“What? Why? Because we’re trying to hitch a lift?”
“I’ve never been a hitchhiker before. It’s mortifying!”
He laughs. “Oh, bloody hell, it’s not that bad.”
I cringe at him, decidedly disagreeing with his statement. This is about as awful as it gets. Especially, looking like this.
As more cars come over the hill in our direction, James steps out again, this time blocking more of the road. It’s like he’s playing a game of chicken. I can’t help but wince as cars get closer, then dart around him. One, then another, then another.
“It’s no use!” I shout. “Nobody is going to take us looking like this. We look like murderers from the wild.”
James’ shoulders droop. He looks back to me, squeezing his jaw. “Well, I guess we follow the road then. Have you got that map so we can work out which bloody direction we need to go in?”
I nod, whipping my bag off my shoulders and sliding the map out of one of the front pockets. It got partially ruined during the river incident. Luckily, we can just about make out the main points when we spread it out across a boulder on the side of the road. The gravel slides under my shoes as I lean over it.
“I reckon this is the road,” I say, pointing to the long, straight line with only minor curves in it where it allows for rivers and lakes. “But I’m not sure where we are on it or what direction we’re facing.”
James crouches down beside me, his hair ruffling against my chin. It smells like the outdoors. Tree sap, mud and water. It’s pretty sexy actually. I have no idea why. As if he can read my mind, he squints upwards, his blue eyes blinking at me, before looking back towards the road. More cars pass but they pay zero attention to us.
“I reckon that’s the forest we camped in. Look, that’s the castle. So, if we keep travelling this way…” He uses his finger to demonstrate. “That should lead us to this town. Glenbonn. No idea what’s there but they might be able to get us to this train station.”
I peer at where his finger has landed. There is indeed a train station with a line that travels through mountains on its way back to Inverness. Not that that is even where Michael is, but at least there are taxis from there. We could probably use our money to get back to the hotel I assume he’s staying in.
The things I have to say to that man… Then I think about the reason we’re in this predicament in the first place. I still want to be promoted. I can see the long-term benefits, not to mention the rumoured six-figure salary.
Being a director is what I’ve longed for. So why do I suddenly have a sick, twisting feeling in my stomach when I think about Michael and returning to Starr. I guess this whole thing has shone a new, unflattering light on him.
“I’m so done with walking,” I mumble, wiggling my aching toes. The blisters my boots caused at the start are practically raw open wounds now. “How far do you think it’ll be?”
I half-expect James to groan and come back with something sharp and annoyingly witty but instead I get a face of sympathy. “That’s why I was trying to get us a lift. You look beat.”
Oh, so he has noticed how dreadful I look. My heart sinks. It was all pity last night. That’s why he didn’t let me return the favour. I bite my lip to force away the threat of tears. James must sense my shift in mood because he stands and pulls me into him. At first, I’m not entirely sure what is happening as his arms wrap around me. My face is squished into his shoulder. I ride his chest as he takes a deep breath. He rests his chin on the top of my head as I slowly relax, melting into him. It’s nice. This hug. I feel safe, and warm, and oddly protected.
“What’s this for?” I mumble into his chest.
“I needed a hug. And I think you did too.”
“Mmm,” I agree. I did. I’m not sure how he read that though. The tears start to overflow but I manage to keep the flooding at bay, calmly blinking them away or onto his top. If he notices, he doesn’t say anything.
“What’s worrying you about hitching a lift?” James asks. “It’s just, me and my sisters have done it quite a lot and, well, usually the people willing to give lifts are really good people.”
I scrunch my face even though he can’t see me as I talk into his t-shirt. “I guess it’s just not something I’d ever do on my own.”
James frowns. “Ok, would you rather walk then? We can.”
“But I’m so tired.”
James laughs now. “Ok, then we’ll catch a lift?” He holds me away from his chest, squeezing my shoulders. “What would make you feel safer?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“How about we don’t use our real names? Or agree to anything you’re not happy with?”
I sigh out some of the anxious energy. “Ok, deal. At least I can rest my legs for a bit. I’ve never walked this far in my entire life.”
James nods. “I’ve always had to walk places without cars and stuff but never this far in one go.” We’re quiet for a moment, ignoring the cars passing us, leaving a breath of dust in their wake. “About last night…” he says, just as a loud horn blares. I jump, peering around James’ side to see a huge red lorry, with faded sides, pulling over towards us. James shifts as he looks too, squint-cringing at the sight of it.
“What about last night?” I ask. We were about to have an important discussion but have been rudely interrupted.
