After Us

Chapter Eighteen

Later that day, I quietly packed up my bags, Miles helping me in companionable silence, both of us reflecting on our week together. Ready to leave in body but not in spirit. Miles, ever the true gentleman, helped bring my bags downstairs. Tamara, Mira, Hector, and Tristian all sat by as we loaded up the mini.

"Ann!" Tamara said wrapping her arms around me, "we're gonna miss you so much." she said with a frown. "Promise me that you'll come back and visit?"

"Girl, I want to come back every weekend," I laugh and hug her back tightly, never wanting to let go. I catch Miles smiling in the corner of my eye. Mira and Hector hugged me next.

Mira hugged whispering into my ear, "Have fun with Miles?" We both giggled.

"Alright. See you guys in a few weeks,'' Miles said fist-bumping the dudes and hugging the girls.

"It's going to be so boring around here without you King," Hector groaned.

"I'll be back less than a month." Miles replies.

I hug Hector goodbye and quickly head back inside one final time to thank Linda and Miles's dad for having me. "You're always so welcome to come back, dear!" She said handing me a plate of delicious looking mini sandwiches for the journey. On my way out, I spotted Tristian, sitting in the exact same place I'd met him a week earlier.

"We're leaving," I smile warmly.

"Here, keep this." He says holding out a small object in his hand. When I go up and grab the object I can see it's lighter.

I laughed, "I don't smoke, why would I ever need this?"

"I know you don't smoke. You can return it to me when you're next back this way, okay?" he asks.

"Why? Just keep it."

"No, I'm taking your advice and so I'm throwing away the cancer stick." We both laughed, "I'm quitting until you come back with that thing." He said to point to the lighter in my hand. "I want to see how long I can go without. I'll make you proud."

"Already am proud," I say hugging him goodbye. "I'll keep it safe," I smile. Tristian nods and we walk out together towards the mini. I get in and as we drive away we keep shouting goodbye until our shouts fade and we can no longer hear one another. I was going to miss my new friends, but I really hoped to see them soon.

When I got home, Miles and I gave one another a hug goodbye as I thanked him for such an amazing trip. I seriously couldn't thanks him enough.

As I stepped back into the house, it was like absolutely nothing had changed. Mom was in he kitchen cooking and dad was outside working on something. Austin was upstairs in bed. Thankfully, he had been allowed home from the hospital. Some of the bruises on his face had started to fade, a sign he was slowly getting better.

I set my bags down on the hallway floor and went to find mom to tell her some stories about the trip. I waited till dad came in from outside to tell them about Miles and me. On the drive down here Miles and I decided it might be a good idea if his mom and sister came over for dinner the following night. It had been a while since our families had caught up and so I ran it by my parents. Luckily they actually appeared to be on board.

"So what have you all been up to?" I asked.

"Austin's now home which I feel good about. Sleeping at the hosptial with him was pretty stressful." Mom said stiring the pot of pasta. "We also had a zoom call with Luca and he showed us his new dorm room, it looks super nice Annie, we should to go visit him soon."

"Aw, I'm happy to hear that," It felt like I was some long lost relative, home visiting my elderly parents. I'd only been gone a week away but I suppose they're just not use to me being out of the house so there was lots to catch up on. "And dad. How about you?" I asked.

Dad looked at mom, "Big news for me. I've just found out this week that I've been offered a promotion at work," he said shifting himself awkwardly in his seat. "It's based at a different office, about five hours away from here."

My heart skipped a beat at the idea of moving and I didnt know how to react. I didnt LOVE this town but I sure didnt want to move Looking at dad he seemed unusually happy and relaxed. At other times when I'd talked to him about work he'd always seemed so preoccupied and stressed. What's changed? "Will you take the offer?" I evenutally dared to ask. 

"I think you'll want me to," he smiled, "that is if you loved this week away."

I looked at mom and she smiled too as she drained the water from the pasta pot. "I don't understand." I say. 

We all paused and then mom finally announced the news, "The promotion that dad has got is based in Pickston"

Holy-