Page 92 of Too Safe

“Did it hurt your brain just now to use ‘luxuriate’ in a sentence?” I jibe.

He attempts a smile, shifting closer to me as I continue to rub his neck.

“That feels good,” he admits with a sigh.

Decidedly, I suggest a new plan. “What if we sneak out your patio door and stay close to the house until we get to the dock? I could text the ferry guys from your phone and tell them to clear the beach for half an hour. Then we’ll have one of them take us over to the marina.”

He nods, ever so slowly, as the muscles in his neck strain against my palm.

“That could work. You’ll have to drive my G,” he hedges.

Shrugging, I hop to my feet and hold out a hand. “Meh. It’s probably not as smooth as my Civic, but I’ll manage.”

Decker snorts. I would be pleased with myself for making him laugh if his reaction wasn’t immediately followed by a sharp wince. He accepts my hand and rises slowly to his feet.

“I want to grab a hat. Sunglasses, too. I need a few minutes to get cash out of my safe.”

He peers down at me wearing a slight frown. It would be warranted for him to question why I’m so eager to help him. Honestly, I’m wondering the same damn thing.

“What do you need to do before we go?”

It feels like time is of the essence, and we’re already wasting hours by driving out of state. If I venture all the way up to my room and back, there’s no telling who’ll see me or hold me up.

“If I can borrow a hoodie and use your bathroom, I can be ready in five minutes.”

A flash of relief passes over Decker’s expression. But then his Adam’s apple bobs, and an awkwardness settles around us as the reality of the situation sinks in.

I’m offering to help Decker.

He’s accepting that help.

Although he hasn’t come out and said it, the trust he’s putting in me in this moment is uncharacteristic and alarming.

Maybe it’s the concussion.

Or maybe it’s something more.

He squeezes my hand once, and I quickly pull away in surprise. I hadn’t even realized we were still holding hands.

“Five minutes,” he reminds me as he slinks out of the bathroom and pulls the door closed behind him.

Chapter 38

Josephine

WhenDeckercheckedinat the emergency room desk, he gave them a fake name: Nicholas Meyer. Maybe because he thinks he’s funny, or maybe he just couldn’t come up with anything more creative on the fly. He went on to claim that he had no health insurance but offered to pay the estimated cost of care up front, in cash.

I hovered by his side when we arrived, then settled into one of the plastic shell waiting room chairs when they took him back for a CT scan.

According to the Internet, CT brain scans take thirty to sixty minutes. Then there’s waiting for the results and talking to the doctor. It’s highly unlikely that they’ll admit him, but Decker will be unavailable for at least a few hours.

The possibilities are endless.

I’m alone. Hours away from Lake Chapel. With access to a car and a pocketful of cash, since he left his keys, wallet, and Crusaders hat with me.

If there was ever a time to make a break for it, this is it.

My heart hammers in my chest as my brain buzzes with indecision. I’ve pulled up a dozen browser windows on my phone, ready to look up… well, everything. Where I could go. Places I could stay. The fuel efficiency of a G-Wagon. But I’m so flustered by this unexpected opportunity, I don’t know where to focus.

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