They hit the road early the next morning. The most difficult thing was squeezing Bobby’s stuff in with Madison’s in the small trunk of the car, but they managed. Traffic got a little fidgety getting out of the metro area. Once they hit I81 it got easier but the big rigs were intimidating, especially given how low Madison’s car was. The noise level from the trucks wasn’t pleasant in their open topped car, but the Shenandoa Valley was in high form.

“OK, these trucks suck, but my God the scenery is gorgeous!” Maddy exclaimed for possibly the third time.

“Oh, Shenandoah, I hear you calling…” Bobby sang in a deep baritone.

“Hi-o, you rolling river!” Madison joined.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you know that!” Bobby laughed.

“Oh yeah, my dad used to love all the old songs and would sing them all the time. I got a little thrill when you just did.”

Turns out they knew a lot of the same songs.

Country Roads sparked a mini debate.

“We’re not actually in West Virginia right now,” Bobby insisted.

“Pedant,” Madison accused him. “What if we sing it WESTERN Virginia?”

That turned out to be acceptable.

Tennessee created another set of problems. Madison knew Tennessee Mountain Home and Bobby knew Smokey Mountain Rain, but neither knew any together, so they settled on singing along to Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zepplin.

“Its amazing how different these mountains are than Shenandoa,” Bobby observed.

“Yeah they remind me of the Catskills in New York.”

From I81, they hit I40 and turned west.

“Straight shot to LA,” Bobby said.

They had swapped off driving. Bobby found driving the Spyder more akin to riding his motorcycle than driving a car, you had to be in the moment or it could easily get away from you.

They stopped for gas and a pee break at a place called Bucee’s, which seemed like a cross between a truck stop, Target, and a BBQ joint.

“Those were the cleanest fucking bathrooms I’ve ever seen outside of my mother’s house,” Madison said, rejoining Bobby.

They wound up spending more time there than they expected, buying lunch (brisket sandwiches), waters and something called Bucee Nuggets which were surprisingly delicious and addictive.

They made it as far as Nashville before stopping for the night. For the first time, since college, they spent the night together doing nothing but sleeping. It was still nice.

“My ass is killing me,” Madison complained as they got to the hotel room.

“I’d offer to rub it, but I might fall asleep,” Bobby sighed.

“Sleep sounds good,” she agreed, kissing him lightly.

Madison woke up with Bobby spooned in behind her, snoring lightly. His cock was pressing her ass. He was asleep but erect. Careful not to wake him, she pulled her panties down and shifted so his erection lined up with her entrance and then sank back on it. Bobby started to stir as she slowly humped him awake.

“Wha…oh. Jesus.”

Bobby woke up quickly and thrust into her and a slow morning fuck turned into a vigorous pounding, which she loved. They both liked it hard and fast. Possibly because he wasn’t fully awake, it took Bobby a bit to cum, and Madison took full advantage, pushing back into him, cumming a couple of times before he filled her.

“Maddy!” he said, startled. “I didn’t have a rubber on!”

“Shit,” she said. “Uh, I’ve got an IUD so we’re safe there, but, we should have a talk about STIs…”

It turned out that both had recently been screened and neither one currently had a partner so they realized, with relief that they were probably alright.

“I’m sorry Bobby, that was my fault. I just woke up wanting you.”

“You make it hard to complain about that,” he smiled. “So does this mean we don’t need to use a rubber anymore?”

“I guess it does,” Madison agreed. “But hold that thought. I want a quick shower and then let’s get on the road.

They got recognized waiting for their car from the valet, or at least Madison was.

“Hey, that’s Madison O’Neil!” a woman with a family said as they waited for their own car. “Are you Madison O’Neil?”

“And this is why I took a shower before we came down,” Madison said to Bobby sotto voice. “Good morning! Yes I am.”

“We loved you in Fireball!” the husband said, and Bobby stifled a snort.

She posed while Bobby took a picture of her with the family. A few people started to look over to see what the commotion was, but they were saved by the valet bringing her car around. She tipped him a little extra and waived at the family as they got in the car.

“Nashville is so cool!” the woman was saying to her husband as they pulled away.

They decided to push hard and try and make it to Albuquerque before stopping. Tennessee turned flat as they traveled west. They sang Walking in Memphis as they crossed through the city and then over the Mississippi River. Arkansas was dull. Oklahoma duller and dryer but it gave them the opportunity for more singing about the wind whipping down the plains. The Texas panhandle was dryer still but it offered up The Cadillac Ranch. They didn’t stop, but they saw the cars and they sang the song. Even with the time change working in their favor, it was full dark by the time they got to Alburquerque. Both were tired but happy. Bobby had booked a hotel for them from his phone app so all they had to do was drop bags. Tired, but hungry, they went to a restaurant nearby.

Tuesday nights in Albuquerque apparently aren’t a big dining out night. They had the place mostly to themselves.

“Hi I’m Gayle. Can I help y’all?” the server asked.

“Hi Gayle! How is the Navajo Taco?” Madison asked.

“It’s one of my favorites,” she replied.

“I’ll have that and a Corona,” Madison said.

“Would you like that mild or spicy?” the server asked.

“How spicy is spicy?” she replied.

The woman smiled again. “Miss, this is New Mexico. If you have to ask, get the mild.”

They laughed and Bobby said, “I’ll have the same.”

The server turned to go and paused. Madison smiled slightly knowing what was about to happen.

“Are you…?” the woman asked.

Madison blushed a little and nodded.

“Ha,” the woman said but quietly. “I thought so when you sat down! And is this your boyfriend?” she asked, nodding at Bobby.

“That’s a GREAT question!” Madison grinned. “Well?” she asked Bobby. “What are you?”

“I believe I’m auditioning for the role of boyfriend,” Bobby nodded, smiling.

The server cackled, “Honey, if she asked you that question, you got the part. Ya’ll enjoy and I’ll be back soon with your drinks. Be sure to let me know if you need anything.”

“So do I have the part?” Bobby asked.

“Well as I’m not currently holding open auditions, I’mma say ‘yes’, if you want it that is.”

“I blew that once, I don’t intend to screw it up a second time.”

Madison just nodded, a little shyly. Relationships were a little complicated in her part of the world.

“Bobby, the world I live in is a little…weird. I’m glad you’re coming out to LA. If…if you decide it’s not for you, no harm, no foul, OK?”

“OK,” he nodded.

“I didn’t realize New Mexico was this pretty when we came in last night!” Maddy said over the wind noise as they sped west on I40, bright and early the next morning.

“Wait until we get to Arizona!” Bobby said.

Arizona was, indeed, beautiful. Like New Mexico but with more vibrant colors. They stopped at a roadside attraction that sold over-priced Americana and fake Native American crafts. Madison bought a small piece of petrified wood.

Arizona turned into California with an agricultural checkpoint. The agent made Madison throw away her banana. The Mojave eventually gave way to urban sprawl and they turned onto I15 around Big Bear Lake for the last leg of their trip. Ironically the longest part of the journey was the shortest in distance. After the purgatory of Greater LA traffic, they pulled into Glendale and Madison’s condo around sunset.