Page 77 of Xavier

She scoots closer to me until our faces are nearly touching. “We can stay out all day. No one will know. It’s not like Dad checks in to make sure we made it through the night safely.”

“Actually,” I watch as her eyes widen. “I’ve been checking in with your dad every morning since we got here.”

She sits up abruptly, pulling the cover off of us in the process. “What? How did I not know this? Were you keeping it a secret from me?”

I sit up to look her in the eye. “No, of course not. Why would I need or want to keep it from you?”

When she doesn’t answer, I continue. “I usually send your dad a text before I start working out in the mornings. You are usually still in bed asleep or in the shower. He usually doesn’t respond and when he does, it’s usually a thumbs up.”

She chuckles and nods. “That sounds like Dad.”

I grab her hand, intertwining our fingers. “I have no reason to lie to you, especially over something so trivial. You can look at the messages if you want. They aren’t anything exciting, just checking in and letting him know all is still good.”

Her eyes close as she lets out a sigh. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. I don’t need to read your messages.”

“Are you sure?”

I grab my phone off the end table as she lays back on her pillow.

“Yeah, I’m sure, but thanks for the offer.”

I open my message app on my phone and send the daily morning text to John.

Checking in. All’s good.

He doesn’t respond, so I put my phone back on the end table.

Turning back around to face Brianna, I’m surprised when she wraps her hands around my arm and pulls me down onto the mattress.

“Come on. Just relax for a few more minutes and then we will go back to the house.”

Her defeated tone leaves me wishing I could make all of this go away.

“How about we get dressed, check out of the hotel, and find a farmer’s market on the way back to the house? Then we can cook a huge brunch and feast.”

Her eyes close, and she looks sad for a moment before she smiles. “Deal!”

We dress in record time, check out of the hotel, and climb into my car.

Brianna holds up a brochure for the local farmer’s market. “While you were checking out, I got directions from the concierge. She said it’s a straight shot from here, and it’s the best one around.”

“Alright, lead the way.”

Brianna buckles her seatbelt and points the way we came from the souvenir shop yesterday. “Just take a right and drive about a mile and a half and we should see it on our left.”

“Simple enough.” I say as I pull out of the parking lot.

“I’m going to miss this hotel. It was nice.” Her voice is soft, like her isolation depression is already slipping back in.

“Me too, but I have a feeling this will be over sooner than later.”

Even if I have to seek them out.

“I hope so, because these past twenty to twenty-two hours have shown me just how much I miss being able to go out and socialize.”

She tries to sound as hopeful as her words are, but I know she isn’t hopeful in the slightest.

When I stop for a red light, I turn my gaze on her.

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