Page 100 of No Place Like Home

When I made it back to the house, the sun was out. Simba charged through the back, and I followed him. He loved it out here, the sense of freedom he got. I was about to go up when I noticed a person jogging this way. For a second, my heart stopped, but I quickly noticed who it was.

Without thinking, I made my way toward Prescott.

He didn’t make any facial expression upon seeing me, but did stop when he was in front of me.

“It’s been a while,” he said once he regained his breathing.

“Yeah,” I added. “Thanks for approving everything so quickly.”

“No problem,” he said. “What’s the plan after this is over?”

“What’s over?”

He guarded me with his intense gaze. “You’re leaving town again?”

“Yeah. I have a job I need to do.”

I knew what he was getting at, but I played dumb.

“Hardwell, it’s time!” Leo shouted.

“See you later,” I told Prescott.

“There’s a house behind my childhood home—” he started to say as I walked away.

I turned to look at him, and I just knew he was talking about her. I should have been happy my wish had been granted.

“Why should I care?”

He rolled his eyes. “Let me tell you something. Pride does nothing but fuck us over.”

And with those words, he left.

I wanted to hate the fucking guy. Ignoring his words, I made it home. Leo was waiting by the door.

“They’re going to begin shooting as soon as you walk in. They’ll start light. They want to ask about how you're doing now, the adjustment, and they will ease into things with your lucky charm.”

“What time do you think we’ll be done today?” I asked, ignoring what he said as the information I had just received burned through me.

“We haven’t even started,” he added, annoyed.

“I have some shit I gotta do around four,” I told him.

I didn’t know if school was out for the summer, or if summer school was in session. All I knew was that there was no way to stop me now.

The mayor had a point. I had been running headfirst all my life, and this time I was scared to go beyond the sidelines. Fuck that.

With that determination, it was easier to get through the day. We were almost done wrapping for the day when they finally asked about my lucky charm. I’d been asked about it before, but I’d never gone into much detail about it since it was locker room talk.

I came back downstairs, holding onto the charm that had been with me for a decade.

“So,the rumors are true. Youaresuperstitious.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the comment.

“Can I see it?” he asked as he tried to reach for it.

Instinctively I pulled my hand back, and everyone chuckled.

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