Page 30 of Escape

Huck and I heard the squealing of tires close by, and we turned our heads to see a car flying down the street toward us. I was stuck, rooted to the spot, watching as the car barreled in our direction, but Huck was a man of action.

Without delay, he wrapped his arms around my body, spun me around, and leaped out of the way, my body becoming pinned between his and a parked truck.

I winced in pain and let out a scream as the car went speeding past us.

Huck kept his body positioned protectively around mine, but he eased his weight off of me. “Jesus. Fuck, Josie, I didn’t mean to hurt you. That guy was flying. Are you okay?”

Nodding, I shrugged. “I’m not dead, so I guess I’m alright.”

“Are you sure?”

He was so worried. I placed my palm on his chest, felt the solid muscle beneath my fingertips, and promised, “I’m okay.”

For the next few seconds, neither one of us moved. We stayed where we were, staring into each other’s eyes. We didn’t say a word, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t attempting to communicate with Huck, as he seemed to be doing the same with me. It was the single best moment of my life, being so close to him.

Snapping myself out of the daydream, I said, “We should go.”

He blinked his eyes and shook his head as though attempting to rid his mind of whatever thoughts were running through it. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s go.”

The truck we were leaning against happened to be Huck’s, so we rounded it, and he opened the door for me.

A few minutes later, we had pulled up outside my current residence. Huck exited the truck, came around to open my door, and helped me out. “Thank you for the ride.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Josie.”

A wave of anxiety mixed with a hint of excitement moved through me. Huck was going to see me tomorrow. I was finally going to have a chance to live a normal life. I only needed to get through just a few more hours, and I’d finally be free.

“Yes. I think you should expect a call from me sometime around late morning. Maybe between ten or eleven. Will that work for you? If not, I will catch the bus and meet you somewhere.”

“I’ll be here.”

Unsure what else to do, I offered a small smile and a nod in return. “Goodbye, Huck.”

“Later, Josie.”

Huck stood beside his truck as I walked away and toward the front door. Only after I’d unlocked the door, stepped inside, and turned around to wave at him did he finally move. He waved back, rounded his vehicle, and drove off.

I let out a huge sigh of relief.

It was finally going to happen. I had a plan, and Huck Davidson was going to help me get my life back on track.

SEVEN

Josie

My plan had gone up in smoke.

I should have known. I shouldn’t have been so naïve to assume things would work out the way I wanted them to work out. I just never thought it would come crashing down at the very definition of the last minute.

Everything had been going as I had intended.

After Huck dropped me off at home last night, I went about my evening as I normally would have. I made dinner, Kurt came home, and he was in a surprisingly decent mood.

I kept the same demeanor and routine as usual, since that always seemed to keep me from getting myself into any kind of unexpected trouble with Kurt. It was critical, especially now, for me to ensure I didn’t do a single thing to tip him off about my plan to leave.

I cleaned up from dinner, and the two of us sat in the living room for a while, watching television. Or, well, Kurt watched the television. I was staring at it, but I was only half paying attention. My mind was caught up in my thoughts of Huck and the fact that I was going to be with him at that time the next day. I knew I was safe to think about Huck then. Kurt wouldn’t have any real discussion for me as the evening progressed, so I zoned out.

As I sat there, curled up on the corner of the couch while Kurt lounged in the Lay-z-boy, I recalled the short time Huck and I had spent together earlier in the afternoon. My belly fluttered every time I replayed in my mind the sound of his voice and the words he said to me. The moment I felt myself getting emotional when I pictured the look in his eyes as he begged me to let him help me, I realized I had to stop thinking.