Downhill From Here (#1)

7. A Week Away

Nathan's POV

1:17 am

I turned off the car and looked into the back seat.

Lilo was in her car seat with a doll in her hand, sleeping with her head to the side. It'd taken her two hours but she had finally fallen asleep.

I was worried about driving for so long because we were still potty training and we were going to have to make multiple stops. But she passed out pretty quickly during the drive.

Looking beside her, I watched Bowie as her eyes flitted open and close like she was dosing off. She had a hand on the side of Lilo's head, keeping her from straining her little neck. I tapped her knee and whispered, "Hey, we're here."

She crinkled her nose and slowly opened her eyes.

Headlights flashed from the rear window and I could hear the sound of car doors opening.

I unlocked my door, hoping out to open Bowie's door before walking around the car and opening Lilo's side.

Silently Bowie unbuckled her and grabbed her bag, climbing out the car.

I lifted Lilo out of her car seat slowly, trying not to wake her.

"This is not a cabin," I heard Stevie whisper into the darkness. "A cabin is a shithole with four walls and rusty nails popping out of every crevice. It's usually termite infested. This...is big ass house that rich people use to hide away from the paps."

"Tell me again why I'm carrying you?" Nalu asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Hush....a few more steps and we'll be inside." I noticed that she wasn't wearing her shoes.

I closed the car door with the back of my foot and watched as Nalu walked up the rocky driveway. Stevie, for some reason, was on his back. She was looking up at the house and Bowie was trying to grab something from the back of my truck, clearly struggling.

"Here you guys can take my keys and head inside," I said, handing Nalu the keys.

There was a small sound of a crate opening and I watched as Tibby lept from the back and onto the driveway. She was looking around, touching the front lawn before running past my feet and following Nalu.

I readjusted Lilo in my arms and moved to help Bowie.

She dropped her bag on the ground and I reached down to grab it.

"Thanks," She said pulling out both of our snowboard gear. She struggled with it, unable to get it all of the way out of the truck.

I chuckled and she huffed looking back at me.

"You just gonna stand there?" She placed her hands on her hips and looked at me with a tired look in her eyes.

"Let's switch," I whispered.

She moved closer and held her hands out. Slowly I lowered Lilo into her arms. She didn't wake but stirred slightly. Bowie tucked Lilo's head into the crook her neck and ran a hand down her curls.

She was smiling now, slowly swaying while holding her. Pressing her head to Lilo's, she waited for me. "What?"

I shrugged, putting the gear bag back in the car and grabbing Lilo's bag and mine. "Nothing. You're just really good at that." I reached down to grab her bag and closed the truck. "We can leave the gear in the truck since we're gonna take it out tomorrow morning."

"What am I good at?" She asked as we walked up the driveway side by side. The lights inside were already turned on and looking up at the house I realized I'd forgotten how gorgeous it was.