Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,2

but Ethan was diligent in breaking me down, making me believe all guys weren’t like Jason. After five months, he finally convinced me. Two months ago, I found him having sex with a girl from our study group.

He had been calling and texting ever since, wanting me back, saying he was sorry, and it had “just happened.” Screw him. I was swearing off men. I had Goat, and he was the best companion a girl could ask for.

This road trip was about me. Figuring out my life, and men were the last thing on my list or my mind.

Chapter 2

Kinsley

Warm wind threaded through my hair as I sang loudly to my road trip mix, a huge smile on my face as I belted out, “Born to be Wild.” Goat had his head stuck out the window, looking like he was grinning from ear to ear as well.

More than an hour into the trip and the excitement still thrummed through my veins. The moment I left the San Diego county line, I felt a weight slide off my shoulders, a terror and thrill I hadn’t felt in a long time bubbling in my stomach.

Adventure.

It terrified me. My biggest journey so far had been moving across the country to go to San Diego University. That was where my venture began and ended, burying my head in schoolwork, books. I studied hard, trying to make my parents proud, but also because it was where I felt safe. Comfortable. I avoided parties and dating, preferring quiet nights with a book or being tugged out by Sadie a few times to a low-key bar.

All my relentless studying did nothing more than prove I was the black sheep in the Maxwell house. I had no clue what I wanted to do, graduating with a degree in finance because my father thought it would be a good base. Kasey had started up and owned her own flower shop, which was expanding next year and was already voted as one of the best small businesses on the East Coast, while Kyle was on the road to be a CEO of some huge tech company.

Our family dog even graduated from dog school with honors.

Then there was me.

“This is going to be awesome, Goat. I feel it… .” I rubbed his head, his sweet brown eyes peering over at me with utter adoration. “This is going to be exactly what we need, right, boy? You, me, and the open road.”

It was as if a force in the atmosphere heard me…

Riiinnnggg.

My cell, like a harbinger of strife, buzzed from its holder on the dash, my gaze catching the name flashing across.

“Of course,” I groaned, wanting to ignore it, but I knew she would call until I picked up. She was persistent like that. I swear she could sense my relaxed mood and had to intercede.

My finger hit the green button. “Hey, Sis.”

“Kins!” Her animated voice broke through the speakers. “Have you left yet?”

My sister always had ambition, like an Energizer Bunny. She kept going… and going, to the point you wanted to find the off switch. I adored her, but my introverted nature found her type A personality exhausting.

“Yeah, I just turned off on Highway 60; gonna stop in Joshua Tree for lunch.” It was early June and already too hot to hike in the desert, especially for Goat, but it was a place I still wanted to check off my list. As much as this trip was wild and crazy for me, I had every stop researched and reserved. The van life had become a huge movement and a lot of places booked quickly. Plus, my parents liked knowing I was safely in an RV park every night.

“No, you’re not! Stop right now.” Her tone crossed with excitement and a cold demand. “Seriously, Kins… wherever you are. Pull over.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Why do I need to pull over?” My brows furrowed as I peered around at a long stretch of highway, just passing through the town of Moreno, with nothing much around except gas stations, a strip mall, Walmart, and dry fields.

“Pull over!”

“Why? You are freakin’ me out, Kasey.”

“Just do it,” she exclaimed. “Now!”

“Okay… Damn!” I yanked the wheel, almost missing the turn off, the van bouncing as it swerved down the off-ramp, lurching into the Walmart parking lot as I slammed on the brakes. Goat’s harness kept him in place, but his paws tried to keep him steady, his eyes wide, looking at me like