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I don’t expect Ellister to have an answer to that, and he doesn’t respond. It’s not the kind of question anyone has an eloquent reply for. Death is an uncomfortable subject, which is why I haven’t brought it up to anyone before now.
Suddenly, the SUV right in front of us chirps. The lights flare briefly. Startled, Ellister jumps up, his fists balled like he’s ready to battle the vehicle.
I giggle, tugging his wrist to make him sit back down. “Someone’s just looking for their car.”
But when I see a familiar brunette heading this way with her keys jingling in her grasp, I realize I’m not up for any awkward farewells with Faith.
“Shit,” I whisper, ducking to make myself even lower than I am in this wheelchair. “Quick, take me around the back of the store.”
Though he’s not smiling, Ellister has an entertained glint in his eyes. “What’s the matter? You don’t want to speak to your frenemy?”
“No. Shhh.”
“Hannah?” Faith calls out as she gets closer. The outline of her figure is shadowed through the rear tinted windshield. “Is that you?”
“Come on. This is a dying girl’s last wish. Ellister, now!” I hiss, flapping my hands urgently.
I’m being totally dramatic, but it works.
Just in the nick of time, he jerks me backward. By the time we’re disappearing around the side of the building, Faith is finding the spot we were in vacant.
“Go, go, go.” I laugh quietly, enjoying the high-stakes feel of the moment.
Spinning me around to face forward, Ellister takes off in a run.
“Which way?” he asks as the concrete comes to an end on the patio.
“There’s a trail through there.” I point toward the wooded area, and we have to go ‘off-road’ for a second in the grass.
The ride is bumpier on the ground, and I’m being jostled around quite a bit, but as we escape to the shelter of the trees, I realize it doesn’t matter because I’m having fun.
The wind is in my hair, the temperature is perfect, and I’m with a guy who makes my heart race.
“How much farther?” Ellister grunts as the front of the chair gets caught on a tree root. We’re going much slower now that my wheels are encountering weeds, rocks, and leaves.
“Just a bit.”
It’s dark out here. I could probably find every destination on this property with my eyes closed, but I didn’t take into account the fact that Ellister doesn’t know the place like I do.
Since my purse is still slung across my body, I take out my cellphone and turn on the flashlight. “There’s a shed up ahead. Just keep going.”
“I can see exceptionally well in the dark.”
“So you have super hearing, and now you have night vision? Are you invincible, too?”
Ellister doesn’t laugh at my joke—at this point, I’m not even sure if he has the ability to laugh—and the rest of our bouncy trek is done without talking.
I can’t get a good read on him. One second he’s concerned and sweet, then he’s cold the next. He’s tying our shoelaces together so we can dance, then he’s barking at me because I’m sick.
Again, it occurs to me that being alone with an odd stranger isn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. I just can’t bring myself to care.
I’m better when I’m around him, and I’m certain it’s not a fluke. I’ve had enough exposure to him since this afternoon that I notice the pattern. When we’re together, I don’t feel pain. That’s as good a reason as any to take a risk with his company.
“We can stop here.” I gesture to the old, cracked concrete patio in front of the woodshed. “The wildflower field is my favorite place.”
Ellister parks me by the break in the trees, where the silvery glow of night filters through from the open area, and the view of the meadow is unobstructed.
I let out a content sigh as I gaze out at the expanse that stretches on for more than the length of a football field.
