Chapter 43
Every muscle freezes into place as I stare up at the advertisement that shows a photo taken some six months ago of the two of us holding hands, smiling, and waving.
It reads: “Grayson Kader, your next President!”
“What is it?” West asks, picking up on my unease.
Nerves stir restlessly within me, and I shake my head. “Nothing.” But anxiety rises even further. I try to take in a breath but it gets lodged. My hands shake. I clench them.
“Eve?”
My thoughts cloud with what used to be, what is right now, and what might happen if I don’t get out of here. This place and our time together in it felt so remote from the ugly truth of my situation. I should’ve known I’d get slammed back into reality.
“Everything okay?” he asks in a careful voice that tells me he knows everything is not okay.
Silence hangs in the air between us as my brain scrambles with my past, my present, my future. With secrets and stillness and things I need to say. With possibilities and those unattainable.
He takes my arm. “What’s wrong?”
What’s wrong? My whole life is a lie, and now my lies are ruining relationships I always wanted and yet barely started enjoying. How do I explain it all? Am I in too deep with him now to go back and try to tell him the whole truth?
I open the passenger door. “Can we go?”
His expression transitions from careful to one full of tension.
I pray he doesn’t look up at the billboard as he rounds the hood and climbs in the driver’s side. I pull my phone out and check for messages from Brynn, but there are none. My Google Alert has lit up my phone, though. I would’ve seen the announcement if I hadn’t been with West.
Running for president is all Grayson focused on. I just didn’t think he’d go through with it, especially with me being gone and considering who his biggest supporter is—tech mogul, Noah Riley.
Eternity spans between me and West as he takes us back to the cabin. When we’re home, he puts the SUV in park. “You know we’re good, right? You can tell me anything and I won’t judge.”
“I know,” I deliver in a much braver tone than I feel.
Gently, he grasps my cheeks and touches his forehead to mine.
“I’m here for you. Just like you’re here for me.
” He presses a kiss to my cheek and sits back.
“Everything is going to be okay. It’s not right now.
I can tell. But I’ll do everything in my power to make your world right. Always remember that.”
Everything rushes to my tongue, needing to be told. But then coldness settles through me, and I sit in the passenger seat, numbly staring at him.
Just like you’re here for me.
My chest aches as I recall him sharing the story about his mom and sister. Emotion creeps its way up, and I can’t breathe again. I’m not who he thinks I am, and he is going to be crushed when he finds out I’ve been lying.
But his trusting presence has me taking a deep breath, and on exhale, I say, “Do you know who Grayson Kader is?” My heart bangs in my chest.
West nods. “Of course. He’s that banking guy that’s always donating huge amounts of money to various causes. And he won a Nobel Prize for his humanitarian work. It’s weird I know that, but Gramma tracks those things and I remember her telling me about it.”
“He’s also running for president. It was just announced.”
“Now that I didn’t know.”
My banging heart thuds even heavier. “Do you know the name Laura Kader?”
“Well, they have the same last name, so I’m assuming they’re related.” He shrugs. “Sorry, I don’t keep up with politics and banking stuff.”
Omar pulls up, honking.
West casts him a quick look, holding up a finger, before looking back at me.
Omar climbs from his truck and walks toward us.
With a sigh, West rolls down his window. Omar doesn’t look at me as he says, “Power is out here, but not at my place. Your manager called me. She needs to talk to you ASAP. She said it can’t wait.”
Another sigh from West. Omar walks off, and West looks at me. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. But can we talk later?”
“Of course we can. You’ll be okay without power? There are candles in the kitchen.”
I wave him on.
While there’s still hot water, I grab a quick shower and head out onto the porch, where I climb into the hammock. Time ticks by at an interminable rate while I wait on West. My brain cycles through the intimacy we’ve shared, the conversations we’ve had, and mentally, I go through the next one.
I am Laura Kader. My father is Grayson. I’m only sixteen. I’m a runaway.
What can West do with those words? I mean, really, what can he do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Grayson is too powerful. West can’t protect me, and I don’t expect him to. If I could just hide out here until I’m eighteen.
I pull a blanket over me and try to void my thoughts.