𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐓! ʲ ᵇᵘʳʳᵒʷ

003. 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

The ride to Joe's house was peaceful. The urgency had faded- I pressed my cheek against the cool window and watched the city fade away as we drove from the metropolitan area and into the more historical looking communities. Neither of us spoke- the faint thrum of the black Porche was the only noise. I tried to put all my attention on it rather than the swirling mess in my head. 

The unfamiliar landscape made me ache for Dallas. It might've been my home for only a few years, but it was mine. Chandler was my past, and Tuscaloosa was just a stop in the journey. But Dallas? Dallas was my home. Everything was swept up and thrown away, and all I did was wash my hands of it and leave. A shell of home.

"Almost there," Joe breaks the silence. His gaze focuses on the road in front of us, but I can feel his piercing blue eyes take a few seconds to glance at me. I don't respond. What am I to say anyways? I've burdened him enough already. 

Soon enough, the car pulled into a three-story house nestled between two similar looking houses. A brick path of stairs led up two the second-floor door. "You're not gonna leak my address, are you?" Joe asks, taking his sunglasses off to raise an eyebrow. "Depends on how much they'd pay me," I answer, clicking my seatbelt off. His lip twitches into a smile, exiting the car and closing the door behind him.

I reach for the handle, but Joe beats me to it. He opens the door, waiting for me to climb out. I hesitated, nervous that my unsteadiness would cause me to fall and embarrass myself even further than I already have. He waits patiently, his hand hovering near my elbow, ready to catch me if I'm too unsteady.

"You okay to walk?" He asks, closing the car door and clicking his keys. The car beeps behind me as the doors lock. I swallow at the sight of the stairs, but nod anyways.

He senses my hesitance, as he clicks another button. The garage door silently begins sliding up, opening to a spotless garage, where an orange and black sports car sat shinning. I could laugh, but I don't.

When we reach the door, he unlocks it and holds it open for me. I give him a small smile as a thanks. I step inside, looking around. There was a sofa set angled around a large flat screen. As minimalistic as it was, it felt cozy. "Oh, this is my lounge area. Sorry, there's stairs in here anyways. Would you like to stay down here or in the bedroom?"

I turn to the man and almost gasp at our proximity. His towering frame was nearly touching me, and I could finally see his face. The blue of his eyes nearly burned through me, sharp, with an intensity I've never seen before. His jawline was prominent in a way that made him look angular and sharp- but his expression was surprisingly gentle, and attentive, even. There was something powerful about him. I can't decide if it's his large, dominant build, or the steady, sure way he carried himself.

The heat radiating off him warmed me in the cool air of the empty room. "Hm?" he asks, a small smile dancing across his lips, his dimples deepening. My cheeks burn at this acknowledgement of my staring. Maybe I could play it off as my concussion. 

"Oh," I hum, shuffling back a few steps. "Sorry, zoned out. Um, whatever is easiest for you."

He smiles, nodding to the set of stairs. "C'mon. The bed will be more comfortable. The stairs aren't bad. I can make you something to eat, if you'd like. Have you eaten today?"

I follow him up the stairs, taking a quick glance at the large kitchen and glass window that overlooks the Ohio landscape. The space was clean, but there were obvious signs of life- a jacket on the back of a chair, a coffee mug on the counter. "No thank you, that's alright."

"You sure?" Joe asks over his shoulder, opening a door to a darkened room. "Mhm," I answer as he switches the light on. I was surprised at the state of the room- an unmade bed, some clothes strewn across the room, and a glass of water on the nightstand.