AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 12
Red
For what it was worth, Julia’s driving wasn’tthatbad.
What did concern me, however, was how long and far we’d been driving, officially leaving the edge of Sunville and making our way into Grey Peak National Park.
The rain had finally let up, the sun pee king just above the distant horizon as the rest of the sky painted itself black.
“Are you taking me out here to murder me?” I asked.
She laughed dryly. “If I were, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“No? You’re not one of those monologue-y villain types?”
“Nah. You’re way too big and strong. I’d need the element of surprise to get the upper hand, so telling you my plans would be like shooting myself in the foot.”
Amusement stirred in my chest. She was a lot funnier than she looked. Quick on her feet, always ready with a witty retort. She had the energy to keep up with Cash, the charm to enchant Dylan, and the dry humor that was right up my alley.
“Seriously,” I mumbled, looking out the window. “Where are you taking me? Do I need to make a run for it?”
“I want to visit a spot I used to come to when I was younger. When I was upset, I’d make my way here and just…”
“Just what?”
“Sit. Listen to the crickets, watch the stars.” She pressed her lips into a thin line. “I thought maybe you’d like it.”
“Is this about my father?”
“A little. And also because it upset me to see you upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
She gave me a look like she didn’t believe me. “Bullshit. I can tell. I know you’re used to being all macho and stuff, but that’s not going to fly with me.”
I exhaled slowly. Julia was right. Talking about my feelings, my problems… It didn’t come easily to me.
I was quickly realizing that this woman, this brilliant, sassy, sexy woman was uniquely capable of seeing right through me. It felt nice not having to keep my walls up around her. She was going to break through them, one way or another.
Julia finally stopped the car in a secluded parking spot near a wide clearing. She shut off the engine, nothing but the sound of the breeze rustling through leaves and the distant chirp of crickets hidden away in the untamed grass.
Now that the headlights were out, we could see a smattering of stars and the silver glow of the crescent moon above.
“What made you upset?” I asked her. “When you were younger. What made you want to come out here?”
She stared up at the sky. “This and that. Mostly dumb arguments with my parents about how big of a disappointment I was.”
I frowned at that. “What?”
Julia shrugged a shoulder, anxiously playing with a strand of her hair. “I’ve always had a mind of my own. My attention span wasn’t great. Made it really hard to concentrate on school stuff. My grades were laughable. The only subjects I really enjoyed were creative writing and photography.”
“Hm. I guess journalism was always in the cards for you.”
“Maybe, but my parents didn’t see it that way.” She sucked in a deep, slow breath. “They were always comparing me to my little sister. The golden child. As far as they were concerned, Winona was a perfect angel. And don’t get me wrong, I love my little sister to bits, but I was always stuck in her shadow. Always falling short.”
I remained silent, drinking in every word Julia had to offer. None of it made sense to me. I thought she was amazing. Smart and beautiful and sharp as a knife. In the short time I’d known her, Julia never failed to impress.
“So I’d come here,” she continued. “To cool off. To take some space. I love my parents, but they’re really good at making me feel less than.”
