I climb into the front of the truck, and Simon starts the engine. I glance over at him. He's focused on the road as we drive away from the warehouse. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, unsure what to talk about. Everything we should talk about is hanging in the air between us like a giant pink elephant in the room.
Simon must be feeling it too because he starts chatting about random things. The weather. The client we're on our way to. Some random things from our childhood. But the more he talks, the more I relax. I chuckle to myself and shake my head.
"What's got you laughing?" he asks, stealing a look at me.
"Man, it's just good to see you, that's all," I say.
He laughs. "I know, it really is," he agrees. "I've seriously missed you. We all have. Talia asks about you nonstop," he says.
"I miss you guys, too. This whole thing is stupid," I sigh.
After that, the conversation flows easily, and the tension is gone.
It's right back to how it always was between us. Quirky remarks, teasing each other, making jokes.
We do the delivery, and on the drive back home, Simon looks tense again. We're almost back at the warehouse when he asks, "Do you mind if we make a quick stop for another task?"
"What task?" I ask, wary again because he seems nervous.
"Jaroslav needs help moving something at his office," he says without looking at me.
"Jaroslav. Are you kidding me?" I huff.
"Come on, man. It'll take ten minutes, and it'll be good for things. He'll see you putting in effort, showing your face. It'll be a good way to start earning their trust," he says quietly.
"Their trust? Why the hell would I care about their trust, man? I don't want their trust," I huff.
Simon sighs heavily. He takes the turn toward our warehouse, and I see the muscles of his face tighten as he clenches his jaw.
We remain silent until the truck is parked in the warehouse again.
"Thanks for the help, man, I appreciate it." Simon sounds disappointed.
"Sure, anytime," I say gruffly, pushing my door open.
I climb out and say goodbye. Simon's eyes are locked onto me as I head back to my car and climb inside. Before driving away and nod, smiling tightly.
It sucks to leave on a sour note after the morning went so well. But I won't be pushed into anything I don't agree with, andI definitely don't agree with an alliance between the Shevs and Abashins and my family. I hate them. I hate them for stealing my family. I hate them for their lies and bullying.
I want nothing to do with those assholes.
Simon should never have asked that of me.
The drive back to the cabin feels like it's taking forever, but it's still early afternoon when I get back.
I park the car around back, oddly excited to see her. I've actually missed her today. Those sarcastic glances. The way she rolls her eyes at me and pulls her mouth to the side. The way she scrunches her nose when she's thinking.
But my heart sinks to the pit of my stomach when I find the front door unlocked.
How? How could she possibly have guessed the code?
Fuck.
Without bothering to check the cabin, I run straight into the woods.
Searching the entire perimeter, I find tracks leading in the opposite direction to where we've walked together.
I run, following the tracks for a while before they disappear. I can't find her.
