“We only have a month until graduation, Win. I know I’m graduating. I don’t really care about the show of walking across a stage.” I shrug.
Her grip on my hands loosens around mine. “What about me?”
My heart thuds painfully in my chest. My hands grab onto hers, forcing her to look at me.
“I don’t want to leave you. Your grades are impeccable, Winnie. You’re graduating, on your way out the door. We could walk away from here together and start our next chapter in Tennessee. Didn’t you just tell me that you weren’t sure about what you wanted to do? We could do whatever we want. We’ll make the decisions. We’re eighteen, Win. Your parents can’t stop you.” I rush through the words, the speech I came up with on my way over when I realized I couldn’t leave her. “I love you, Winnie. Will you please come with me?”
Winnie’s eyes widen, and her lips part. I can hear her thoughts spinning in her head while she stares at me. I’m literally holding my breath waiting for her to answer, to make a decision that will affect the rest of my life. I want to escape, but I need my girl by my side. Winnie pulls back suddenly, her hands rubbing down her legs before she’s on her feet, pacing the room.
“This is crazy, Finn,” she mutters under her breath.
“I know.” I smile sadly at her, waiting for the rejection. Waiting for her to ask me to leave. Because this is crazy. I’masking her to give up the comfort of everything she knows. To leave behind the last month of school, her friends, and the memories of senior year that we won’t be part of. It's too much.
I make myself stand from her bed. I force myself to move toward her window. “You know I’ll always love you, right?”
Winnie whips around, her eyes clouding with confusion. “What are you doing?”
“I was just?—”
“You better not be leaving without me. I just need to pack a few things.” Her brow lifts, and she reaches down by her desk to grab her backpack.
Realization slams into me, and I eat up the distance between us, grabbing her again and pulling her into my arms. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
“I’d never regret choosing you, Finn,” she promises, rising up on her toes and pressing her lips against mine. “Help me pack.”
We work to get her essential clothes into her bag as well as her wallet, laptop, and phone. After she slips on her shoes, I watch as she writes a note to her parents, telling them she’s safe and that she’ll call them when we get to my extended family’s home. With more courage than I feel, Winnie confidently leads me out of her window and back down the trellis. Nothing about this feels real. I almost can’t believe that I’m getting it all. Freedom and the love of a girl who holds my entire heart and soul in the palm of her hands.
Winnie doesn’t hesitate to climb on the bike behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist like she’s meant to. Like it's the most natural thing in the world. I turn to her, with her helmet in my hand. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she says and takes the helmet, placing it over her head. I grab mine as well and put it on before starting up the engine. We drive out of her development and into town. Buildings and lights flash by in a blur. All I can think about isthe new road, a fresh start in front of us. I make a silent vow to the girl who trusts me with her heart and her life that one day I’ll make this up to her. One day, I’ll be the man she deserves. And I’ll always be thankful that she saved me tonight.
Chapter 7
Finn
When I talked to my cousin last, he had told me briefly about where he’s living and that he’s part of a motorcycle club. His invitation was more open-ended and didn’t really give an expiration on the offer, so I’m just planning to call him up once we’re in the area. I only drove two hours out of town last night before pulling off and getting a cheap ass motel. I felt bad bringing Winnie to something that looked like a location out of a horror movie, but she was dead tired. Her grip on my waist was almost painful because she was holding on so tight, trying not to fall off. My girl needed sleep, and that came before worrying about anything else. Not that she complained at all. This morning we woke up, got dressed, and hit the road. After passing the Tennessee state line in the afternoon, we stopped to get tacos for lunch before continuing on to Braham, where my cousin lives. I sent him a text when we arrived before stopping at a local coffee shop to wait.
Winnie comes to stand next to me at the counter ledge, her iced drink in her hand, and I instantly wrap her up in my arms.
“Did you let him know we’re here?”
I nod and press a kiss to the top of her head. “He said he'll meet us when he can get away in twenty minutes.” I sigh and my free hand comes up to run down the side of my face.
“What are you worried about?” Winnie’s brow rises, and her fingers gently run over the bruise on my cheek.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet about Jake and what he does for a living.”
“Is he a good guy?” she asks, biting her bottom lip, and I nod. “Then it will be fine. I trust you, Finn.”
I exhale, feeling instantly less worried at her words. Still, I don’t like keeping things from her. “He lives and works for a local motorcycle club. Rebels of the Undead. Said they’re a combination of ex-military and ex-public services guys. He said that he took off as a teen when shit happened with my mom and his family. He joined the military, and when he got out, he found the club. Says they’re like his family and that he would do anything for them.”
Winnie’s brown eyes widen, and a smile tugs on her lips. “No way. I’ve only ever read about motorcycle clubs or seen them on TV. Are you sure he’s going to be okay with us being here?”
“I think it will be fine. If not, maybe he’ll have a lead on where we can live close to one of the colleges when we want to,” I add, thinking about how important it is to her that she continue on with college.
I watch her while she finishes up her coffee drink, and her eyes eat up the town around us. Everything here has a small-town feel to it, but it’s actually a larger city than I expected. We talk about our plan once we figure out where we’re staying, and we each leave a message for the principal about wanting to talk about our plan for the rest of the year, as we’ll miss graduation. Monday will be interesting to have that conversation. Winnie also takes the time to call her parents, but the call ends quicklywhen they raise their voices at her. My hands frame her face, and my thumb brushes away the few tears that fall onto her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Daisy. I promise everything will be alright.”
