Page 4 of Even After Sunset

I want to remember this moment forever, because I know that the next time I’m back in Sandy Haven, I’ll be a different person than the girl I am tonight.

Chapter Two

Jackie

The next four hours go by way faster than I thought they would. I created about a zillion different play-lists and I get through two of them by the time my eyelids start to feel heavy and I decide it’s time to stop for the night.

Ezra’s“I want to get better”is just finishing on my playlist when I pull into a gas station a couple of miles outside the state border. I park beside the diner attached to the main station—right along a dense stretch of forest, and climb out of the cab to stretch. The sky is a beautiful star-dotted midnight-blue, and the air is warm even though it’s almost one in the morning.

After I go through my night-time housekeeping checklist, I head to my comfy queen-sized bed at the back of the camper. And

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEAAAM!!!

There’s a guy sprawled on the mattress; passed out on my freshly cleaned mint green comforter.

Chapter Three

Jackie

I realize too late that my instinctive scream was a terrible reaction, because now the intruder is wide awake. He bolts upright.

“WHAT IN THEFUCK!!!”He yells, scrambling backwards on his hands, scuttling like a stunned crab until his back hits the window.

My heart is racing a thousand beats a second, because it suddenly dawns on me:I’ve been driving for the past four hours with this guy passed out just a few feet behind my seat.

I pat my pockets and glance around frantically for my phone.

Where the heck did I put my phone?

When I don’t see it, I start backing up toward the door.

“Wait!” The guy calls. “Just… Wait.” He sounds impatient. And groggy.

“How did you get in here?” I yell. And then, before he even has a chance to answer, I add, “Whoareyou?”

He doesn’t respond, though—just rubs a palm across his face as I keep staring at him in horror. Then he looks around, seemingly as baffled as me.

Now that I have a second to take him in, I realize that he’s actually pretty young. Maybe even just a bit older than me. He’s also really good looking; all smooth angles and chiseled lines and eraser-pink lips.

“Is it morning?” He asks. As if the time of day is the most puzzling part of this whole situation.

Also, he still hasn’t answered any of my questions.

I spot my phone on the dinette table out of the corner of my eye and palm it without taking my eyes off him.

“I’m calling the cops.” I tell him, trying to sound in control. Like I’m not freaking out and totally,completelyout of my element. “You can’t be in here.”

The guy squints at me, like even the dim light above the galley is too glaring. “You don’t have to call the… Wait —” He stretches his torso to peer more closely at me and I instinctively take a step back. He drops his hand.

“Jackie?”

I take another step backwards. This guyknowsme?

I study his face again, trying to place him. And yeah, he does actually look familiar. Full lips… dark shaggy hair… intense grey eyes that are—

“Oh my gosh!” My hand flies up to cover my mouth. “Silas?”

Silas Carmichael.MySilas. In my camper.

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