Disclaimer: I own nothing.
I hesitate for a moment before taking a sip of the coffee Edward got me. I usually prefer my coffee more milk and sugar than actual coffee, so as the warm liquid hits my tongue I am shocked to discover that it's just right. How the hell did he know that?
I quietly slip into the passenger seat avoiding eye contact with Edward. As he buckles his seat I'm hit with a wave of his scent and ache to repeat our earlier actions. I feel my cheeks heat and busy myself with finishing the coffee and getting lost in the landscape that passes at a high rate of speed.
Again I have no idea where we are going, and I get the feeling that even if I did ask, Edward wouldn't tell me anyway.
An hour into our silent ride I decide to burst the uncomfortable bubble.
"Why are you doing all of this?" I ask. His eyes don't leave the road ahead of us, but his eyebrows pull together slightly before he answers.
"I need to keep you safe."
He doesn't elaborate further. I let it drop and move onto random things to avoid falling back into silence again. I tell him about the other two times dad and I had close calls and had to leave town in a moments notice. The other few times were more planned. The first was in Atlanta about a year after my mom's death. The second was in Phoenix. I was just finishing up telling Edward about how a classmate and I had become friends, or so I thought, she was my partner for a big project in our economics class that I worked so hard on. As it turns out the 'friendship' we had was just so I would do the work and on the day of the presentation she threw me under the bus and took credit for all of the work. I was so shocked and hurt by her actions that I didn't speak up for myself and walked away with a 'C' while she strutted away with an 'A'.
"It wasn't so hard to leave that time. Its one of the reasons why I don't tend to make friends when we roll into a new town." I say.
"I can understand that." He says after a beat. "But it is good to make friends Isabella. They can keep you from losing who it is you really are. Besides, Tanya was never a real friend anyway."
Tanya?! I repeat in my head. I didn't recall telling Edward her name. How would he know her name?
"How do you know her name was Tanya?" I say, as casually as I can.
"Oh..ugh, you must have mentioned it to me earlier." He stutters, paying extra close attention to a street sign we approach.
He's lying. He knows who I am, where I have been, what I've done while I've been there and he knows how I take my coffee. I stiffen in my seat and lower my hand to rest on the buckle of the seatbelt. If need be, I can unclick it and take off on foot if the opportunity presents itself. I mentally start preparing myself to break away from Edward.
We get off the highway at the next exit and pull onto a dirt road. Edward navigates twist and turns along more dirt roads until we approach a small cluster of buildings that have seen better days. We park in front of one that has a wooden sign leaning against the steps leading to the entrance that reads 'general store – open'.
Edwards gets out and makes his way towards the steps. I sit back trying to look casual as I map out my escape. Out of the corner of my eye I see Edward pause and then head back my way. I curse and my shoulders slump as he opens my door and beckons me to 'stay close'. He pulls me down the few aisles in the store never letting go of my hand as he tosses food, water and hygiene products into the basket he made me hold.
I take notice when he grabs my favorite flavor chips, and when he opts for green tea verses iced tea. He knows more about me that I gave him credit for, so how long has he known about me? How long has he been following me?
He pays for our purchases with cash and we head back to the car. He makes sure to shut me in the car before putting the bags in the back seat and getting back behind the wheel. We head off again towards more dirt roads and trees.
Almost another hour passes in silence before we pull into a driveway that I would have missed completely had he not slowed down to practically a stop to make the turn. The trees are thick for a little while before slowly thinning out to reveal a small cabin tucked away at the end of the driveway.
He parks the car and pauses for a moment before turning to me.
"We will have to hide out here for a while until I know it's safe. We have to trust each other Isabella." I nod my head still avoiding his eyes and unbuckle my seatbelt.
We grab the bags silently and carry them up the few steps to the front door of the cabin. I notice a small camera pointed towards the door as I approach and peek over both shoulders before ducking under Edwards arm as he holds the door open for me. We place the grocery bags on the counter in the small kitchen and then Edward leads me on a tour of the cabin. Adjacent to the kitchen is a small living area complete with green microfiber sofa, a coffee table, a small outdated entertainment center and a huge stone wood burning fireplace. The walls are decorated with framed artwork of various landscapes – mountain trails, flowing rivers, etc. The room has a homey feel to it. Leading us out of the living area and down the hallway, Edward points out the large bathroom and finally ends our tour with the one bedroom. I stand in the doorway taking in the surrounds as he continues in dropping his bag at his feet as he pulls out towels from the dresser and starts unpacking his bag, hanging some items in the walk-in closet. The room is dark with just a single light illuminating the space. The focal point of the room is the giant sleigh bed, and I swallow the lump in my throat at the thought of sleeping next to him again. I take a few steps into the room and put my bag on the foot of the bed. I pull out the toothbrush and deodorant from earlier and escape to the bathroom to put them away.
I close the bathroom door behind me and lean against it taking in a few deep breaths. The bathroom contains a claw foot tub that I desperately want to sink into. I place my toothbrush and deodorant on the counter next to the sink and look at my reflection in the mirror just above it. I look like I haven't slept in days. I run my fingers through my hair and pinch my cheeks to bring some color into my pale face. I'm about to turn on the faucet when I hear a gentle tap tap tap on the door.
"Yeah?" I call out.
"I have some towels for you if you can open the door." Edward says.
I glance at myself again before turning and opening the door. He stands in the doorway holding the stack of towels. I open my mouth to thank him, but he brushes past me and into the bathroom. I'm leaning against the counter of the bathroom which now seems so small with the both of us standing here. He leans towards me, and I feel my heart beat faster at the motion, as he places the stack of towels just behind me on the counter. He is barely out of my personal space when he speaks.
"Why don't you go ahead and take a bath, relax a bit. I'll go make us something to eat."
I nod my head in response, not sure of my voice. His eyes drift down to my lips for a moment before he steps back and leaves headed towards the kitchen. I take a moment to catch my breath and make sure to lock the door before stripping down.