Page 78 of Gunnar

I don’t stop walking.

16

Alexandria

Iheave the gigantic dishwasher open. A rush of steam hits my face. So, it works.

I start taking the plates out. Everything smells clean, too.

I’m trying to keep myself busy.

I haven’t seen Gunnar since he walked out of the bathroom last night.

When I woke up, he was already gone somewhere. Doesn’t look like Orson has been back either.

So, I’ve been here by myself all day. Just me and my thoughts.

I keep replaying it.

The kiss.

The terrible fight.

And then the moment in the bathroom.

The way he just… left me standing there.

It’s all still in my body—a confusion of feelings.

Surprise. Fear. Disappointment.

But mostly it’s the kiss—how he held me so tight, like he couldn’t get close enough.

How our lips seemed to be made for each other.

How when his tongue touched mine, I felt like I was lifting up among the stars.

But now he’s avoiding me.

And it kind of hurts, but there you go.

I’m reaching up to put a plate on a high shelf when I hear a car outside. I freeze, then dart to the kitchen window. I can’t see the drive from here though.

I open the kitchen door instead. “Guys?” I yell to the hallway.

Nothing.

A prickle of adrenaline goes through me.

I flick off the light and move back to the window.

A car comes into view, driving into the clearing. Dark, familiar.

Torin.

A breath rushes out of me.

Gunnar appears from the trees on the left. Orson a second behind him, emerging on the right.