There was something uniquely peaceful about the open road, especially for Jade Alayna. For much of her life, she’d been sheltered and reserved. She came from a world of gated communities, country clubs, and prep schools. Since before she could walk, her entire life had been scheduled and structured. Her parents, teachers, and peers all worked tirelessly to ensure she stuck to the script and never deviated.
Ultimately, they failed. Just being on the open road, watching miles of undeveloped land pass by, was proof of that. There were no manicured lawns, intricately planned suburbs, or perfectly-organized structure. There was just dirt, fields, and grass. To most, it was ugly and unkempt. To Jade, it was a tangible sign that she had escaped her sheltered life, if only for a while.
A more powerful kind of proof sat next to her in the driver’s seat of the old Mustang. Ricky Pax, a man who’d never set foot in a country club or worn a prep school uniform, knew the open roads well. With messy hair that extended past his shoulder, clothes that had been bought at a discount, and a face that hadn’t seen a razor blade in weeks, he was the kind of rebellious loner who everyone told her to avoid.