By the time we land, I’m ready for a hot meal, shower, and bed. I don’t really have a plan in place on how I’ll get home. Lucas tried contacting my mother on the way back to North Woods, but like always, he got no answer. It’s hard not to be disappointed, but there isn’t much more I can expect when it comes to my parents. My mother fails to have time for me and acts like I’m a nuisance more than anything, and my father is, well, he can only do so much behind concrete walls.
When we land in North Woods, I stand to exit the plane. The air is stale, and my neck and butt ache from the constant sitting. Lucas was the lucky one stuck sitting beside me the entire way home. I’m eager to get off this plane and home.
I move to brush past Lucas and escape the people inside the plane, but I’m stopped when his thick arm comes out of nowhere, cutting off my escape. “Wait, let me take you home. I’m getting a rental and can swing by your house to drop you off.”
The idea is appealing, but I don’t want him to do me any favors. I don’t need anyone holding anything over my head anymore.
I crane my neck back and look up at him. “I’m not looking for a handout. I’ll figure it out.”
Lucas’ jaw clenches. “It’s not a handout.”
It’s my turn to grit my teeth because as much as I don’t want to speak it out loud, a ride would be great. Impatience fills Lucas’ features, making him appear weathered, and I swallow around the words forming in my throat. My options are slim, and if I don’t go with him, I’m not sure how I’ll get home. Knowing this, I suck a ragged breath into my lungs.
“If it’s not out of the way, then yes, I could use a ride.” I expect him to react with a smug smile, but he doesn’t.
“Great, let’s go then,” he says, tight-lipped.
As soon as we step off the plane, I follow behind him like a puppy to the rental car place in the airport. The lady at the desk eyeballs us, but I dismiss her curious looks. I can’t imagine what she is thinking. Lucas is old enough to be my father, not that it’s any of her business.
It takes a few minutes, but as soon as we have the keys to the rental, I sigh. When we enter the parking garage, there are numerous vehicles. I follow Lucas as he unlocks the Tahoe with the key fob, and I slide into the passenger seat. The leather is cold on my butt, but outside of that mild inconvenience, I’m happy to be home.
He climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the vehicle. The engine roars to life, and he turns to face me, a look of sadness in his eyes. After all the things I’ve been through, he’s got the balls to show sadness now? No. I don’t want his sadness.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I snip as he backs out of the parking spot.
Puzzled, he looks over at me, the shifter moving into drive. “How am I looking at you? I offered you a ride, which I had to practically beg you to take. What was your plan, Einstein? Let me guess, you didn’t have one?”
I’m angry, sad, and alone, but more than any of that, I’m tired of relying on people. Tired of needing someone else. I want to save myself for once. I want to be the hero in my story.
“It doesn’t matter if I had a plan or not. That has nothing to do with the way you just looked at me.”
“How did I look at you?” he asks, clearly playing stupid.
“Like you feel bad for me, and in case you didn’t know, I don’t want your pity. I don’t want anyone’s pity.”
“I don’t pity you, Aspen.”
“Yes, you do. I can tell. I don’t need you to feel bad for me. You had plenty of chances to do that.”
Silence settles around us, and I ignore the giant elephant in the room. I’ve lashed out at him when none of this is really his fault. I know it’s the weight of the day weighing on my shoulders, and an apology rests on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it down, hunkering down into the seat while staring out the window.
If Lucas is bothered by anything I’ve said, he doesn’t show it. Thankfully, the drive to my house is quick. As soon as Lucas pulls up to the curb, I’m reaching for the door handle.
I pause only for a brief second and scan the house. There are no lights on, no car parked in the driveway, there isn’t a sign of anyone being home, and I don’t know why I’m not surprised.