Page 52 of The Wrong Drive

I nod slowly, my heart skipping a beat. “Yeah, well, I think that’s actually debatable at this point, but thanks.” I laugh it off and give Gunner a pat on the head as I make my way to the front door.

He chuckles, dropping my hand to open the front door for me. I step out, the sunshine glistening on the snow thathasn’t been cleared. It’s surreal seeing my truck parked about a hundred feet from the house, just inside of where the yard ends and the thick trees begin. My mind flashes back to the beginning—to when I first got stuck in the driveway.

I glance back at Turner, who closes the door behind us. Part of me wonders how such a small event, turning into the wrong drive, made such a massive alteration in my course of life. Did it do the same for him? Will it be enough to pull him from the pits of his mind’s brokenness?

“You okay?” Turner furrows his brow.

“Yeah,” I nod quickly, scrambling down the steps. “I was just thinking that I’ll miss you while I’m gone.” I know it’s not the truth, but Iwillmiss him when I’m gone, and I’ll be worried about his wellbeing, too—even if it’s just a trip to town to find a freaking phone and get the situation under control.

I walk out to my truck, and he follows, our boots crunching in the snow. He opens the driver’s side door for me, and I kick the snow off my shoes on the running boards. I climb inside and grab for the keys, setting in the cupholder. I swipe them up and attempt to start it. It roars to life immediately, like it hasn’t been buried in a blizzard for nearly two weeks. I open my mouth to say something, but Turner beats me to it.

“Go ahead and back down the drive. It shouldn’t give you any trouble. I’ll meet you down there.”

“You can just ride with me?” I offer. “Or I can just say goodbye from here.”

He leans in and kisses me, lingering in it for a few beats before pulling away. “Nah, I’ll meet you down there, angel.”

“Okay,” I say, trying to read his cryptic expression. “Also?—”

“See you in a minute,” he cuts me off with a kiss on my nose. He steps away and shuts the door, and then waits for me to back up.

“Fine then.” Huffing, I put the truck in reverse, and back down the driveway, navigating the cleared road. The tires never slip in four-wheel drive, and I suddenly wish he wouldn’t have made it so easy to get out. Maybe then I could’ve stayed longer. However, I know he did it this morning, when he was initially planning on me to take Gunner and leave his body to rot.

And that thought leaves me nervous.

Surely, he won’t do anything while I’m gone, right?I put the truck in park as I clear the gate, waiting for him. He said he’d meet me down here. I ignore the anxiety thrumming through my body as the minutes tick by. My hands begin to sweat, and as soon as I’m about to drive back up the driveway, I spot him, emerging through the trees.

He has a solemn expression, and before I realize exactly what he’s carrying, it’s too late. He drops my bags at the front of my truck just as he slams the gate shut…

And locks it.

I fling open the truck door and race to the massive iron gate. “What are you doing, Turner?”

“You need to go,” he says flatly. “For good.”

“What?” My voice breaks, a sob choking it off. “What do you mean? I thought you said?—”

“Em,” he cuts me off, his voice sharp. “Youhaveto go. You and I both know what happened here. You can call the cops, you can tell them the whole truth, and I won’t hate you if they come get me. You can keep it to yourself and live with the burden of the truth, but it won’t change my decision. I’m not well enough yet to go on the journey with you.”

Tears stream down my cheeks. “You said you’d be good. I can… I can just…” I can’t even get the words out as I reach through the steel pickets, desperate to reach him. “Turner,pleasedon’t make me do this alone.”

“You’re not alone. I’m giving you permission to do what’s best for you, Em. Go take care of yourself.”

“No,” I break into a shout, fury mixing with the heartbreak. “No, I don’t want to leave you alone. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He smiles. “I’ve made it almost forty-one years, and I’m still here. I justcan’thandle what comes next. We can’t live in solitude while I try to figure out how to exist peacefully. There’s too much going on. Youneedpeople who can be there for you, and that’s not me.”

“You selfish fucking coward,” I scream at him, tears rolling down my cheeks as he stands just outside of my grip.

He shakes his head. “No, I’m not a coward. That’s how I lived my life before you showed up here. Being a coward would be making you stay and try to navigate the shitstormand me.You have to trust me, Em. This is what’s best.”

“No,” I plead, gripping the cold steel and shaking it. “Just open the gate. Please just open the gate, Turner.”

“I love you, Emersyn,” he says, his voice painfully soft. “I have to do what I have to do, and you have to do the same for yourself.” Turner takes a step forward, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. “Don’t come back here.”

“You’ll get help though?” I choke out through the tears as his confession shakes me to my very core, followed by panic. “Right?”

“Yeah.” He brings my hand to his lips, kissing my cold skin softly. “I promise. Good luck, Em. Do what’s best for you. I’ll never be mad either way.” With that he drops my hand and steps away again. “Drive safe.” He backs up, drifting closer to the tree line.

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