Page 7 of Stay With Me
She nods. “Thanks again for driving me home.”
“Anytime. I mean it. If you ever need anything, just holler,” I tell her.
She nods again, and I lean in, and her breath catches. Knowing I’d like to actually kiss her but not sure if she’s ready for that, I kiss her cheek.
“I’ll see you soon, Luna,” I say as I walk sideways down the steps.
She watches me get in the truck, and I wait for her to fumble with her keys again before going inside.
I wait a few more minutes to make sure she’s okay, and I back out of the drive and head to my mom’s house. Feeling happier than I have in a long time.
THREE
Luna- Present Day- Night of Birthday Party
MyhandshakesasI open the door to the police station that Noah scanned us into.
As my eyes adjust to the bright lights, I see a figure down the hallway. I rub my eyes to clear them to make sure I’m seeing who I think I’m seeing.
It’s like looking in a mirror…which means…
There’s no way.
“Jess?” is the only thing that comes out as I fall to the ground. “How?”
How did she find me?
My eyes slam closed as the memories I’ve worked hard to hide assault me.
It’s close to midnight, and I clutch the little bag with my few belongings to my chest.
Tonight is the night.
I can’t stay here anymore.
I don’t know why I’m the only one who questions if what we are doing is right. Well, not the only one—Aspen gets in trouble as much as I do.
But tomorrow is the marriage ceremony. We have to leave tonight, and Aspen needs to hurry up.
I freeze when I hear sticks breaking off in the distance, afraid someone has found me out here.
“Luna? Luna, it’s me. It’s clear, but you need to hurry.”
Why did she say we need to hurry? I walk around the tree to face her, and I panic when I see she doesn’t have Jess.
“Aspen! Where is Jess, and why don’t you have a bag?”
We’ve planned this down to the minute. I left first during shower time and came to the tree where we agreed to meet. Then Aspen would come with Jess during her night shift of feeding since she’s one of the women who held the job title—keeper of the kids—and is always up at night. It was risky, but we had to.
“I overheard Matthew talking to Father about moving the marriage ceremony up, and then when I finished washing my hands after feeding one of the babies, I was told that I was to be off tonight to prepare you for the ceremony happening before sunrise.” She looks over her shoulder and then back at me. “I think they know what we planned. It’s too risky for both of us to go, and Mary took over my place with the babies, so I can’t get Jess.”
There is no way Matthew knows. None. We were so careful.
“Well, you grab your bag, and then we’ll just go. We’ll get help and come back for Jess.” I plead with her. I don’t want to leave by myself.
She shakes her head. “I can’t. I’m going to buy you time. If they move the ceremony up, they will look for you in your room to wake you up and start the prayer. You have to go. Now.”
Tears stream down my face. I don’t know anything about the outside world other than it’s different from what we have here.
