AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The uncertainty of my future looms over me. So I distract myself and longingly stare out of the window.
Not taking his eyes off the road, Aiden leans over the center console and sniffs the air.
“You don’t smell too good,” he teases.
Oh, maybe the funny odor in the car is me and Claudette. Still, I level him with a glare.
“It’s all your fault. You made us hide under the garbage.”
“I did.” He grins. “And it worked. You’re here now and not on a plane to Sicily.”
He’s got a point, but still it was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had.
“Do you have any clue how badly it stunk? I was close to suffocating,” I say, a little dramatically.
Aiden chuckles. “I have a fair idea. After all, this memorable stench has been filling the car for a while now. I can’t decide if it’s rotten eggs or a full nappy.”
Both options make me want to gag.
“I can give you a hug to help you make up your mind,” I fire back.
Aiden looks at me, grinning some more. I’m glad one of us finds it amusing.
“No thanks. But I’ll take you up on it after you’ve showered.”
Don’t blush, don’t blush, don’t blush.
But of course my cheeks heat. Damn him.
“It was an adventure though,” Claudette pipes in from the backseat. “It’s a fabulous story for around the campfire. There was this one time–”
Aiden’s phone rings and Carl’s name flashes on the screen.
“Please put him on speaker,” Aiden requests.
I pick up his phone and swipe to answer.
“Hey Carl,” Aiden says. “You’re on speaker.”
“Hey girls… Ade. Give me an update. Where are you?”
“Driving through New Brunswick. Has Marni made it back?”
“Yes. She got back a little while ago. She’s fine.”
I’m relieved to hear that. Guilt has been eating at me.
What if Tiero had caught her? The consequences could have been dire. I’d only seen Marni for a few seconds before Aiden redirected us to hide beside the shed, but I felt responsible for putting her in danger.
“Now you’ll have to fork out for that tennis racket for her,” Aiden teases.
“There are worse things. It’ll make her happy. Why she’s such a big fan is beyond me. The guy is an arrogant ass.”
“Who are we talking about?” I mouth to Aiden.
“Jonah Linford,” he whispers back.
I’m not into tennis, but even I’ve heard of Jonah Linford. He’s known for his single-minded, ruthless attitude on court. He seems more machine than human, driven and rarely showing emotions.
