What does he want? Some kind of reward? I already said thank you.
I realize I'm not being exactly polite and I'm probably also a little paranoid with everything we're about to put into motion.
He's probably harmless.
"Was there…" I trail off, giving him a look that I hope conveys I'm in a bit of a rush. "Something else?"
I've waited long enough to see Seven and Elijah, and this guy isn't taking the hint.
The silence lingers another second before he clears his throat and laughs. It's not a bad laugh, but again, it seems…forced.
"Right, I'll leave you to it," he says.
"Great." I stalk past him and then because I'm not trying to be a bitch, I'm just in a rush, I add, "Thanks for the binder."
"I put my number in it," he calls after me, and I falter.
He what?
"Use it," he says with a smile. "You know, if you wanted to study or grab a coffee sometime."
Hard pass.
I throw the laundry basket into my back seat, pushing it all the way to one side so Ellie can fit next to it.
"Okay," I call back, lingering with half my body in the back seat to hide the annoyed expression I can't keep off my face. "See you in class."
"Bailey," he supplies for me. "My name's Bailey."
I rush around to the driver's side and slide in, givingBaileya tight smile and a small wave before backing out onto the road.
10
NO GOING BACK NOW
ATTICUS
The front door of the laundromat opens, and I know it's her because no more than three seconds later, Ellie is clawing at the base of the office door, howling like a banshee.
Sev is quick to open it, going down into a crouch to welcome her with open arms. She knocks him onto his ass with the force of her excitement, and he croons to her as she coats his cheek and chin in saliva.
"Oh, my sweet, sweet girl, I missed you, too." He scratches her roughly under her chin—her favorite spot—and she makes little growly sounds of content. "Oh yes. Oh yes. Such a good girl."
Aurora appears in the doorway behind Ellie, and smiles down at Sev and her dog as Ellie barks as if to say,Look, Ma, they're here!Then she's running to Eli for some pats while Sev pulls Aurora into a crushing hug, holding her there tightly.
Ellie nudges my shin, and I bend to scratch the top of her head, making the hand motion to tell her to sit. Her ears perk up, eager to show me she still remembers her commands.
She sits, lays down, and gives me a quick roll. I smile, pulling her deranged rubber chicken from my pack to give to her. Iforgot to make sure she had the thing when we left the house, and the way her eyes light up when she sees it, I know she was missing it.
"Sorry, Eleven," I mutter, giving her another scratch with the chicken hanging from her teeth. "There you go."
Sev passes Aurora to Eli for an embrace as I stand in the corner next to the cot I've been sleeping in all week like I'm just another piece of fucking furniture. I don't miss the way Aurora's eyes stay closed or downcast, like she's purposefully trying not to make eye contact with me.
Did she find the letter I wrote her?
Does that mean she read it? Or that she didn't?
I'm physically straining with the need to know, but a man who didn't exist wrote that note, so I can't ask her. Eli's right. She needs to be the one to come to me.
