Page 78 of Rune
“Carmen said almost the exact same thing.”
“Great minds.”
“In case she didn’t tell you, I made sure all my hotels are in safe areas. And I don’t stop at any rest stops that seem shady or too empty.”
“Good. Glad to hear that. I heard you liked California when you went for your table reading.”
“Oh, my God. I love it so much. Have you ever been somewhere and it just felt, I don’t know, right? Like that was exactly where you were meant to be.”
My free arm tightened around Carmen.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m familiar.”
“I think I was always meant to be a West Coast kind of girl.”
“I can see that.”
“I feel a lot less guilty leaving Carmen knowing she has you. I thought you two had a falling out.”
“Nah. Nothing like that.”
“Look, I know my sister can be a little… guarded sometimes. But I just really hope you’re willing to bring your sledgehammer. Because what is behind those walls is worth all the work.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” I agreed as Carmen mumbled something and snuggled closer.
“Well, I’ll let you go,” Sofia said. “Tell my sister I will send texts and pictures each time we stop. And I’ll call from the hotel later.”
“I will. You drive safe, okay?”
“Always,” she said, then hung up.
When I glanced down, Carmen was slow-blinking up at me.
“Were you talking to me?”
“No,” I said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “I was talking to Sof.”
“My sister? Is she okay?”
“Easy,” I said, pushing her down again when she tried to pop up. “She’s fine. She just wanted to check in before she hit the road. She promised to send texts and videos all day. She said she’ll call when she’s in Columbus tonight. Sorry if I overstepped. But she called twice, and I was worried.”
“No, don’t be sorry. I always want the phone picked up if my sister calls. She sounded okay?”
“Yeah, sounded happy.”
“Good. You didn’t…”
“No. I just told her you were with me, no details about why. That’s up to you if, or when, you want to tell her.”
“I don’t want to until it’s all over. She’ll just feel bad. I don’t want that.”
“Yeah, no reason to worry her when there’s nothing she can do about it.”
“Exactly. And—”
There was a loud knock at the door, startling Carmen enough to forget about her bum hand, and she tried to use it to push up, only to collapse onto her back, clutching the hand to her chest and letting out a string of curses.
The door opened, then Dezi’s head slipped into the doorway.
