Jackson lets out an indistinguishable noise before saying, “You can borrow Leland’s car.”
“I’d prefer yours.”
Jackson just chuckles a little and then doesn’t reply, which tells me I’m not getting anywhere near that car. Ah well.
When we get back to their house, Leland tosses me the keys.
I eye the keys before trying to hand them back. “I don’t want this car. You clearly stole it.”
“Just don’t leave too many fingerprints on it and it’ll be A-okay.”
Jackson shakes his head. “We didn’t steal it. We… borrowed it.”
“That sounds just as concerning, but ah well,” I say as I head to the driver’s seat before turning to Ellis. “El, ya coming or staying?”
He hesitates for a long moment before walking over and getting into the passenger seat. As we drive away, he asks, “Are we going to get arrested for driving a stolen vehicle?”
“Very well might.”
“I’m starting to think jail might be the safest spot for me,” Ellis mutters.
“Nah, you’re super safe right here,” I assure him as I pat his leg. “I promise you, you’ve never been safer.”
He seems skeptical about that, so I just give his leg another pat. See? I’m doing this whole affection thing with a lot of finesse. I might be patting too much at this point… or am I not patting enough? Hell if I know.
“You okay?” Ellis asks.
“Yeah, why are you reassuringme? I’m the one reassuring you!”
“It was the way you’re still stopped at this stop sign while patting my leg with a deep look of concentration on your face that made me wonder if something was off,” he explains.
“Oh no, no, I was simply showering you with reassurance,” I promise him. “You might not realize this, but I’m actually phenomenal at this type of stuff.”
“Thanks. But more than anything, thank you for saving my life,” he says, his brown eyes catching mine. “Thank you so much.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I assure him.
He shrugs. “Well… you barely know me… but I guess that’s the case with my dad too. Ha. How stupid. I was over here thinking I’d come save him or something. That if he really was alive, he was being held hostage or something, and I’d swoop in and bring him home and we’d be this big happy family again. But I guess that only happens in the movies, doesn’t it?”
I start driving again as I think about that. “Not necessarily… but some people need towantto be saved. And others really think the only way to be saved is to save themselves.”
“He definitely picked that option,” Ellis mutters. “I’m just… like why would you come to me when my own father didn’t? He wanted nothing to do with me… whatever. I’m not worried about him anymore. Fuck him.”
“Do you want to be done with him, then? Or do you still want answers?”
“No, answers aren’t worth putting anyone’s life at risk. I want to keep my mom and sister safe. After that, I don’t give a shit what happens. Can I have another of those fancy taser things?”
“Sure, we’ll make Leland buy you more.”
“Is Leland rich or something?”
“Quite. And the greedy fucker tries to play it off like he’s not. He owes me thousands.”
“Why’s that?”
“Just for putting up with him.”
“So… how much does he actually owe you?” he asks.
