Page 131 of What We Bury

“Mm.”

He glances up at her windows, a look of longing passing over his features.

“Light’s still on,” I say. “Why don’t you go up? Check on her.”

He shakes his head. “I’m beat. Thanks for the ride.”

“Don’t sweat it.”

With one last glance at the building, he walks to his truck, fobs it open, and gets in. The engine turns over once. Headlights snap on. He pulls away into the dark.

And that’s when I see Eli’s car.

It’s parked three spaces ahead of my usual spot, angled slightly toward the building like he backed in for a quick exit. The engine’s off. No lights. I’d almost miss it if I didn’t know every car on this street by make, model, and plate number.

I shove my hands in my pockets and walk over. The night is cool, smelling of salt and wet asphalt, and the only sounds are the gentle roar of the sea and a distant dog barking. I stop next to the driver’s side and look through the window.

He’s asleep.

Head tipped back against the headrest, mouth slightly open, arms folded tight over his chest. He looks younger when he sleeps—the tension gone from his jaw, the permanent crease between his brows smoothed out. Like the guy he probably was before all of this.

I knock on the glass. Hard.

He jolts awake so hard he nearly cracks his head on the roof. His hand shoots to his hip before his eyes focus and he sees me through the window. The panic drains, replaced by weariness.

I try not to laugh.

He winds the window down. “Micah.”

“Eli.”

His eyes flick to the building, then back to me. “I was just?—”

“Sitting in your car at two in the morning outside her apartment when you aren’t even on the schedule right now? Yeah. I can see that.” I lean my forearm on the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Holden didn’t stay. So I’m making sure Milo didn’t set the place on fire.”

I look at him. He looks at me. We both know that’s bullshit, but I give him the dignity of the lie before I take it away.

“Get your ass out of the car and come upstairs with me.”

His jaw tightens. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t feel like walking in on her and Milo in bed together.”

“You think they are?”

“Fucked if I know.”

I grin. “Well, let’s go see.”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I probably have. But the joke cracks the tension just enough to let something else in.

“Come on.” I step back from the car. “Stop pretending and come upstairs. If nothing else, you can check for fire damage and leave. Five minutes. Show your face. It’ll mean a lot to her.”

He sits there. I can see him fighting the want versus the fear.