The Aiden & Fiona Collection by Erika Dusk

Author:Erika Dusk
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781738912711
Publisher: Erika Dusk

Five

Halfway through our drive, it suddenly comes clear where we’re going.

I turn down the volume on the stereo, quieting the late-night DJ’s chill mix. It’s perfect music for a relaxed, rainy drive toward the outskirts of the city; not so perfect for the surprise revelation I’m having about our destination.

“Aiden,” I say.

“Hm?” He’s looking out the window, hands resting on his thighs. His left hand is close enough for me to reach over and casually hold, as if I’m used to this. As if this night isn’t just an elaborate dream I’ll wake up from any second.

“eSoar built a building on it, Aiden.”

Now he’s all wide, innocent eyes and a smile that could only mean trouble. “On where?”

“You know where.”

“No, I don’t.” A beat passes while I glower at him. He chuckles. “Okay, maybe I do know where. But have you ever considered—just for a second—that I know more about this place than you do?”

I turn onto the road that leads up to Rockland Hill. I don’t need any more directions. I’ve driven this exact route on dozens of solo trips, even if the last time was forever ago. It’s muscle memory.

“I have considered it, actually,” I tell him. “And I know there’s no way you know more than I know.”

“Ah, but I’ve spoken to the authorities, and I know for sure there’s no way you know that I know more than you know.”

Behind us, the lights of the city wink out as Wrecker slides beneath the canopies of trees. Rain hits the car in intermittent waves, each swept away by the windshield wipers. I glance over at Aiden, narrowing my eyes.

“Really? Because the president of the authorities told me that I know, unequivocally, that you don’t know if …”

“Fiona.”

I laugh, then sigh, drumming my fingers on the wheel. I can feel him looking at me, so I try to stifle the smile working its way up my face, but I only sort of succeed. I can’t stay serious with him around. “We were having such a nice night, Aiden, and then you take us to fucking eSoar.”

He grins outright at that. “Don’t worry. It’s not what you think.”

By now, we’re almost to the top of the hill where my stargazing field used to be. Wrecker’s tires crunch over gravel, headlights sliding across trees and reflective signs. There’s a jittery feeling in my stomach. I haven’t been up here for so long. Not since that fateful Friday night I found that eSoar had put a fence around my field.

(I needed my special thinking spot more than ever, that night. It was the night I finally admitted to myself I had feelings for my co-worker. Lots to unpack. Nowhere to do it.)

Moments later, Wrecker’s headlights send a honeycomb shadow through a stretch of chain link fence. There’s a gate straight ahead, locked with a hanging padlock. Beyond, the cloudy night sky seems to stretch in all directions.

Wait a second.

I bring us to a stop, leaning forward in my seat. For a moment, there’s no sound but the windshield wipers going back and forth.

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