Silas went quiet again, focusing on a stretch of empty desert around us.
And just like that, it was back again—the strange, subtle tension that had been clinging to him since I’d woken up. I watched from the corner of my eye for a few seconds longer before letting my head fall back against the seat. “It really just depends on you.”
That grabbed his attention.
Dark unreadable eyes slid toward me before returning to theroad. “Do you feel panic right now?” he asked.
I gave a slight shrug, watching the side of his face. “Oh, I don’t know,” I said mockingly. “I was actually enjoying your presence and personality before it was replaced by a slightly more brooding version. I don't like this one, he seemsdisconnected.”
A quiet breath escaped him through his nose. “I’m right here.”
“Yeah,okay,” I said, turning my attention back out the window.
Normally he’d have some type of reply—a sharp comment or a dry insult. His arsenal was always ready to remind me that provoking him was a terrible idea, but that was the end of the conversation. There was nothing else besides the silence that stretched between us.
I eventually decided to fill it. “Do you kidnap everyone, or am I just special?”
A short breathy sigh of an answer told me he didn’t approve of me trying to lighten the mood. “This is not kidnapping. You asked for a shower.”
“So maybe I’m the only victim that’s been smart enough to ask for basic human needs, but still gotta know—am I the only one to get zip tied?'
Silas’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “You are not myvictim.”
“I bet you have a punch card,” I grinned at the windshield, having way too much fun now, “Kidnap ten girls, get the eleventh free. Maybe you should have just put me to sleep, itprobably would have been easier.”
“STOP.”
Silas’s voice wasn’t just stern. He was angry. This was the first time I’d ever heard him raise it and I hated the feeling it gave me.
I chose to stay quiet and let him deal with whatever the hell was going on. When we eventually pulled up into a driveaway, I didn’t even have time to look at the house before the car shut off and Silas got out, slamming the door behind him.
31
Silas
I left the door open for her as I walked inside.
I knew I should apologize. She had no idea of why that verbiage would upset me, but I still couldn’t knock the feeling that she’d somehow compared me tohimin the car. I tried to get over it as I moved straight to the kitchen and set my things down.I should have taken the time to explain why I brought her here of all places. I could have shown her around and talked about why I’d chosenmyhouse to stay at, but now I felt like it wouldn’t be the same.
I didn’t like keeping things from her, especiallythis. Knowing I couldn’t tell her was making me uneasy, so much so I was turning volatile and it was affecting my communication with her. I owed her so much more than just an apology once this was done.
I looked around at what she was about to walk into. My house was simple, but I thought she’d like it that way. Because she was still outside, she’d be able to see the paint—a deep charcoal grey I’d picked out, with the bottom lined in a dark lattice that matched the trim. I bet she’d notice that my windows were tinted like the ones on my car. Knowing her, she’d probablyhave something to say about that.
Her favorite thing, though, would probably be the yard out front. I ran sprinklers year-round to promote the vibrant green landscaping, including my yellow rose bushes that lined the side wall of the house. A smile lined my face as I realized the correlation between those flowers, my mom, and Ember.I had never put it together, not until now.I bet they would have liked each other.
Turning to look at my cupboards, I quickly searched for a vase. Finding one on the top shelf, I jogged out of the kitchen and retraced my steps to her. From the hallway, I saw her outside through the open door. It was almost like she’d sat in the car for a while before getting out. She had barely made it into the yard.
She stared down at the walkway as she moved, smiling every time her foot crossed over one of the pavers. I could tell she was studying the diamond patterns carved into them. Her gaze only lifted when she noticed me standing there. I held the vase out, along with the scissors I’d grabbed.
“Wanna help me with something?”
“What, did you run inside so that you could take your crazy pills? Are we calm now?”
I didn’t answer, just walked over to the side of the house with the vase. When her eyes landed on the rose bushes, they widened before glancing back at me. I nodded as she ran over to it, carefully touching the large yellow roses that were sprinkled throughout the leaves. I shook my head at the way she instantlyfell in love with them.I should have known, considering yellow was both of their favorite colors.
I walked over next to her and cut off six roses, sliding them into the vase, along with some foliage. “You like them?”
“Yeah, I do.” She carried them to the door with the biggest smile then looked up at me as we stepped inside. “I’d like them even more if we could talk about why you got upset?”
