“Where?” I demand.
“Somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
I tighten my fists at my sides. “Is it really that bad seeing me again?”
She looks back up at me, her eyes still bright with unshed tears. “You have no idea.”
I can only frown as those words linger in the air. Heavy with angst and hurt I can only barely glimpse.
“It’s cold,” Saoirse says abruptly when the moment gets too tense and anguished. “Can we go back to the car?”
I nod, still silent and brooding. We walk back together in silence. The road I’ve chosen is off the beaten track, which is why it’s silent as the grave out here.
We reach the vehicle and slide into our seats.
But when I go try to crank the keys in the ignition, all I get is a puttering, metallic groan.
Then more silence.
“What the fuck?” I growl.
“What’s wrong?”
“The fucking car won’t start.”
“Is this another joke, Cillian?”
I shoot her a glare. “When I make a joke, you’ll fucking laugh. This is serious. The damn thing won’t start.”
She whimpers and rests her head back against the car seat, eyes closed.
Growling in disgust, I grab my phone and dial in Kian’s number.
“We’re sorry,” chimes a robotic voice. “Your call cannot be completed.”
BEEP.
Disconnected.
I check my screen and realize that there’s virtually no reception out here.
“Jesus, why did you take this route?” Saoirse balks.
“Because I assumed the cops would be after us and, silly me, I didn’t want you caught,” I snarl.
She gives me a searching glance and then looks out her window pointedly. “It is beautiful out here,” she says, almost like an afterthought.
“Fuck me.”
“What are we gonna do?”
“Odds of any traffic coming by after sunset are close to nil. We’re gonna have to make it through the night,” I reply. “Then find our way out of here in the morning.”
“We’re gonna stay here all night?” Saoirse asks incredulously.
“Not in the car, obviously.” I glance out the window to the woods lining the perimeter of the meadow. “It’s already fucking cold in here without the engine on. Come on, we can make a fire out there.”
I get out of the car without bothering to look back. A few minutes later, she follows me out onto the grass.