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“Do you want to? See him again, I mean.”
He chuckles and, having finished fixing my shirt, he rests his hands on my hips, holding me in place. “I would love to return the favor. He’s the reason I’m ‘slightly unhinged’. I believe that’s the phrase you used.”
My cheeks flush and I lower my gaze.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
He moves one hand underneath my chin to tilt my head up and look at him again, his green eyes blazing. “Apologize. Never apologize for things you say and do. You’ll never please everyone, you’ll only drive yourself insane trying to. I don’t care what you say about me, as long as you’re being yourself.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. Nobody should have to experience their own family turning on them like that.”
“It’s for the best. It helped me see who I can trust.”
“Can you trust me?”
He raises one hand to cup my cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle. His voice lowers to a near whisper. “I don’t know yet. I don’t want to, but you make it so hard to stay away.”
15
WILLIAM
We get the campsite torn down and packed up in record time. Max mentioned an old grocery store somewhere back in the direction we came from after leaving the city, with a pharmacy that might have what Emily’s looking for, so she wasted no time tearing things apart so we could get back on the road again. She had doubts at first since the last few grocery stores and pharmacies she searched through had already been scavenged to their limit, but Max promised the last time he saw this one, it was mostly untouched, since most people only cared about the food there. Seeing Emily’s eyes light up with hope was brighter than the rising sun.
This means soon we’ll be taking Emily back to where we found her, and then waiting around to see if she ever comes back. It’s weird, finding myself not wanting to part with someone who isn’t one of my two best friends. But having her with us during this short time has made the days seem brighter. Even the nights have brightened up.
Part of me hopes this will be another dead end, but a bigger part of me hopes it isn’t, because I can’t be selfish enough to wish that failure on her friend, a stranger I may never get to meet.
Pieces of partial wood carvings fall out of the trunk and Griffin grumbles to himself when picking them up. That’s interesting. I haven’t seen him touch these in months.
I load the last tent into the car where Griffin is rearranging the mess that Max threw in there until Griffin chased him away and he ran off in the direction I saw Emily headed. “Have you noticed anything different about Max?”
Griffin remains focused on his task at hand, trying to shove every little thing into a spot regardless of whether it fits. “Maybe, but I’m not sure.”
I stare at the side of his head. He’s holding something back, alright. Now I’m wondering if something is different about Griffin, too. What’s happening to us?
“What the, where did this come from?” Griffin holds up the unopened bag of flour I’d swiped from the dreg’s hideout.
“Found it when we were stealing the medical supplies. I was in the kitchen next to that room Emily went into alone. I only grabbed this before I heard the commotion and realize she didn’t follow.”
“Why?”
“Because checking on her was more important than raiding a kitchen.”
“No, I mean why this flour?” Griffin asks, placing it into a perfectly tight spot in the trunk.
“She likes waffles. Maybe someday I can collect enough ingredients to make them.” I shrug. I should have grabbed the waffle iron too, but nothing else was important when I realized she was in trouble.
Looking back out at the empty campground, I see Emily standing near the dying flames of the firepit, adding various weapons onto her body. Buddy is at her side. He’s barely left her side since saving him. He’ll probably follow her back to wherever she’s going. At least she’ll be safer with him if we can’t be there.
“Safer with who?” Griffin’s voice catches me by surprise. I didn’t realize I was thinking out loud.
“The dog. She’ll probably take the dog with her since she won’t take us.”
“He’ll be with her for sure, but so will we.”
“She said we can’t follow.”
