“Ha!” I reply. “He knows you well. Seriously though, this car iseverything. So cute.”
I toss my overnight bag into the tiny trunk along with Davey’s, then carefully wedge the big pink box of sweet treats—chocolate chip cookies, gummy bears, mini cupcakes, and enough marshmallow fluff to feed a small army—between the seats.
Twist rides shotgun on my lap, safely buckled in with his own little seatbelt that Davey bought as a joke last year. He has one for his stuffie too. Truly this is a car that any Little would love.
“Ready for our emergency mini-break?” Davey asks, sliding behind the wheel in oversized sunglasses and a pastel hoodie. He looks like the poster boy for wholesome escapes.
“More than ready,” I say, clipping my own seatbelt. “Remote lectures tomorrow sound perfect. I already emailed the professors.”
We pull away from his townhouse, the electric motor almost silent as we glide through the city streets. I watch the familiar buildings slide past… the Uppington Building, the library that now holds way too many intense memories… and I feel a strange mix of sadness and relief.
This trip is the right thing.
I know it in my bones.
And whatever happens when I come back, I’ll deal with that then.
As we leave the dense downtown behind and merge onto the highway heading upstate, I let out a long, shaky breath. The weight that’s been sitting on my chest since the library—since Kane—finally starts to lift.
The city has never felt like my natural home. I grew up in a quiet semi-rural town where the loudest sound at night was crickets or the occasional over enthusiastic dog bark.
These past couple of years I’ve adapted, thrown myself into the hustle.
But right now… and with everything spinning out of control? All I want is fresh air, trees, and somewhere I don’t have to look over my shoulder every five seconds.
“You okay?” Davey asks, glancing over as the buildings give way to green hills.
“Yeah,” I say softly, hugging Twist tighter. “I really am. Thank you for this. I needed it more than I realized.”
The drive is beautiful. Rolling countryside replaces concrete. The windows are down, warm spring air whipping through our hair. We blast our favorite playlists. Lots of early 2000s pop makes us sing along shamelessly.
Davey tells me funny stories about Charles trying to cook him dinner and burning the pasta. I laugh until my sides hurt. For the first time in days, my mind isn’t constantly replaying Kane’s voice or the sharp crack of his discipline.
By the time we reach Davey’s family cabin on the lake, the sun is dipping low, painting the water in shades of gold and rose.
The cabin isperfect. Rustic but cozy, with a big wooden deck overlooking the water, string lights already twinkling, and a fire pit ready to go. We unpack quickly, change into our softest pajamas and carry our stuffies, blankets, and the massive box of treats out to the deck.
The evening air is cool and clean. We settle into oversized Adirondack chairs with fuzzy blankets over our laps. Twist and Hardy sit propped up between us like little chaperones. Davey lights the fire pit and we skewer marshmallows on long sticks, giggling as they toast to gooey perfection.
A little Bluetooth speaker plays Britney Spears on low and “Oops!... I Did It Again” gives the whole scene the perfect nostalgic vibe. We sway in our chairs, sticky marshmallow fingers and happy hearts.
“This is exactly what I needed,” I murmur, licking chocolate from my thumb. “No city noise. No…complications.”
Davey gives me a knowing look but doesn’t push.
We talk about everything and nothing… our theses, funny seminar stories, dream stuffie collections we’d buy if we won the lottery. The fire crackles, Britney sings, and for a while everything feels light and safe.
When Davey excuses himself to go to the bathroom inside, the peaceful bubble pops just a little. I stare out at the dark lake, the reflection of the string lights dancing on the water. My hand drifts to the pocket of my pajama bottoms. My phone is still there, powered off since the café this morning.
I fidget in my chair, my mind suddenly trying to play tricks on me.
Just a quick check.
What if there’s a university email?
What if…
My resolve cracks like thin ice. I pull the phone out and turn it on. The screen lights up, searching for signal. My heart beats faster. When it finally connects, a single notification pops up.
