Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 22

Sitting still was a challenge, and my stomach ached. I typically got car sick on long trips, but short ones like this rarely affected me. However, I knew that staring out the window and not eating wouldn't alleviate the discomfort.

I swallowed several times, but the need for fresh air became overwhelming. I pressed the button to open the back window, allowing some air into the car.

"Damn it," Kent grumbled, covering his ear. "Turn that off; it's buzzing too loudly and hurting my ears." I understood his concern but wrote it down to confirm.

"Could we open all the windows or do something else to make it more comfortable?" I inquired.

"Why would I do that when it's hot outside and cool inside my car?" He responded, though I avoided making eye contact. "Do you know anything? I don't need to prove my point, it's my car, and my rules," he concluded bluntly before pushing the button on the driver's door. I observed as the window ascended.

"Kent!" I protested, holding the button down to prevent the window from closing completely.

"Julianna! Just stop it! I've had enough arguments today, so please don't start another one," he snapped. My patience waned, and the thought of vomiting in the car only intensified my discomfort.

"Kent, the car is making me sick! If you don't leave it alone, I'll ruin your fancy leather seats," I retorted loudly, causing him to clench his jaw. He moved back and opened all the windows to alleviate the negative pressure in the car.

Despite the tense atmosphere, I paid little attention to it. I rested my head on the edge of the open window, trying to absorb as much fresh air as possible. Kyle and Mark appeared unsure of how to address their brief dispute, and I sighed, knowing that this tension had only exacerbated the situation.

When Kent eventually pulled into a McDonald's parking lot, Kyle and Mark were the first to exit the car, eager to escape the tension. I was uncertain whether I would vomit or not, possibly both.

Feeling embarrassed, I stepped out of the car, and then I heard footsteps on the sidewalk. Kent placed his hand on my shoulder and asked, "Why didn't you just tell me in the car that you were feeling sick?" I blinked, sensing genuine concern from Kent and a return of his mood swings.

"I didn't think I would because the ride was so short," I murmured. "I didn't think it was that bad since I hadn't eaten yet."

"You could have simply mentioned that you weren't feeling well, and I would have let you sit in the front seat," he reassured me. I sighed.

"I didn't realize until we were already on the road, and you seemed upset, so I didn't want to stop the car."

As we walked up the sidewalk together toward the front door, Kent sighed. "You know, if you got a paper cut, you'd let it bleed out instead of asking for a Band-Aid," he commented as he held the building's door open. I couldn't help but smile when people made comments about me that weren't too far-fetched.

"I'm sorry it hurt your ears, but that wasn't what concerned me the most," I replied in a hushed tone, and Kent gave me a small smile.

"No problem," he sighed, gesturing for me to join Mark and Kyle.

"Thanks for lowering the windows; it was touch and go for a moment there," I teased, receiving a wry grin from him.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't throw up in my car," he said sarcastically. I approached Mark, who was at one of the kiosks placing a breakfast order.

"Wow, you were quick with that, huh?" I laughed, and he chuckled in response.

"I guess he's peculiar, but I'm getting better at communicating with him," I whispered, earning another laugh from Mark. "It's silly how it takes time to get used to, but hey, small victories."

"What would you like?" Mark asked, and I input my order for a bacon McMuffin, a hashbrown, and a black iced coffee.

"I'll give you money when we get back," I offered, but he shook his head.

"No, remember it's on me?" Kent reminded me, and I chuckled.

"Alright, but the next one's my treat," I persisted, and he merely shrugged, agreeing. He opted for "to go," and I observed him settling the bill and tearing off the receipt that the machine issued.

"Are you going to grab something to eat too? I have to hit the bathroom," he informed me, prompting a laugh from me.

"Sure," I shrugged and made my way back to Kent, who was already there with two receipts.

"You had to pay for food too?" I inquired, and he cracked a faint smile.

"Yeah, looks like I had to heed nature's call as well," he said. I playfully pushed him, and we exchanged surprised glances, as if silently asking, "Did that really just happen?"

Kent and I had never engaged in friendly physical contact before. In fact, we hardly touched each other, aside from shaking hands when we first met.

"Did you make me stumble?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Wasn't part of the plan," I mumbled, then sighed, realizing that wasn't a satisfactory response. "You did tell me to relieve myself."

"That's not something I'll forget," he said with a hint of mischief, causing my worry to briefly resurface before I could almost see his smile again.

"How do you plan to get back at them?" I questioned. "Steer clear of me?"

"No, I wouldn't push you," he assured me. It felt genuine, altering my perception of him. Despite the rough edges, I was gradually getting to know Kent better. With one eye still open, I added, "Don't make me nervous. You planning to shove me again?"

"Contemplating it," I shrugged. "If that's what it takes to even the score."

"You've got a lot to say today," he commented, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm always up for a chat," I replied, considering it one of my defining traits.

"But not around me," he noted, making me clear my throat. I had often avoided engaging him in conversation to avoid saying something that might lead to conflict.

"You might get tired of me if I talked to you as much as I do with other people," I sighed, crossing my arms.

"Well, we're going to have to spend the day together. I suppose I'll see how much I can endure," he shrugged, and then my name was called at the front counter.

As I headed over to get our food, I cleared my throat, feeling tension dissipate from my body. Kyle's order was similar to Kent's. We all made our way back to the car after the guys finished using the restroom.

"What's up?" Kent called out as we approached the car. "Switch seats with me, Julianna! I don't want anyone puking in my car!"

I rolled my eyes and moved to the front seat, which placed me next to Kent once more. He put on his sunglasses, and I noticed his arms moving to grip the steering wheel.

His shirt had side cutouts, allowing me to catch glimpses of his chest as I turned my head. I cleared my throat, feeling my mouth go slightly dry. I hoped this would be the last conflict of the day. Why couldn't I just express myself clearly? Despite his previous behavior, I still tried to be kind to him. It wasn't in my nature to be mean, so I kept striving to make things right.