Playlist

12. "The Warmth" - Koda

7:00 P.M. on the dot, Luke's truck rolls into out journey of a driveway. Elera runs into the cabin, her bag hanging off her shoulder and a book in her arms. I give her and Aunt Lucy a hug before making my way out of the cabin and to Luke's truck. The rain has lightened up a bit, but it's supposed to pick back up later tonight. I climb into Luke's truck and let out a breath. His truck is clean - almost impeccably so - and the music is low in the speakers. On his rearview mirror hangs a car freshener, and the heat is on. Without a word, he turns the truck around, and we head down the driveway.

"You didn't have to invite me, you know." My voice is gentle, not wanting to come across ungrateful or condescending.

"You didn't have to come," he replies, his eyes ahead. He has one hand on the steering wheel, one on the center console, his fingers lightly drumming to the music.

"Touché," I glance out of the window. He's right: I didn't have to come. And yet, here I am, heading to a house I'm not familiar with in a town I'm just now learning with a person who is an enigma to read. I don't feel the same way I did in Denver. I'm not anxious or ready to make a point to myself or anyone else. I feel like I'm the new kid in school, arriving in the middle of the school year, and my mom's friend's kid has reluctantly agreed to show me around. "Will there actually be poison?" I glance over at him, and I catch the faintest smirk on his lips.

"Not that I'm aware of, no."

A small smile rises on my lips, and I return my attention out of the passenger window. I reach down in my bag and grab my cigarettes and lighter. "Oh," I look over at him. "Is it okay if I smoke in here?"

He looks both ways at a stop sign before holding out his right hand. "Only if you let me bum one."

I raise an eyebrow at him, a bit surprised, and hand him one. He cracks his window, grabs a lighter from inside the center console, and lights his cigarette. I light mine and crack the window as well. "I didn't know you smoked."

He shrugs and takes a long drag of his cigarette. "Some things you just don't let people know." The song changes on the radio. The windshield wipers go up then down. Smoke wafts out of the cracks in the windows. Rain pitters against the car, the heartbeat of the earth. We don't say anything, and I'm comfortable. I guess there are some things you just don't let people know.

❧

We soon arrive to a home on the west side of Tillamook. Dark wood and light stone work on the exterior. There are several people outside smoking on the front porch. Luke and I get out, and I follow him. He shakes hands with a couple guys outside, and they glance at me before smirking at him. He shakes his head, and we go inside. The house smells of food, and there's not many more people inside. As I look around the house, it's a beautiful combination of classic, rustic and modern interior. Every part of the space is used to its maximum potential, everything laid out intentionally yet effortlessly. Why do I feel like this is a house Joanna Gaines decorated?

"It's about fucking time you showed up," I hear in a deep voice, and approaching Luke is a young man, a few inches taller than him, with dark hair and eyes. He's handsome and built, wearing a black flannel, white shirt, dark pants and dark trench boots. He carries himself like he's ready to fight at the drop of a dime, but when he gets closer to Luke, they embrace each other. The guy pats Luke on the back and steps back, looking Luke over. "You've gotten shorter."

I catch a glimpse of a smile on Luke's face, and I relax a bit. I watch as the guy looks from Luke to me, and I feel myself tense up. Am I supposed to be here? "Is this your friend?" The guy asks, and Luke turns his body so I'm facing the guy.

"Adrian, this is Dakota. Dakota, this is Adrian." Luke runs a hand through his hair, and Adrian sinks his hands into his pockets.

"It's not often Luke has anyone with him," Adrian says with a wild smirk, and he glances over at Luke.