Page 5 of Exile

I would have to come up with an excuse to tell my mother why I wasn’t headed home tomorrow. I would lie again because telling her I would see my grandpa wasn’t an option.

She’d freak out, and I didn’t want all that therapy she had to go to waste.

***

I allowed myself to sleep until nine the next morning since I decided not to return home. The reaction I got from Mom after the text I sent her last night wasn’t one I expected.

First, she asked me why I wasn’t going home, and I came up with an excuse that she simply accepted. Then, she asked where I was going, and I told her I would stay in Sault Ste. Marie for a little while longer because I liked it so much.

That was a lie, though.

I booked a tiny house in Hilton Beach’s camping ground and planned to stay there for two weeks. I wanted to meet Caspian, but I would stay there no matter his reaction.

Hilton Beach seemed nice to sit and look at the water.

The drive took me almost an hour, with a short break at a gas station to buy myself a snack. Once I reached my destination, I drove by all the small houses to investigate the village before checking into my stay for the next two weeks.

I saw a general store on my way to the camping ground and decided to return once I got the keys to the house. I would come back to grab some food.

Theresa, who showed me the tiny house, looked nice but annoyed. I watched her for a while as she explained the hot water situation to me, and when her eyes met mine, she raised a brow with a questioning look. “Why are you here?”

I pursed my lips and shrugged. “Vacation?”

“Is that a question?”

“No, I’m here on vacation.”

“You’re a horrible liar.”

Rude.

But I couldn’t tell her the truth.

She probably knew about Caspian. I mean, why wouldn’t she know about him when he literally lived here?

Unless he didn’t, and the woman at the restaurant lied to me.

“Why are you here?” Theresa asked again, her arms crossed over her chest.

Lie again and go ahead with my plan or tell the truth and possibly get kicked out of the village.

Hard choices.

I looked around the kitchen and living area before my eyes met hers again. “Does Caspian King live here?”

“Who are you?”

Damn.

One dry question after the other.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know him? Your last name is King. Do you know Caz?”

Caz.

Interesting.

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