“No need, I can—” Archie started.
“Let her,” Cullen said. “She’s an unparalleled organizer.”
She wasn’t sure if he meant that completely as a compliment, but her senses were thrumming with fatigue. At that moment she would give anything to lie down.
Archie gestured her into the break room.
He showed her a curtain that could be slid over the threshold. “Not much, but some privacy anyway.”
Privacy. The word thrilled through her. “But isn’t this where you’ve been sleeping? I don’t want to take your place.”
“Don’t give it a thought. Like I said, I got me a nest upstairs where my recon station is set up. Cullen can hunker in the checkout area in case Tot cries, and you’ll be cozy as a bug in a rug in here, even if the couch is lumpier than last year’s gravy.” Chivalry. The oddest place to encounter it, in an old library, underneath an angry mountain. She could not remember when she’d felt quite so thankful for the kindness of strangers.
She spread out the sleeping bag on the dilapidated couch.
“Thank you, Archie.”
“You’re welcome.” He paused again. “You’ve done great taking all this on when you were just minding your own business, driving your truck. No marine could have done better. It’ll all be behind you soon,” he said quietly. “Good night.”
When he was gone, she collapsed on the couch, his words ringing in her ears.
Allbehind you soon.
Everything.
Her stomach tensed. Then what would be ahead? What lay in the frightening future for Kit without her truck? Without her plans?
“Knock knock.” A knuckle tapped on the wall.
She jerked as Cullen popped his head in.
“Before you settle in, I thought you might want your flashlight.”
She took it.
He turned to go.
Her nerves burned with fiery panic.All behind you.“How far away is my truck from here?” she blurted. “I mean, in hours.”
Cullen frowned. “Your rig? With the bridge out, likely a good six hours. Why do you ask?”
The wild plan unspooled along with the words.
“After you and Tot get to the evacuation zone, I want to go back to my rig, mark the exact location so I can get it towed out later in case the GPS tracker dies. Or ... there are some emergency lanterns in the convenience store. I’ll leave one, as a beacon. Then I can meet you at the evac zone.” She was babbling. Her elaborate plan wasn’t the least bit logical, but she couldn’t stop.
His eyes were wide in disbelief. “That’s a bad idea.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I wasn’t asking for your opinion, and I didn’t say I expected you to come with me. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t want you to.”
“You can’t go back there.” His anger made him grow even larger in the cramped space. “You won’t survive.”
Her tone was cold. “Like I said, this is about me. You don’t have to like the plan because you’re not a part of it.”
“It isn’t a plan, it’s a death wish.”
She glared. “Quiet. You’ll wake Tot.”
He paused, lowering his volume. “Listen to me, Kit. We’re sitting on a mountain-sized bomb about to detonate. You know that. You’ve studied it. Our only choice is to pray we can make it to the helicopter and get out alive, you, me, Tot, and Archie. Your truck doesn’t matter anymore.”
