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“No problem. You want to stop and get something to eat too? Or should I order something?”
“Order something. I’m not up for anything else right now. Do you have to go back to work?”
“I’m not working today, and I don’t have to be in until the day after tomorrow, but I can call in sick if you need me.”
I offer him a shaky smile. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll be okay.”
His hand moves to my thigh, where I have one of my hands resting. He takes my gloved hand in his and squeezes it, only letting it go when he needs to shift gears.
When he pulls up outside my house, he parks in the driveway and turns off the car. Facing me, he cups my jaw and tips my head toward his. “Something happened with Valen?”
“Please don’t.” I sniff. “I can’t do this right now.”
“I need to know, Rue. I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Just give me a little time to figure it out. Please,” I beg.
Reluctantly, he nods before leaning forward and pressing a chaste kiss on my lips. He looks at me, lust evident in his eyes as they drop to my mouth. He kisses me again, softer, but only for a moment.
I feel nothing.
Before he can say anything, I yank the door handle and get out, stumbling in my haste. I rummage around in my bag for my keys, which is tricky with the gloves on. Eventually, I find them and unlock the door. The door opens with a creak, making my heart pound. The noise triggering a memory of another time and place. I shake it off as I step inside and hang my purse on the hook.
I hear Nathan follow me in, but I don’t look back at him as I hurry up the stairs. “Can you grab anything down there you think I might need, like my books, and maybe throw out the stuff in the fridge? There shouldn’t be much.”
“I’m on it. Don’t worry.”
I don’t stop. I keep going until I get to the bedroom. I push the door open and close it behind me. I lean against it for a minute, giving myself a few moments to collect myself. There will be time for a breakdown later.
Moving to the closet, I grab a large travel bag from the floor and stuff my clothes inside, leaving the hangers behind. I don’t have much more clothing here than I do at Valen’s, so it all fits in, along with the contents of my drawers. I stare at the bag and almost chuckle at how pathetic it looks.
Shaking my head, I move over to the bed, grab the stuffed toy from on top of it, kiss its forehead, and gently slip it into the bag before I drop to my knees. Thanks to my newfound memories, I remember the loose plank just under the edge of the bed. I pry it up and grab the hidden contents, which isn’t much—a bag of jewelry, and an faded photograph and an old cell phone.
I shove everything in the bag before replacing the plank. I stare at the poor man’s version of a safe and wonder if the people who’ll live here after I’m gone will find it. Maybe a teenage boy will hide his stash of weed here, or his sister will find it a cool space to hide her diary. Maybe their parents will keep their sextoys and collection of porn hidden from the prying eyes of their kids.
“Rue?”
I snap out of my wayward thoughts and zip up my bag. I take one more look around the room that I never really made my own before I close the door and head downstairs. Nathan is waiting for me with a couple of books in his arms, a throw blanket draped over the crook of his elbow, and a pair of rain boots dangling from the tips of his fingers.
“Unless you want to bring your dishes and utensils, this is it. You really don’t have much.”
I shrug. “I grew up with nothing. I guess it’s ingrained in me now. The only thing I go crazy with is food.”
He frowns. “You remember that?”
I look away avoiding his eyes. “Just a feeling.”
I wait for him to press for me but thankfully he lets it slide. For now at least.
“Still, you should treat yourself more often. Or better yet, let me.”
“Nathan, you don’t have to do that. Just letting me stay with you is enough.”
“We’ll see,” he huffs as I move to the door and open it.
He steps out, carrying the stuff to his car and placing it in the trunk before coming back for my tote bag. I grab the handbag I’d left by the door when I came in and close the door behind me before locking it. I walk to the car and climb in, nervous anticipation thrumming through me as Nathan backs out of my driveway and heads toward his house.
“I’ll take good care of you, Rue,” he says after ten minutes of silence.
