Page 27 of White Hole

He paused his steps, lowering his head toward me. Then he kept going at his frantic pace.

“You’re just not going to say anything?” He led us to his large, black truck.

“No.”

“You’re just going to say ‘no’?”

“No.” He held up his key fob, and the truck beeped. He got in. I stood next to the passenger door. He lowered the window. “Get in.” I hesitated. “Do you need help getting in, your highness?”

I bit my tongue and threw open the door, jumping in using the chrome step bar. The cab was roomy, with plenty of space for my bag at my feet. It smelled of George’s cologne, like citrus and leather. The scent made my heart beat faster.

“So, are you going to talk?” I asked as he backed out of the lot.

“Why, when you talk enough for the both of us?”

“If you’re kidnapping me, I’d like to know where you’re taking me.”

George snorted. “Always the fucking victim.”

I gasped. How dare he? “I am not a victim! I’m a survivor. You don’t even know what I’ve been through.”

“I’m sure it’s a real good story, princess.” My mouth fell open at his audacity. “Does it have anything to do with those scars on your hands?”

Tears sprung to my eyes. I didn’t want to talk about it with him. I wished I had not even brought up my accident. I looked out at the passing scenery, turning my head so he couldn’t see me wipe my face.

“Quiet now? So I guess I was right.” George cleared his throat. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. “I’m taking you to the planetarium in Springfield.”

Gathering my composure, I responded, “Oh. I’ve never been.”

“Hopefully, it will help. I can show you the stars instead of just looking at a piece of paper.” His large hand turned up on the center console and he extended his fingers toward me. “Kinsley, I’m sorry you got a C. We’ll get you that A, don’t worry.”

“Thanks.” I nodded. We rode in silence, and I took the opportunity to capture views of the rolling hills of the countryside. George turned on some heavy rock music. “You ruined my MCAT practice exam,” I yelled.

“Well, you ruined my truck.”

I giggled. But the giggle turned into laughter. Then, I couldn’t stop and was cackling so hard that I started to cry. George’s normally stoic face smiled broadly. “What?”

“I didn’truinyour truck. You’re so dramatic.”

“That, princess, is something I’ve never been called before.” We pulled into the parking lot of the giant dome-covered building.

We went inside and George spoke with the attendant at the reception desk as if he knew them.

“Let’s go.” He slid his large hand down my arm and grabbed mine. We were holding hands. Well, more like my tiny fist was balled into his gorilla paw. It wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened to me.

“How much is it? Don’t we need to pay for tickets?”

“No, we’ll use the B studio. I know the manager; it’s cool.”

“Huh. I could have known a guy that got me into the hottest clubs or restaurants, but I can brag I know the man that can get you into the planetarium for free.”

George turned and put a large finger to the end of my nose and tapped it. “Nerdy princess.”

“George, your license plate says Jedi Knight. I’d be careful about who you call nerdy.”

“Oh, I’m proudly nerdy. You should be, too.”

He pulled us into an expansive auditorium. There was a glowing light overhead, illuminating the white fabric sky. The acoustics made my ears feel as if there were muffs covering them. George tugged me to a seat near the middle. We were the only ones in the room.

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