Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Reg nodded. “We won’t say a word, but what’s your plan here? You can’t stay on the run forever.”
I chimed in with, “SPAM has a lot of people working on finding out who’s after us. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before it’s resolved.”
“I’m familiar with your employer,” Reg told Sam. “They work with superheroes. Does that mean your powers finally came in?”
“No. I’m the same ordinary guy I’ve always been.” Sam got up and added, “Anyway, we’re going to gather our stuff and get out of your way. Do you think it’d be okay if we borrowed a pair of your sister’s sweatpants? We had to abandon our luggage at one point, and Andy didn’t have any clothes.” Sam had been making do with his one pair of jeans, and the contents of a gym bag he kept in his trunk.
“Of course. All she keeps here is old stuff she doesn’t care about, so take whatever you want. Not that you need to run off, Sam.”
“Yeah, we do.”
“But it could be dangerous for you out there.”
“It’s best to keep moving.” I assumed Sam said that for his ex’s benefit, because we definitely would have stayed put if these two hadn’t arrived.
Turner asked, “How did you get here? There aren’t any cars out front.”
“I parked on the fire road in the woods,” Sam explained, “in case we were discovered and had to run out the back door.”
Reg frowned at that. “This sounds really serious, Sam.”
“I never would have come here if it wasn’t.”
There was an awkward pause. To break the silence, I got up and started rambling. “We did the laundry today. I’ll get the sheets and towels from the dryer, and we’ll put everything away before we go.” I plucked a brown paper sack off the counter, which had become our go-bag after Sam cut up the original. “Also, there’s vegetarian chili in the fridge. We made it last night, and it turned out great. We can’t really take it with us and I’d hate to toss it out, so I hope you two enjoy it.” After another pause, I hurried from the kitchen.
It took a matter of minutes to gather our few possessions and tidy up. Before we left, Reg asked Sam, “Can we talk for a minute, just the two of us?”
They went outside, and Turner joined me in the living room. He was holding a glass of wine—his third or fourth. “I’m sorry about all of this,” I said. “I know it was a bad way to start your romantic getaway. Happy birthday, by the way.”
“It was actually last week, but thanks.” He studied the two men out on the deck, and after a while he said, “I’d always been curious about Sam. As weird as this was, I’m glad I got a chance to meet him.”
“Reg talks about him?”
Turner nodded. “I don’t think he ever fully got over him. And now that I’ve seen him, I have to wonder—is my boyfriend with me because I remind him of his ex?”
They did have the same build and coloring, but Turner’s blond hair was very short and tidy, and he was dressed in a fitted button-down shirt and khaki shorts. Those things made him seem entirely unlike Sam.
“I doubt it. Whatever they had is totally in the past.”
“Are you sure?” He nodded toward the windows, and I looked outside. Reg was leaning in close and saying something, and his hand was on Sam’s shoulder.
“Yes, I am.” To prove my point, Sam took a step back and shook his head. They spoke for another minute, and when Sam started to come back inside, I said, “It looks like they’re done. Take care, Turner. And again, I’m sorry about all of this.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing. If Reg doesn’t care about you using the cabin without permission, then I don’t either.”
After we said our goodbyes, Sam and I picked up the shopping bags that contained all of our possessions. We went down the stairs at the side of the deck hand-in-hand, and as we followed a dirt path into the woods, he muttered, “That was really awkward.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He wanted to know if I’d told him the truth about why we were on the run, or if I’d concocted that story to save face in front of Turner. Maybe he thought I’d turned into a criminal and was hiding from the police or something. Then he asked if I needed money. I know he was trying to help, but he always had a way of making me feel less-than.”
“I’m glad we didn’t stick around. We need a plan, though.”
“I’m going to keep heading north. We’re only a few hours from the Oregon border. While we’re there, what do you think about trying to track down Arden Harington?”