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“Yeah, it’s pretty impressive.”
“Very,” I murmur, still staring at the water below me.
“I found steps carved into the rock face that take you down to water level.”
Snapping my gaze away from the water, I gape at him in excitement. “So you can go swimming in it?”
“Yeah,” he grins. “It’s nice and warm.”
Staring back down, I really regret not knowing in advance so I could bring my swimsuit, but then it was already early afternoon when we left the house. I gaze up at the sky and notice the sun is well to the west, so we probably don’t have time to go swimming today.
Turning back to look at Kai, I reach out and grab his hand. “Promise me you’ll bring me back here and we can go swimming next time.”
His face is earnest as he vows, “I promise, Em.”
We only hang around at the waterfall long enough to drink some water and eat the provisions Kai brought, and then we begin the trek back down to the car. With every passing minute, a heaviness seeps into my limbs, and I’m reasonably sure it’s more than just exhaustion. Knowing that every step brings me closer to the house and to the very real problems that await me there, threatens to remove all the good that Kai achieved today with this hike.
By the time we reach the car, my smile is forced, my laughter more tense and short than it was earlier as a heaviness bears down on me. Kai can see it too, but thankfully he doesn’t comment.
“Uhh, we have a slight problem,” I blurt out as he puts his backpack in the back seat. Immediately on alert, he spins to face me, his eyes darting around in search of a threat.
“What?” he asks with a frown when he finds no impending danger.
“I really,reallyneed to pee.” It’s been creeping up on me for the last hour, but now that I no longer have nature to distract me, my bladder is making herself known.
“Oh.” Kai instantly relaxes. His eyes take in our surroundings, this time not looking for enemies but for something else.
“No. No! Absolutely not, Kai!” I blurt out when I realize what he’s searching for. “I am not peeing in a goddamn bush! There isn’t even any toilet paper or hand wash.”
“I have some tissues and hand sanitizer,” he reasons, but I’m still adamantly shaking my head. I amnotpeeing outside. I’ve seen horror movies. Even if it is broad daylight, anything could jump out of the bush and attack me. Or there could be poison ivy, or something could sting my butthole. Hell no. It’s not happening! My ass is too precious to take that risk.
“Not happening, Kai.” I level him with one of my most serious expressions. “We passed a gas station a few miles back. I’m sure they have toilets.”
He scrunches up his nose, mumbling something about how he doubted they were any cleaner than peeing outside, but I don’t care. It’s still a step up from a bush.
“Fine, fine. Get in. I could do with getting some gas, anyway.”
We both hop in, and not long after, we’re pulling up at the gas station. It’s one of those old, rundown places where they’re probably lucky to see a handful of customers a week. I imagine it was popular once upon a time, but with the interstate built nearby, very little traffic comes along this road now unless it’s locals or someone hiking in the area. I’m assuming that’s the only reason Kai is happy enough for us to stop here. Although, as I glance over at him out of the corner of my eye, he doesn’t look too pleased about it. His eyes take in the station with eagle-like focus, even though we’re the only car here. Only when he’s assessed for any potential threats does he give a sharp nod of his head and make a move to get out of the car.
Following his lead, I do the same. As he begins filling the tank with gas, I go in search of a bathroom, finding one for customers at the back of the store. It’s about as grim as I expected, yet I still stand by the fact that it’s better than a bush hiding god-knows-what.
Finishing quickly, I decide to grab us both some chocolatey snacks to take home, and as I’m perusing the sugary treats aisle I hear my name.
“Emilia?”
I freeze in my tracks, turning in slow motion as my heart hammers painfully against my chest. I can’t be hearing that right. It can’t be him. He can’t be here. Of all the fucking places, there is absolutely no way that he is in the same rundown gas station in butt-fuck nowhere that I am. It’s just not possible.
…And yet, as I take in the six-foot-tall, expensive suit-wearing, sleazy asshole in front of me, there’s no denying that he’s real.
“It is you,” he says with a leering smile.
“S-Steven?” I dart my eyes around the small shop, desperately hoping to spot Kai, but I don’t see any sign of him before I focus back on the threat standing in front of me.
“What a surprise, running into you, here of all places.”
“W-What are you doing here?”
“Just passing through. The band has a gig in Kimeth.” He holds up his hand, showing me some sugary drink intended to keep you awake on long drives or when you’re cramming for an exam. “And I needed to stretch my legs and get something to wake me up.” He chuckles at himself before his eyes drop to my feet, slowly rising as he takes me in with that leery look I remember and still hate. “You look as good as I remember.”
