Page 41 of Forgiving Fate

The saleswoman is very kind and gathers the order Landon placed before we got here. She has me login to my cloud and explains it may take a bit for everything to load and gives us the option to wait here or take it home and if we have any issues to come back in. Landon and I share a look and it’s clear we are both ready to get the hell out of here. I don’t know his reasons but mine are clear. I want to be alone and judging by Landon’s changed demeanor since we left the car lot, he wants to as well.

The woman gives us a few more instructions and we make our way outside. Landon walks over to my car and waits for me to open the door before speaking.

“You still have the old phone. I texted you the address to the cabin. I have to stop somewhere before heading back to Cliff Haven.”

I nod. It hits me that this is probably going to be the last time I see him for a while. I have no reason to need him for anything now that I have a vehicle and phone. I can handle getting my license and bank cards on my own.

Landon starts to walk away when I stop him. “Thank you for everything. Logan tasked you with a job that turned into something way more complicated and I–umm. Just thank you.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and nods. “You’re welcome. Make sure you transfer my number over before you toss the old phone. If you need anything, text or call me.”

An unexpected laugh hits me. “Landon. You’re off the hook. I can take it from here. You have helped me in more ways than I expected would ever come from a complete stranger. Go back to the life you were living before I came in and derailed it for a week. I’m fine.”

Landon’s chest rises, and a huff of laughter escapes him as he shakes his head. “You didn’t derail my life Allie. It was already a shitshow seconds from imploding way before I knew you. And not to be a total asshole, but I don’t know if it’s such a great idea you completely forget I exist.”

I narrow my eyebrows at him. What the hell is he getting at?

Landon shakes his head. “Sorry that came out arrogant as hell. I meant that being alone isn’t all its cracked up to be. Your mind wanders to places that are sometimes inescapable and sometimes the only way to get out is a distraction. And the only people you have here are me or Logan.”

Please don’t be suggesting what I think he is.

As if he reads my mind, he continues, “Shit. This is why I’m not the emotional person. What I’m saying is if you need someone to be there to break up the silence or never endingmind numbing thoughts, I can be that person for you, if you want?”

I let out a sigh of relief. He’s not wrong, but do I really need someone to just sit with me? Will the darkness get so bad, I can’t get out of it on my own?

Standing in the parking lot of some random phone store in Seattle, the answer is simple and clear.

I nod and ask, “Why?”

His face morphs into confusion. “Why what?”

Leaning against the open door, I say, “Why are you willing to just sit while I work out whatever shit is racing through my mind? You barely know me. And please, for the love of god, don’t say the “we are family” shit. It makes me think we are in some fucked up version of Fast and the Furious. It’s great and I love that you all take care of each other and forgive me for sounding like a dick, but family has a very different definition to me at the moment, so I am not fully understanding the meaning.”

Landon is quiet for a moment, then squares his shoulders. “You say we don’t know each other, but you can learn a lot about a person even when words are not exchanged. Facial expressions, reactions to situations, and mannerisms tell a lot about a person.”

His words leave me speechless, so I just nod.

Landon taps his phone. “Save my number, please, and text me yours. I have to go. The drive back shouldn’t be bad.”

He starts to walk off, but then turns and says, “Oh yeah. Your new bank card will be here tomorrow. The mail is usually dropped off by noon. There’s a diner, bar, convenience store, and small grocery store in town if you need anything. But if you are still wanting to avoid Logan, I’d steer clear of the bar and the diner. Noah owns the bar and Grayson is obsessed with the diner.”

He looks down at the sidewalk for a moment, then back up to me, gives me a curt nod, then walks over to his truck before I can even ask how and why he was able to get my bank to send me a new card.

Deciding I’d rather not know, I get in the car and check my phone. It’s still loading, so I connect to the old one and make my way back to the cabin. The drive is long and quiet, but with the windows rolled down and the fall air filling the car, my mind doesn’t have the freedom to wander.

The streets of Cliff Haven are full and I allow myself to get a good look at the place I will call home. I pass the diner that looks like it belongs somewhere in the South rather than the Pacific Northwest. I see the bar and assume it’s the one Noah owns, and across the street is a tattoo shop. I know from Logan’s text that Grayson owns it. And just as I’m about to pass it, Grayson walks out of the shop and is about to cross the street when he stops. I stop the car and he gives me a small smile and wave as he crosses the street and heads into the bar.

As I pull up to the stop sign, I sink further into the seat. Yep. I’ve reached my limit of socialization today. I need to be alone and far from reminders of what I refuse to face head on.

Pulling up to the cabin, I’m out and inside, locking the doors and falling onto the couch within minutes.

Leaning my head against the back of the couch, I stare out the top of the wall of windows. Why do I feel like I just ran an ultra marathon after doing such a simple task, when everything was basically done for me? My body and mind are so exhausted all I want to do is sleep for a year. But knowing my body, I will be lucky to get a few hours.

But it’s better than nothing. Grabbing the blanket from the chair I slept in last night, I curl up on the couch. My eyes close as I drift off to sleep when a vibration stops me. Grabbing the lit up phone from the coffee table, I see it’s my new phone.

The phone goes off with notifications, and my eyes narrow in on one.

Mom: Love you, sweetie. Thank you for having dinner with us. Miss you already.

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