Page 54 of The Dare

I urge her with my hand on the small of her back to go give her friend the key so we can go.

Watching Natasha, but giving her some space. She hands over the key to Suzanna and they share a few words, with a formal introduction from the steward, Patrick as he slips off his uniform jacket.

Done for the day, or done for good. Who knows?

Finally, Suze and Natasha embrace, a little teary eyed but smiling.

Friends again before eventually drifting apart with a goodbye as we each head our separate ways. The growing crowd on the platform threatens to separate us if we don’t move along soon.

Natasha rejoins me, and we both feel a little lighter knowing she and Suzanna aren’t parting on bad terms.

Guiding her with my hand on her back, we make our way to the car rental window.

Natasha gasps when she sees the car I rented after we make our way from the platform down to the basement car park.

“No way,” she exclaims when I hit a button on the key fob to unlock the car and open the trunk as we get closer.

“We can’t walk everywhere,” I remind her, glad I opted for a nicer car when I stow away our luggage.

She’s already halfway in the car by the time I can get to her door.

“I got it,” she says with confidence, but I make a point of making sure she’s in before closing the door.

I remind myself to make sure I get the door for her every time. A queen needs to be treated like one.

Once we’re free from the station, out of the hustle and bustle of most of the heavy traffic, I ask if she’d like the top down on the car.

“Your car,” she says quietly with a shrug looking away, so I decide to keep it up for now.

“Lemee, know if you do,” I tell her, wondering what’s gotten into her so suddenly.

She must have noticed my confusion because she’s quick to say something.

“Sorry,” she murmurs. “Just a car like this is worth more than our whole house…”

I open my mouth to remind her it’s just a rental but remember my own car is worth twice this, I keep that to myself for now though.

Driving in silence for a while I can see Natasha’s thinking things over in her head. Replaying the past few days.

The good and the bad, by the looks.

I’m on cloud nine, and only want to see things getting better for her. For both of us from here on in.

“Where’s your other stuff? All your belongings from college,” I ask, not being nosy but just focusing on the practical side of things, which is in my nature.

“I shipped it all over before I left. It should’ve arrived by now,” she says absently, pretending to admire the view of the freeway that’s starting to bank up.

She mentions the neighborhood when I ask where exactly it is she lives, and then I understand a little better.

Where shelived, I should say.

I haven’t seen her place but I’m familiar with the name of the area.

It’s not a place I want to see her driving through let alone living in.

In a single moment, it’s settled. In my mind at least.

She’s not going home.