Page 62 of Samuel
Samuel shrugged, and the truck roared to life.
We made the drive to town in relative silence, the only sounds coming from the hum of the engine and the occasional bird call from outside.
I rested my head against the window, the cool glass soothing against my forehead.
I must’ve dozed off a few times during the drive, my body still wrung out from everything we’d been through.
Before I knew it, Samuel was pulling up to the bus station.
It was early enough that the streets were still quiet, with only a handful of people milling around the station.
Finn turned to me, his expression soft, a bit sad.
“Well, I guess this is it,” he said quietly.
I nodded, my throat tightening.
“Don’t be a stranger,” I told him, my voice rougher than I intended.
He smiled, that familiar, crooked grin that I’d missed more than I realized.
“You take good care of yourself, Blake,” Finn replied, then leaned in for a careful hug, mindful of my injuries.
His embrace was warm and steady, a reminder of all the years we’d spent together, watching each other’s backs.
When he pulled away, Finn turned to Samuel, giving him a nod.
“Make sure to keep him out of trouble,” Finn said.
“Of course,” Samuel said, his voice warm but firm.
They shared a look, one that I couldn’t quite decipher, but it made me feel…safe. Like everything was going to be okay.
With one last wave, Finn stepped out of the truck and headed toward the bus.
I watched him go, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me.
Relief, sadness, and something like hope. As much as it hurt to say goodbye, I knew it wasn’t forever.
The ride back to the cabin was a blur.
I must’ve drifted off again because the next thing I knew, I was waking up in our bed, the familiar scent of the cabin wrapping around me like a blanket.
I blinked slowly, trying to shake off the grogginess, and then I noticed Samuel, sitting in an armchair nearby, watching me.
“Hey,” he said softly, a small smile playing on his lips as he leaned forward.
I yawned, stretching carefully. “How long did I sleep?” I asked.
“Just a couple of hours,” Samuel replied with a grin.
He stood up and made his way over to the bed.
I scooted over, making room for him as he sat on the edge, his weight causing the mattress to dip slightly.
Samuel reached for my hand, his thumb tracing small circles over my knuckles.
I exhaled slowly, sensing the shift in the air.
