Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 103918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
There was a long silence and then footsteps. I focused on the sound rather than the shapes I couldn't really make out. It seemed like Gideon was to my left and was coming closer to me. A strange, nervous energy came over me as I stood there waiting. I remembered my earlier reaction to him when he’d confronted me with the note I'd left for my brothers during my weak moment with the insulin. This time, though, none of that fear was there.
It really didn't make any sense because it wasn't like I had suddenly come to know Gideon any better. The fact was, though, that he’d had every opportunity to hurt me and had done nothing but help me instead. I remembered how he’d carried me up the porch stairs and to his room with very little effort on his part. As gruff as he was, he'd still only been kind to me. Yeah, he’d called me a few names, but they weren't anything I hadn’t deserved. I had been selfish and rude.
"The power’s back on at the cabin, but it will take several hours for it to heat back up. Some of the food in your fridge is probably still okay, but some is probably spoiled. You’ll want to check it before you eat it."
I heard what he didn't say. How was I going to check it if I couldn't see it? But that wasn't his problem, so I simply nodded my head and said, "Okay."
"Here," Gideon said right before he pressed something into my hand. It was two somethings, actually. Both my controller for my insulin pump and my phone. "They're both charged," Gideon said.
"Thank you," I murmured as I held the familiar objects. The phone felt both good and bad in my hand. Part of me really wanted to turn it on and call my brothers, but that was exactly why it also felt bad. Nothing had changed. I wasn't ready to reach out to them just yet.
Gideon must've seen how I was holding the phone or something because he said, "Call them, Lex."
I knew he had no way of knowing about my brothers, but I figured he was referencing them as a whole. He wouldn't understand why that wasn't an option yet. "Would it be too much trouble to ask you to take me back to the cabin now?" I asked. "Or is there a car service like Uber that I can call?"
There was a long beat of silence and then Gideon said, "The only car service out here is Old Man Mitchum's and trust me, you don't want to call him."
"How come?" I asked.
"Because the man is ninety-seven years old and doesn't own a car."
I found myself smiling as I envisioned an old man showing up at the door to offer me a ride in his nonexistent car. I absently wondered if Gideon was smiling too. But there was simply no way to know and when he didn't say anything, the awkwardness between us grew and the familiar discomfort came back.
“So would you be able to give me a ride?” I repeated. I waited for him to respond to my question, but he remained silent. My sense of helplessness grew and grew and the anxiety that I'd been feeling earlier in the day came back with a vengeance. I told myself to stand my ground and just wait for him to make the next move, but when he didn't, I felt my breathing start to increase. Brewer whined and pressed his nose into my hand.
"Lex," Gideon began, but I cut him off.
"Are you doing it on purpose?" I asked. I hated how shaky my voice sounded, but I was just so damn frustrated.
"Doing what?" Gideon asked.
The fact that he didn't even seem to realize what he was doing only served to upset me even more. He was either being extremely manipulative or completely clueless. I couldn't make sense of either behavior considering how sensitive he'd been earlier in the day. "Never mind," I choked out. I took a step forward, then another. Thankfully, Brewer stayed with me. The dog gave me the confidence I needed to keep moving.
"Where are you going?"
"Home," I snapped in response to Gideon's question.
"It's not safe there for you yet," he said.
"I'll take my chances," I responded bitterly.
"So what's your plan? Try to find your way home in the dark with no clothes on?" Gideon asked, his voice dry.
"Fuck you, Gideon," was all I said in response. I quickened my pace because I needed to get away from the man before I completely let loose on him. I needed to get back to my cabin so I could get my bearings and figure out what to do next. I'd rather return to the city than deal with the asshole who seemed to be enjoying toying with me.