I wish. But I gotta go back to work. Believe it or not, my job can be a real bitch if I’m too faded. Trust me, I’ve tried.”
    Roger stubbed out the roach, pocketed it. “Yeah, I gotta keep going too.”
    And there they were again, in the middle of another of their lingering, awkward moments. But this time, things took a quick turn. Kat leaned up and kissed him impulsively.
    Roger was taken by surprise. He was about to back off, but then it became effortless, and comfortable, and filled with energy all at the same time. He pulled her closer. The kiss grew deep and slow, and they were both lost in it.
    Kat pulled away after several moments, whispered breathlessly, “Fuck.”
    Roger’s entire body lit up with a surge that overpowered anything he was feeling from the weed.
    Kat brushed her hair out of her eyes and nervously dug into her apron. They were both wrestling with what had just happened, and the moment became more awkward than all of the others they had shared combined.
    She took out a napkin with her phone number already written on it and held it out, feeling more than a little embarrassed. “Here,” she said. “I was only planning to humiliate myself a little bit.”
    Roger looked down at the napkin and smiled. “No, no. This is great. I’ll call you.”
    “Sure, right. Or I’ll see you in Vegas. Whatever.” Kat was feeling so uncool that she just wanted to get out of there as fast as she could. “I gotta go.”
    She turned to leave, but Roger caught her arm. “Hey,” he said softly. Kat turned back and met his gaze. There was warmth and reassurance in his eyes. “I’ll be driving back through here Monday. See you then.”
    Kat felt her awkwardness melt away; she smiled involuntarily. “Cool.”
    Roger let her go. She gave him a final look, then hurried off into the rain.
    Roger watched her disappear into the diner door. Yes, this place was definitely not ordinary, Roger decided. He pulled up his hood and ducked out of the alcove. He thought belatedly of Lilly. While he had been absorbed with Kat in the alcove, neither of them had been looking directly at the car. But what could happen? It had been a matter of a minute or two, and they were so close to the car, they would have noticed any disturbance. The car doors were locked, in any case.
    The rain had decided not to let up. Not even a little. Roger hurried over to his car, fumbled with his keys as he wiped the water from his eyes. Of course the car was still locked. He managed