Page 44 of Malaise
Carver pulls me forward and turns us right into the hall, away from the others. Using his body as a shield, he guides us out the back door and toward the Falcon. I say nothing as we quickstep across the gravel, and he pulls the driver door open.
“If he hears two doors close, he’ll be suspicious. Crawl across and lie down.”
I get in, heart still lodged so firmly in my throat I wonder if it’ll ever find its way back to my chest or if this is the new normal. Carver slides onto the driver seat and shuts his door, quickly turning the car over and reversing at a moderate pace into the turning bay. We come to a stop at the gate, and he gets out to wrench it open.
I don’t take a full breath until we’re several streets away.
“Can I sit up now?”
“Shit. Yeah, of course you can.”
“What the fuck was that all about?” I rub the chill from my arms.
He catches the movement in the corner of his eye and slides the heater control to the far end. “Dad isn’t that friendly to newcomers.”
“You said everything about him was lies.”
“They are, but I also said he’s not a guy you want to cross.”
I frown, pulling my knees into my chest. “Why would he get angry with me?”
“He wouldn’t,” Carver says simply as he slaps the indicator stick down and waits at a red light. “He’d fuck with you to get at me.”
“You two don’t get along,” I observe.
“You could say that.”
“Why?”
“Everyone’s got their reasons to be at odds with their parents, right?”
Yeah, I guess they do. I pull my phone out from my pocket as we move on, and feel the bitter sting of rejection when I find no new messages from Dad, or moreover a single one from Mum.
Why is Dad the one who’s doing all the contact? Does Mum even know what’s going on?
“Where to?” Carver asks. “I’m kinda just heading toward town.”
“Home.”
He glances across as he drives, a frown displaying his confusion at my answer.
“Dad will be at work, so maybe if I talk to Mum while he’s not there, there might still be a chance. You know?”
He nods, his shoulders relaxing. “I like the sound of that.”
“I’ll just need you to drop me at the end of the street, is all. I hope you’re not offended, it’s just that… well, they….”
He chuckles, tossing his head back to let the glorious sound escape. “Babe. Don’t try to apologise. I’m used to everyone thinking about me like that, and honestly? Whatever gives you a better chance of sorting things out, I’m on board with.”
“Thank you.” I reach my hand across the seat between us hopefully, and relish the warmth in my chest when he takes hold and wraps his fingers tight around mine.
“I’ve got faith in you, okay? Whatever happens, remember that if you end up having to do this thing called life without your parents behind you, I have faith in you.”
“I wish I knew why.”
“I wish you could see why.”