Page 100 of Reclaiming Adelaide

“Let’s get back on the road. We have a long way to go.”

I sniffled and nodded.

“And let’s get you a tissue.”

A laugh escaped my pursed lips, and it felt good, almost normal.

“There she is,” he whispered, wiping a tear from my chin.

I followed him back to the car, my pinkie locked with his, our heart tattoos smashed together in a symbolic merging of two becoming one.

The king to my queen.

He opened my door and settled me back inside before shutting the door and whipping around the front to get back in the car.

“Now that you two got that out of your system, can we find a real gas station, please? My bladder is about to explode,” Charity said, popping a gummy worm into her mouth.

Jake pulled onto the road, and I exhaled like I’d left all my terror of the unknown on the side of the road. He slid his hand across the center console and took mine in his, his thumb caressing my sensitive skin.

“Sleep, please.”

I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the headrest. Hoping everything he’d said to me wasn’t a manipulation tactic or a lie but a genuine revelation of his feelings. Because I wasn’t sure my heart could handle another destructive moment.

30

Sixhoursturnedtoseven, and seven turned to eight. She’d listened and took my advice, sleeping to gain her strength and, in turn, making the trip run smoother and faster.

“There are two bedrooms upstairs,” I muttered to Charity and Max as I pulled into my driveway. “Sleep wherever you want.”

“Finally. My back is killing me. These vehicles aren’t meant for traveling,” Charity said, stretching.

The sun dipped below the horizon before I’d pulled onto my street, and now the darkness crawled towards us like spirits from the underworld, escaping their hellish dwellings for the evening.

“How’s the security here?” Max asked.

“Hopefully better than what you have in your castle, princess.” I turned to Charity. “Don’t take your grenades into my house.”

“Aww.” She feigned a pout, then succeeded when I narrowed my gaze. “Fine.”

Adelaide stirred, jerking forward with a sharp inhale through her nose, followed by a muted whimper.

“We’re home, sweets.”

Max and Charity left us alone in the SUV as they grabbed their suitcases and made it inside. Hopefully to find a room and scamper off for the night.

Adelaide rubbed a deep indentation on her forehead from the car’s sidewall. “How long did I sleep?”

“Sevenish hours.”

We stepped out, and I grabbed our bags. “I have a phone call I need to make,” I said as I dropped our luggage next to the door. “I’ll be in a second. Get settled.”

She nodded and looked around the living room as if it were her first time stepping inside my home… our home.

There was that word again.

I stepped back outside, shutting the front door, and called Alek.

“Hello.”

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