Page 45 of No Mistakes
He mutters something under his breath, but pulls two tens out of his wallet, slapping them into my palm.
Axel shuts his door, “Next, you’ll be betting when my funeral is.” He says, coming round to join us.
Carter slings an arm around Axel’s shoulder, and I already know he’s going to say something that will earn him a smack around the head, if not worse.
“Axel, catch up, your funeral was like last week, man. You missed somekillersandwiches.” He looks at each of us, waiting. “Come on, guys, get it?Killer.Funeral…No one?”
I shake my head at his joke, hiding the smile that’s forming on my face.
“Don’t quit your day job,” Flynn says, grabbing a cigarette from his back pocket.
Axel leans against the hood of the car, scanning the horizon like he’s trying to spot something.
“We’ll be in Chicago around midnight if we keep the stops short.
“Plan still the same?” Gunnar asks, pinching a cigarette from Flynn.
Axel nods. “House first. We run some recon while we find out who knows what. We also need to find out who the cops are working for.”
Carter takes a step forward, “People are talking. One of my guys heard it on the grapevine.” He looks at Axel. “Some think you’re dead, some don’t. No body, no proof. Just whispers.”
Axel’s mouth tightens. “Let them whisper. That’s all they get for now.”
I pocket the cash Carter gave me, and I glance towards the station doors, noticing someone moving strangely around the entrance. They have their hood up, hands tucked inside their jacket, and I can’t help but think it’s too hot for that kind of shit. I angle my body and walk slowly, pretending to stretch my legs while my brothers ramble on.
The person goes inside, and I follow a few paces behind, but not too close so they notice. They pull their hood down as they head straight to the fridge, pulling out a Gatorade before heading to the checkout like every other tired traveller.
I back off and turn back towards the fridges, reaching in and grabbing a few cans of Reign to keep me fuelled for the drive. I turn, heading in the direction of the snacks, trying to find Carter’s fake pretzels, when I hear her voice.
“Do you think there’s a fairground nearby?” She asks.
No one responds for a few seconds, and then I hear Eva, “A fairground?”
“Yeah. Like rides, games, all that cheesy stuff.” I move closer, trying to hear every word. “I’ve never been to one.”
My chest tugs, and I freeze in place, careful not to make a sound.
She says it like it’s no big deal. Like she’s talking about a movie she forgot to watch, or a book she meant to read. But it sticks with me. Lodges itself somewhere deep and immovable.
Never been to a fairground.
I stay still, crouching behind a rack of overpriced chips, listening for her laugh, waiting for her to say she’s joking. Waiting for Eva to tease. But the silence that follows is thicker than the heat outside.
Shemeantit.
I think about the way her eyes light up when she sees something new. The way they lit up in the car, each time we drove past an attraction. The way she spins around when the lights of a place catch her just right. The way she tries so hard to act like she’s seen it all and felt nothing. When really, she’s hungry for things that make her feel everything.
Joy. Wonder. A goddamn fairground.
I breathe in deep, my fingers tightening around the cans in my hands. For a second, I picture it. Her hand in mine, the taste of cotton candy on her lips, the glow of neon lights turning her skin gold. I can practically hear her laughing,reallylaughing, and not just that low chuckle she gives when she’s deflecting.
I don’t even realise how long I’ve been hiding behind the snacks here until I hear the ding of the register and Eva’s voice again.
“Come on, let's get out of here before Carter starts decaying from lack of food.”
I move quickly, heading to the other end of the store and rounding back toward the fridges like I’ve only just walked in. I wait until I hear the door jingle shut behind them before stepping up to the counter. The guy behind gives me a nod, barely looking up.
I pay for the drinks and snacks and head outside, joining everyone else.
