18. Harlow
Harlow
I tucked my palms between my legs and the car seat to stop them from shaking. Jude turned Colt’s Chevy Silverado away from Autumn Creek and onto the highway a few minutes ago. The sunrise was just peaking above the blur of green and golden leaves passing us by, as we drove closer to the city.
And, of course, closer to Marcus’s apartment as well.
The familiarity of Jude’s vintage Ford would’ve been nice right now, but we both agreed that Colt’s truck would be better for hauling my things.
All that damn furniture and stuff I had shipped here.
I didn’t have a home to put them in and now they were clawing me back to my ex.
I almost wished I hadn’t dragged the items here with me, even if they were sentimental.
Jude shot a look at me from the driver’s seat. “You feeling all right?”
“A bit nervous.” I slumped back into my chair. “But I’ll be glad to have this not weighing over me anymore.”
He nodded firmly and grabbed his Sweater Weather cup from the centre console. “I won’t let that guy ruin your day, don’t worry.” There was a hint of venom in his tone. “We’ll just grab your stuff and get out of there. Maybe even get a bagel to sweeten the deal?”
“You don’t have to do anything. You’re already driving me all the way there! Just sit in the car and relax. I don’t want to be more of a burden than I already am.”
“Helping you isn’t a burden,” he replied without hesitation.
My eyes darted away and I took a sip of my drink.
A pumpkin spice latte. Warm, comforting, caffeinated, and exactly what I needed.
I appreciated his reassurance, even if I didn’t entirely believe it. Jude kept telling me I wasn’t any trouble, in fact, he was probably getting sick of me asking about it. But I couldn’t figure out why he’d want to tag along for this.
The idea of having to go back to Marcus’s apartment was killing me.
Slightly over an hour later, we turned a corner, and in the distance I saw Parliament Hill, sitting on the curve of the Ottawa River. It should be an enjoyable sight—after all, I’d always liked Ottawa—but it only reminded me of where I should have been living.
I’d been quiet for most of the ride, and Jude hadn’t questioned it. He just let some music play while I stared at the view, and occasionally glanced at me with worry in his eyes.
It was another fifteen minutes before we made it downtown, ahead of schedule, and found a parking spot right across from The Sterling.
I gulped at the sight of it. Standing tall, in tones of grey and beige, drastically different from the place I now lived. Jude’s house was all warm red brick, and my apartment inside was cozy and quaint.
The life I’d come here for was miles apart from the one I was now living in Autumn Creek.
Jude’s hand landed on my arm, pulling my mind back to the cab of the truck. “Since we’re early, I’ll get those bagels now. What do you want?”
“Thanks, but—”
“I’m going to get you one either way, so just tell me what you like.” I hesitated for a second, and he added, “There’s a place just up the road, and the truck isn’t meant to arrive for another half an hour, right?”
So insistent. “Chive cream cheese on an everything bagel, please.”
“Good choice. I’ll be back before you know it.
” He jumped out of the truck and began wandering up the street as I stayed anxiously watching.
Somehow his muddied boots and plaid shirt didn’t look out of place in the street full of suits.
He exuded confidence and looked like he was meant to be there, no matter where there was.
I kept my eyes trained on the front of the apartment building, watching carefully.
I’d been told I was one of the first stops, but I only had a vague timeframe to go off.
My teeth gnawed at my lip as I doodled maple leaves on the back on a receipt I’d found in my purse.
Until a mechanical grumble interrupted my drawing.
Just my luck.
There it was—Let’s Get Moving—rocking up early. I hopped out onto the sidewalk and grabbed my buzzing phone from my pocket.
“Hi, I can see you right now! I’m walking over.”
On the other side of the street, a man in the cab of the truck nodded as he spoke into the phone. “Okay, we’ll see you in a second.”
I waited for a break in traffic to cross. But suddenly another man wearing the same uniform walked up to the apartment door. He started tapping the keypad. I wasn’t close enough, a whole street separated me from them.
My heart dropped in my chest as I watched the man type.
Between cars, I finally rushed over to the truck, slightly out of breath. “Did you ring the doorbell?”
The second man shrugged. “I didn’t realize you were already outside.”
Then the man who had answered my call climbed out of the truck and said, “It’s protocol.”
Protocol. My stomach clenched, but there was no point arguing. These guys didn’t know my situation and there was nothing I could do now. Still that didn’t stop my eyes from darting to the apartment’s entrance and back. My insides were in knots.
“Well, I just need to put all of this into the back of that.” I pointed at our truck.
They looked slightly confused but didn’t ask too many questions.
They just started unloading their truck, and I grabbed a box of clothes to help, while they picked up an armchair that had sat in the corner of my London apartment.
I unlocked the trailer for them, but as I turned around a jolt shot through me.
Marcus stood there, arms crossed with blond hair slicked away from his face, at The Sterling’s doorway. His eyes locked on me through the glass.
I fussed over arranging my boxes in the trailer for as long as I could, before the idea of him coming over to the truck popped into my mind. Him even being in the vicinity of it almost made me sick. This truck was from my life in Autumn Creek and him soiling that with his presence was terrifying.
So, I walked over to Marcus.