Page 60 of Hold Me Under (Water, Air, Earth, Fire 1)

“So,” I begin hesitantly when we’re both in the car, motor running. I see him stiffen out of the corner of my eye and I fall silent. I can’t force the words out. So instead I say, “Won’t your father be panicking by now?”

He shrugs. “If they’ve noticed I’m gone.”

This is the part where I ask him what happened last night, why we’re here. I think he can sense what I’m about to say, because his jaw works and he looks out the window from behind my sunglasses.

“We can’t stay out here forever,” I say finally. “If I let Gray know where we are, I guess we could wait another day.”

He clears his throat, his voice cracking. “Can we go to the sea tomorrow? Then I’ll go back.”

“I don’t have money for lodging, and I’m not spending another night in the car.”

He taps his wallet. “I’ve got it.”

I spot a larger-looking town on a far hillside, like a miniature Naples, and navigate toward it, pulling over at the first hotel I see on the outskirts. It’s a sprawling compound with only ground-floor rooms, woven among a lush garden full of the sound of running water. The walls are peeling and a bit dirty, but it’s peaceful.

The woman at the front desk speaks very little English, but she knows exactly what to do with Victor’s gold card and hands us two iron keys on a ring, like we’re about to open up a castle dungeon.

The keys worry me a little, but once we get the stiff lock open the room behind it seems nice enough, with modern, if dated, conveniences. There’s a box of chocolates on the TV stand and a vanilla-scented candle burning, which Victor blows out immediately.

He sits on the corner of one of the two queen beds, studying everything judgmentally. At the end of the circuit, his eyes meet mine and he holds them for a few beats too long.

We both know what’s coming, as inevitable as a storm on the horizon. What I don’t know is what the consequences will be.

“Let’s find dinner before it gets dark,” I say too loudly. His shoulders sag a little and I remember that he won’t eat anything at the restaurants or cafes. Then I have an idea. “Come on.”

“Where?”

“I need to make a call, then food.”

He rubs absently at the dirt streaked on his thigh. “I can stay here.”

I kick his sandals across the floor toward him. “Let’s go. Hurry up.”

Luckily for me, it only takes a five-minute walk down the hill to find what I’m looking for: a grimy convenience store with football posters in the windows. Victor wrinkles his nose. “I’m good, thanks.”

“I work in one of these, back home,” I say. “Night shift.”

“That’s tragic.”

“You’re a snob.”

His shoulder bumps mine, in our stupid matching shirts. “Duh.”

He walks a little way down the street as I tap Gray’s number in my contacts. I’m kind of relieved when his phone kicks me to voicemail. “I’m babysitting your child,” I inform him. “I’ll return him tomorrow. He fusses all the time, but I’ve managed to entertain him.”

Hanging up, I dial Mom. “Hello?”

“Ethan! You didn’t call last night.”

“Sorry. There were things…happening.”

“Are you ok, hon? You sound funny.”

“I saw some Roman ruins today.” I try to change the subject. “They were beautiful.”

“Are you still…” she hesitates. “Are you still doing that job?”

“Yeah.”

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