Page 26 of His Little Stowaway

Growing serious again.

“I’m not joking, Brynn,” he says, deadpan.

“Would you rather I ordered us both a lettuce leaf and a slice of brown bread? Because I need to eat. A lot,” he explains, almost sounding hurt I’d think he was poking fun at my weight.

“However you see yourself, Brynn,” he adds, calling for the check, “…is up to you. But in time, I hope you’ll come to see that when I look at you I see perfection.” He smiles, not even needing to ask me if I’m done because I never really started.

Before we get back to his car, I notice his mood shift.

I confront him about it and ask if he still wants me to go anywhere with him.

“It’s early enough still,” I think out loud. “You don’t have to get stuck with me just because we…” I say.

But Pearce only holds the door open for me, like a true gentleman.

“You’re not going out of my sight like I said,” he tells me again. Pecking my cheek once he’s buckled me in and gone around to his side.

“So,” he sighs once we’re pulling away from the curb again. “I’m full. You’re not. Now, which side of the street do I need to be on to get to your old place?” he asks so casually I almost pretend not to hear him.

He’s really gonna do it. He’s gonna drive me to my old house and wait out front while I get some things, just like he waited at the restroom.

I swallow hard.

I’m not ashamed of Pearce, hell no.

It’s what he’s likely to do if he runs into my mom or her boyfriend that worries me.

Glancing at the time I notice it’s past eleven, so Steve will be at work and my mom most likely will be too.

“Sure,” I try to chirp but my voice cracks. I clear my throat and give Pearce directions to my street which as it turns out isn’t too far and on the same side of town as the diner.

I’ve got two choices here. I can either level with Pearce, tell him I never want to go back, and just chicken out. Leave my old life like I said I would.

Or?

Or I can actually duck in and grab a few things. Least of all my phone charger and a few other things I know a girl really can’t live without.

Pearce slows the car once we find my street. A car behind us honks, getting a full angry stare from Pearce for their troubles as he cruises slowly looking for a spot to park.

The car behind honks again and then speeds past us, the driver flipping Pearce the bird.

He revs his engine, but I put a hand on his arm.

“Maybe I’ll just get out here? You can circle around or just come back in five.” I suggest.

Pearce knits his brow and flattens his lips. Not liking the sound of my plan at all.

Another couple of cars backed up behind us honk, and I decide to just go for it.

Pecking his cheek, I point to the nicest building I can see from where we are, not too far from my place.

“It’s right there. See you in five,” I whisper in his ear, and before I know it I’m across the street waving him goodbye.

Hoping like hell the apartment building door actually opens when I push it.

I’m in luck, and someone’s coming out just as I go in.

I duck behind a large potted plant, peeking out to make sure Pearce really has driven far away enough. Then I take a breath and quickly move a few buildings down across the street.

Home.

Or rather, where home used to be.

I don’t like deceiving Pearce, but I couldn’t bear it if he saw this place. If he ran into—

Before I even get to our apartment’s front door, I stop. Feeling like I’m about to be sick.

I recognize the few things poking out from the top of an old cardboard box by the door.

My stuff.

Most of it anyway.

Who knew that my whole life could fill just one box?

I want to cry, to feel betrayed but I actually feel relief.

I grab the box, and in a single moment I know I’m free.

Free of my old life as I step outside, waiting to cross the street to rejoin Pearce.

He’s my life from now on, I can feel it.

Chapter Fourteen

Pearce

I don’t like the idea of dropping Brynn for five seconds let alone five minutes, but I can’t control every second of her life.

The traffic’s a pain in the ass to get a place to park anyway, so I reluctantly agree to circle a block or three until it’s time to get her again.

Pulling away, I watch her in the rearview, going into a building.

A nice building.

The kind of nice buildings girls don’t have to run away from.

Slowing down, I spot her coming out again from a distance and making her way over to the other side of the street.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com