He nodded. “First thing.”
“Okay.” Sage tried to calm herself with deep breaths. “So… the cavern. I was looking for my phone in a tunnel we use for storage and ah… something called my name.” Canyon didn’t seem disbelieving, so she kept talking. “I think it was the pendant. It made a door appear, carved right into the rock. The door led into the cavern—and there was a man’s wallet and phone inside, just sitting on a table. They were Conri’s, I’m sure of it.” She shook her head. “I didn’t realize it then, though.”
“When was this?
She counted on her fingers. “Four days ago.”
He looked out over Serenity, one hand stroking his stubble. “He was in the cavern?”
“Maybe. I didn’t see him, just his stuff.”
Canyon nodded, his eyes far away. “I’ll let Trevor know,” he said, getting up.
“Please don’t tell him about the pendant,” she breathed, suddenly nervous he would take it.
Canyon dropped back in the chair. “The pendant was there, too?”
“I think. I didn’t see it but there was a metal box hanging from the ceiling, and the pendant called my name from inside.”
He nodded. “I won’t mention it—only Conri’s stuff.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose and walked away, calling, “Be right back.”
Sage watched him go, nervous that Trevor would think she was involved in Conri’s disappearance. She looked back out over the town, then beyond, her gaze bouncing across acresand acres of cornfields. And beyond that? Chicago, where she’d never been, and never would get to go, because of the Tether.
Canyon returned. He sat in the chair and took her hand again.
“You game for sleeping on top of the bunker?”
She smiled at him, feeling scared, but also safe, because she was with him.
“Okay.”
He kissed the inside of her wrist, his blue eyes sparkling.
“All right,”he said. “It’ll be an adventure.”
Sage glanced over the side, where the ground was over a hundred feet below. “Adventure…” she repeated, her insides fluttering, and she wasn’t sure if it was the height… or being with Canyon.
85—Sweet and Nostalgic
Night fell.
They’d eaten a light meal at dinnertime and said goodnight to Timber, then came back over to the bunker, sitting in the chairs near the tent. Sage and Canyon talked about inconsequential things while they watched Serenity settle for the night: things like restaurants they liked, hobbies they enjoyed, and books they’d read, carefully avoiding anything that might have to do with family, orshiften, which made it easy for Sage to not mention her daughter.
The night brought a sharp chill to the air, encouraging Sage to snuggle close in Canyon’s jacket. He’d already covered her with a blanket, while he wore only an SPD hoodie. She inhaled slowly, drawing in his scent where it lingered in the heavy fabric.
“What would our young look like?” Canyon asked.
Sage looked at him, trying to read his face. Her thoughts went to Paisley and she shook her head.
“Like you, hopefully,” he said, answering his own question.
She smiled, a warm flush filling her. “If they’re males, they’ll take after their father.”
He looked out at the town as if contemplating fatherhood, his face serene. “Tell me about that time before,” he said. “When we were together.”
She smiled, thrilled to talk about it. When she’d hated Canyon, the memory had eaten at her like acid, but now it felt different: sweet and nostalgic.
“We met at Grizzly’s Groceries,” she said.
