Tension seeps from my body. “I’m so tired.”
Austin sighs. “Yeah, me too. When we get home, we’ll nap. I’ll need to run to the store, I think—grab an air mattress.” I glance at him in confusion, so he clarifies. “I only have a one-bedroom.” Oh. Well, I didn’t think this through, did I? “It’s no big deal. I’ll just put you in my room, and I’ll take the living room.”
What? “No. I can’t take your room.”
Austin’s eyebrows draw together. “It’s not a big deal, Luc. I want you to have privacy. We’ll have to share the closet, probably, but it’s fine.”
My heart tries to pound its way out of my chest, my hands going clammy. If I had known it was going to put him out, I wouldn’t have called him. Sleeping on the couch in his own house? I don’t even have a job. I can’t contribute in any meaningful way. I’ll never be able to rest if I know he’s not comfortable in his own house. “Austin, no. Please. I can’t—I… no, I can’t take your room.”
Austin’s eyes widen. “Alright. Okay, that’s fine. You can stay wherever you feel most comfortable.”
I sag against the seat. “Thank you.”
After we land, we disembark quickly, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I’m exhausted and stressed. I’m also hungry. I don’t even remember the last time I ate, but I feel like I’m seconds from keeling over.
Austin carries my bag through the airport. There’s a part of me that wants to take it from him. I don’t want to put him out any more than I already have, but I’m sore, and he really doesn’t seem to mind, so if he’s fine with it, I’m happy to have the help.
I follow him through the small airport and to the parking garage where he left his truck. He tosses my bag into the back seat and offersme his hand to help me in. I’m too tired to argue that I can do it myself, so I take his hand and let him help me.
He’s quiet, so I look out the window instead of trying to engage him in conversation. I wish the circumstances were better and that I wasn’t running from Damien, because I’ve missed this.
The endless fields. Being able to see the horizon. Wide open spaces and clean air. I roll my window down, letting the cool air whip through my hair, and inhale a deep breath. My eyes slip closed as I breathe in the smell of home.
When I start to get cold, I close the window and sit back in my seat. I can feel a smile tugging at my lips, and it feels good. So good. Better than I thought was possible for me to feel.
Just breathing in the air has my body relaxing, the nostalgia and peace washing over me.
By the time we’re approaching town, I’m so hungry I can’t even think. “Fuck. I would kill for some of your mom’s grilled cheese right now.”
Austin chuckles. “I can make that happen.”
I shake my head. “No. I’m not… I don’t think I’m ready to see them yet.”
“That’s okay.” I turn in my seat to stare at the side of Austin’s face. “When we get home, I’ll get you settled, then I’ll make you some.”
“Really?”
Austin glances at me. “’Course. It’s easy to make.”
But… “How do I know you can make it right?”
Austin laughs. His loud, booming, larger-than-life laugh, and I find myself laughing too. “It’s cheese and bread, Luc. I’ve been making it since I was a teen.”
“Okay. Fine. But as soon as I’m ready to see her, I’m gonna haveto sweet-talk her into making me some.” We turn into a driveway, or at least I think it’s a driveway. I guess it could be a gravel road. “Where are we going?”
“My place is back here.”
We aren’t even in town yet. We’re still a couple of miles out, and there’s basically nothing else out here. “Wow. You’re even more in the middle of nowhere than town is.”
“I like it. It’s quiet. I think you’ll like it too.”
I don’t really care if I like it or not. It could be a shack in the woods, and it’ll be better than what I’ve been dealing with. We drive into some deep woods, then further until we come to a clearing. In the center, there’s a small cottage. It’s rustic and charming, with a small covered front porch. “It’s adorable.”
There are woods surrounding the house, but it has a large backyard with a swing and a covered gazebo, and for some reason, the thought of sitting there and writing flashes through my mind. God, I bet it would be so easy to come up with ideas out here.
“Thanks. The owner gave me the option to buy it, but I don’t know if I will. I know it’s just me—and well, you now too—but I don’t know. I kind of want more house space.”
“Makes sense.” I look around. “How much land is here?”
