Wilder stretches and puts on his sunglasses. “Sounds good to me.”
We get out, Cash mumbling under his breath the whole time.
I grab the spray paint from the trunk. Wilder’s waiting, but Cash is walking a few steps ahead.
“Thanks for driving while I rested,”Wilder says before a long yawn.
“How are you doing?” I ask him as we start walking.
He laughs. “Why are you saying it like we’re acquaintances?”
“I didn’t mean to,” I return with a smile. “I just wanted to know if—”
“I’m with you,” he says. “I’m good.”
I wish I believed him.
A part of me does. I’m better when I’m nearer to him, too. But there’s so much going on—so much on the line—I know he’s not fine.
So, I change the subject.
“Have you heard from Elowyn?”
He shakes his dark head. “No. I should probably check in with her.”
Suddenly, his phone starts buzzing. When he pulls it out, he frowns. “It’s Elowyn.”
He keeps one arm around me as he puts the phone up to his ear.
“Hey,” he says.
I can’t make out the words, but Elowyn sounds somber. Maybe even defeated.
My stomach knots as Wilder’s body stiffens beside mine and he stops walking.
I turn to face him and watch as he runs a hand through his hair.
“I’m so sorry, Elowyn.”
The warm morning airfeels suffocating as I reach for him. To my surprise, he doesn’t pull away.
“Is there anything you need?” he asks his half-sister.
She responds, but I still can’t make out the words.
“I’ll be home tomorrow,” he tells her. “I’ll stop by as soon as I can.”
They end the call and Wilder shoves his phone back into his pocket as he takes a deep breath.
I want to ask him what she said, but the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach knows.
Margot is gone.
He holds me tighter, his heart beating faster as I lay my head on his chest.
And even though I know he’s hurting—for his sister, for the part of him that’s human and cares deeply about the people in his life—I’m grateful that words don’t need to be spoken here and now.
“Margot passed this morning,” Wilder whispers, as if he needs to hear the words as much as he needs to say them.
