Emergency Exit: 2020 by Ever N Hayes

Author:Ever N Hayes [Hayes, Ever N]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Teen & Young Adult
ISBN: 1499292945
Amazon: B00JIIUW0I
Publisher: Ever N Hayes
Published: 2014-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

FORTY-FOUR: “Chills and Thrills”

Friday, November 27, 2020.

Estes Park, Colorado.

We had a pretty good meal for Thanksgiving, and everyone spent most of the afternoon sleeping it off. It was a relatively warm day for the mountains, almost breaking forty degrees at one point, and the skies were crystal clear. We bundled up after dark and moved outside to the rock ledge above our back exit. The stars were out in force, with a meteor shower providing a natural fireworks display. Other than the hooting and hollering down in the valley at the enemy camp and an occasional lonely wolf howl, it was pretty still. Most of us stayed outside for a couple of hours, and then everyone eventually went back in except Tara and me.

We sat next to each other, not touching, but close, and looked up at the stars.

“Stunning night,” she whispered.

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Care to tell me what you’re thinking?” she asked.

“Mostly about you,” I admitted.

“Really?” She sounded genuinely surprised, although pleasantly so. I nodded again. “Want to expand on that?”

“You smell good,” I said, redirecting.

“Interesting.” She smiled. “I didn’t put anything on today. That’s just me.”

“Like I said.” Okay, good start.

“Seriously, Ryan…”

I didn’t say anything for a while, and she didn’t push. The shooting stars continued their show above us. I was nervous. My heart was pounding like mad. I knew this was the solitude we’d been waiting for, and I knew I was finally ready to have this conversation.

Still, I couldn’t help but smile as Tara fidgeted. I could tell she was failing at being as patient as she usually was. Finally I gave in. “Well.” I thought about how to say it. “I miss my wife—” I started and then cut myself off. “Sorry,” I corrected. “I miss Sophie.”

“Of course,” Tara replied. What was she supposed to say?

“I’ve never known anyone like her,” I began. Just go with it. “You’d have loved her.” Okay, choose your words better. “She had this way of making everyone feel special. She was so patient. So kind. So accepting of everyone. She deserved so much better than me.” Before Tara could object I held up my hand. (I had no idea at the time Danny was sitting inside the entrance listening to every word.) “Tara, I want to be honest with you, okay. I’m not trying to tear myself down so you’ll defend me. Trust me. I honestly don’t deserve defense on this.”

“Okay.” She nodded, unsure where I was going with this.

“We met my junior, her senior, year in high school. She was advanced placement in everything academic, and athletic for that matter—the kind of girl a guy like me never figures he’ll get. But she didn’t dig the jock type, and she had no desire to be around the drinking, party crowd. Anyway,” I said, jumping ahead. “She had her act together, and it didn’t take long for me to fall for her. We had a few classes together, and she helped me through them, always gave me all the time in the world.

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