You Can't Run Hope Davis (free ebook reader .txt) 📖

the hefty slices onto his plate, and placed a single slice on a plate for Vance. He turned to find the other guys had paused the game and they, except for Vance, had followed him to load up their own plates with piping hot greasy pizza.

He returned to the living room and handed Vance his plate before sitting on the floor and digging in to his. The others returned and soon they were all eating pizza and throwing jabs at each other about who was going to win the bracket.

This was all so mundane to him, he only played video games because the other guys did. It had never been his thing.

He was briefly reminded of his wife, and his old life, where he had also pretended to be someone he was not. At least here the lies were fewer and less significant. Well except for the wig. He couldn’t wait to kill the detective so he could ditch the itchy mass of fake hair on his head.

Soon, he told himself as the other men finished eating their pizza and returned to the game.

Very soon.

He glanced at Vance out of the corner of his eye. He was probably going to get in the way at some point. And that was unfortunate.

He would need to be taken care of.

And fate was on his side…

CHAPTER 21

NAYA

Kevin had taken her out for Thai food at a place she had never heard of, but that wasn’t a surprise since she hadn’t been living here long. Naya was surprised at how well she had settled in here. It felt right somehow, like she was supposed to be here.

They had chatted while they ate their dinners, and afterwards Kevin had driven them out towards the mountains. Now they were sitting in the bed of his truck on some pillows and blankets he had brought taking in the view. Naya was curled into Kevin’s side, her head on his shoulder and he was absentmindedly running his hand through her hair. They were both looking up at the stars which were exponentially more numerous away from the light pollution of the city.

“What are you thinking?” Kevin breathed in her ear, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Just how right it feels to be here.” She realized after that she hadn’t specified what she meant, but maybe that was a good thing.

“Here in Denver, or here with me?” He asked, reading her mind, again.

She thought for a moment. “I guess I would say both.”

They settled into a silence again, until Naya remembered what she had been meaning to ask earlier. “My parents weren’t there when we left, how did you ask them about tonight?”

He let out a low chuckle. “I have your mom’s number. Vance wanted to hang out at home today, and they were excited about the city, so I think your parents were going out for an evening by themselves and giving your brother some space for the night.”

“He doesn’t want them to see him after chemotherapy.” She deduced instantaneously.

“Yeah, Vance doesn’t have much control in his life left. But he does want your parents to think he is managing. I think you’ll need to send them away soon though.”

Naya looked up at Kevin’s face. “What do you mean?”

Kevin stopped touching her hair and moved his hand to the side of her neck. Naya leaned into his touch. “He doesn’t want them here when things get worse. You know that as well as I do.”

“But—” she snapped her mouth shut. Naya wanted to argue but realized she had nothing to say. If Vance felt he was getting worse, there was nothing she could do. It was his life not hers; he would know better than she.

“You should talk to him before you do anything though, make sure I’m not assuming incorrectly.”

Naya dipped her head. “No, you’re probably right. You notice these things so easily, it’s uncanny. I guess the reason I was about to say something was because I truly want to believe Vance is getting better. But I suppose at some point I just have to—” Her voice broke. “To do what Vance wants me to do…for him.” She would need to accept it, there was nothing to gain by avoiding it any longer.

Kevin was empathetic. “It won’t be easy. But I can tell Vance is glad it’s you here and no one else.”

A silence fell over them once again, as they stared into each other’s eyes, this one heavier than the last. After what seemed like ages, Kevin leaned in and captured her lips with his. She felt her body responding and began to kiss him back. The hand that wasn’t on her neck came to rest on the small of her back and pulled her closer. Naya brought her hand up to rest on Kevin’s shoulder while her other hand twisted in his hair.

They kissed for what felt like forever, until one of them, Naya wasn’t sure which, pulled back and both took a moment to breathe. Naya laid her head on Kevin’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.

“How would you feel about coming back to my place tonight?” He asked in a hoarse whisper.

Naya thought for a moment but didn’t respond. Could she leave Vance on his own for the night? Would he be okay? He’d had chemo earlier that day—

“Trevor and Sebastian both volunteered to sleep on the couch if need be.”

“Are you sure?” It seemed so weird that Vance’s friends were always so willing to help, maybe it was just because she wasn’t used to having friends the way Vance did.

“I’m sure. I think Sebastian brought about a hundred beers over. My guess is they won’t be driving anyway.” His hand moved up from her lower back and began rubbing her shoulders. “I can give you another back rub.”

“Are