Page 60 of Runaway Road (Runaway 1)

twice as big as Dad’s,” Wyatt said with his head bent over his plate between inhaled bites.

“That’s nice.” I leaned forward to smile at Wyatt, then leaned back to frown at his father. “No.”

“You should come.” Wyatt crunched a bite of bacon.

“She’s coming.” Brooks pointed his fork at my plate. “Eat.”

I rolled my eyes and focused on my meal. I’d eat and disappear before the Cohen men cornered me into attending a family event.

When my plate was clear, I took it to the sink, rinsing it before putting it in the dishwasher. Then I was gone, practically running through the kitchen for the hallway that led to the front door. “Bye, Wyatt!”

“Bye, Londyn,” he called back.

I was three feet away from the door when a beefy arm wrapped around my waist and hauled me into an equally beefy chest. For a man this large, he sure could sneak up on a person. “Damn it.”

“An hour,” Brooks said into my ear.

“Brooks, I don’t—”

“One hour.”

I squirmed out of his hold to face him. “I don’t belong at a Saturday family event. You guys go. Have fun. I’ll see you tonight.”

“It’s a low-key thing. Come with us.”

“Why? I’m a stranger. In two days, I’ll be gone and a memory. Your parents will forget me before summer’s over.”

That earned me a scowl. “You won’t be forgotten.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Not by me. And someday, I might want to talk about you. The only people who know you are Meggie and Wyatt. Love Meggie, but I don’t see her much even though I live next door. And Wyatt will be gone to college before I blink. My parents, they rank right up there as my favorite people. So one day when I want to talk about the woman who came into my life and turned it upside down for a couple weeks, it sure would make that conversation easier if they knew what you looked like.”

“Oh.” How could I argue with that? I liked that he wanted to talk about me. I liked that he would remember me, even though I was sure his parents wouldn’t.

I’d remember him too.

For the rest of my life.

“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll go shower and be ready in an hour.”

“Thank you.” He took my face in his palms, bending as he pulled me up to his mouth. The kiss was soft but short. They were all too short, even the kisses that lasted all night. Brooks let me go and opened the door for me, sending me on my way.

The heat soaked into my skin as I crossed the lawn from his house to the motel. As I walked, I tallied up the days I’d been here in Summers.

Sixteen. In a way, they’d been the longest sixteen days of my life. Each had been so full and enjoyable. Two weeks with another person had never felt so important as the sixteen days I’d been in Summers with Brooks.

This weekend was the end. Monday, I’d wake up knowing I wouldn’t see him again. Would I really be able to drive away? I’d left countless people behind in my life. My parents. My teachers. My friends.

I’d known, walking away from them, it was unlikely we’d meet again. But I’d gone with a sense of adventure fueling my footsteps. I’d gone with excitement and anticipation of what was out there in this great big world.

And I hadn’t looked back.

When I left Monday, I’d look back. I’d wonder.

How was Brooks doing at the garage? How was Wyatt? After he went to college, would Brooks get lonely? When would he find someone new?

Those questions would haunt me, especially the last.