“Yeah, I can come and pick you up before we head up there.”
“I’m not home.” I tell him.
“Where are you?”
“Don’t fucking worry about it.” I snap back.
“Jeez, Drew.” He scoffs out.
“I’ll be okay for a few days.” I sigh as I stand up, walking overto the bed, having to force the cry that wants to sound back into my throat. “They’ll come back to the compound and look around there before divulging into his accounts and finding my place, then they’ll need a warrant.”
“Law schools working out for you, huh?” he laughs before sighing. “Okay. Whenever you get home from… where ever you are, just pack some stuff and come up there. Call us if you need us to pick you up.”
“Will do, but I’ll be fine. My car will fit.”
And I hang up. Images of last night speed through my mind as I stare at the bed, only this time anger fills me.
Picking up my phone, I press send on his name. It only rings twice before I can tell it’s forwarded to voicemail.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Elias! Why are you ignoring my phone calls? Are you ashamed of what you did? Of using me?” Do I really think he was using me? I’m almost positive, no, but maybe if I bait him enough, he will respond and maybe then I’ll get an actual answer. At this point, I’ll try anything.
I exhale, my emotions causing my ears to become hot as the rage courses through me and my stomach turns.
“Ugh,”I groan out before walking into the bathroom to splash some cool water on my face. It doesn’t seem to help my stomach, though, as I lean over onto the sink, taking deep breaths, knowing I need to calm myself.
I’ll stay here one more night; might as well since his credit card is on file. Then I’ll go home tomorrow, sleep in my own bed, and head up there sometime in the next few days.
Lying in bed, not sleeping, all I can think about is how the sheets feel as if they’re suffocating me. My mind’s constantly replaying everything that happened in the months we’ve been together. There’s not an inkling, and still everything he said, everything he did, it all still feels so sincere.
Maybe everyone is right. Maybe I am just naive.
Getting up, knowing I can’t stomach being in this rental, where I’m still supposed to be for the next few days with him, I just gather my things and decide to head home.
* * *
Gasping as I wake up, the darkness surrounding me in my own room, I can already feel the sweat soaking through my clothes. I can only guess I was having a nightmare, even if I can’t remember it now. Looking over at the side of the bed where Eli has slept more nights than he should have, I feel my stomach turning again. Bolting out of bed, but the room spins. Crouching down to the ground, I lay in the fetal position, taking multiple breaths. I close my eyes, whimpering as the tears push through their dams.
“I can’t sleep here with all of this.” Sighing as my head stills, I push myself up, sitting and making sure I won’t fall over first.
Standing up, I glance at my phone, seeing that I still haven’t gotten a return call from him, but not surprised until my phone lights up on its own and an unknown number flashes on my screen.
“Hello?”
“You need to go.” I recognize the voice, but I’m not sure from where.
“What?”
“Go to the desert.” He tells me. “Now, don’t wait. He’ll figure out that you’ll be able to lead him to her.” I know who theheis; he’s speaking of.
“Who… who?” I stumble over my words.
“A friend of someone who cares, someone who can’t call you himself.”
“Eli?” I comes out in a whisper.
I don’t expect him to answer.
“I have questions.” I implore him.
