Page 37 of Battle Scars

“It’s fine,” I say with a smile that we both know I don’t really mean.

“Listen—” He tries again, but I mean come on, man, how much more am I supposed to take here?

“No, really, it’s fine.”

“But—” Before he can get any deeper in to explanations or excuses, the door opens and Gabe prowls in.

“Time to go.”

“I need to change really quick.”

“Do it,” he commands.

I glsnce around pointedly at the lack of privacy, and both men spin to walk out of the small room and back into the garage.

Before he clears the door, Manny turns back and looks at me. It seems like he wants to say something but is holding back, so I smile brightly to show him that I’m fine when I’m anything but.

Good news is they won’t see me cry.

Worst day ever.

As soon as the door clicks behind him, I change back into my travel sweats and tuck my phone into my pocket. I quickly and efficiently pack up my fire suit and my gear for transport. The crew will load it up and take it and anything else, with the car when they load it onto the trailer.

When I walk out of the little room, I hear Gabe and Manny arguing quietly.

“It’s fine,” Gabe bites out. “Just leave it.”

“Do you know what you’re doing with her?” Manny asks.

“I said to leave it.”

“You keep doing what you’re doing if that’s want you,” Manny says, “but I can’t promise there won’t be blowback on you.”

“There won’t be anything,” Gabe snaps.

“As you say, hermano.”

“Uh… I’m ready to go.”

“We’re done here,” Gabe says to Manny, then leads me out to the SUV.

When we climb in, I pull out my earbuds and pop them in my ears, selecting my Peaceful playlist on my phone. I lean my head against the cool glass of the tinted window and watch the lines on the highway blur past us. And before I know it, I drift off to sleep.

“Adrienne. We’re here. Wake up.”

At the whispered words, I blink my eyes open to see I’ve fallen forward in my seat. Gabe and I are practically touching as he leans over me, nose to nose. I jump back and get tangled in my seat belt.

“Wh-What?” I stammer.

“We’re here.”

I look up and see my house. It’s dark now, and even though I’ve slept the entire drive from Los Angeles, I still feel exhausted. Today was a high of highs and still had some pretty epic lows. I’m not sure how much more I have in me, now or any day in the near to far future.

I mumble, “Okay,” before climbing out of the car.

I stand quiet and obedient while Gabe makes sure the house is safe. And when he lets me in, I go straight to the kitchen and pull down a wine glass, grabbing a bottle of wine and a water bottle from the fridge.

“Hungry?” he asks, and I startle a bit. I didn’t realize he’d followed me into the kitchen.