Marrying Ember(11)

I stepped toward her and held out my hand. When she reached me she didn’t look up. She simply took my hand and started walking toward the far end of the parking lot.

“We’re renting a car and driving to the next venue.” Her voice was hoarse and further away than I’d ever heard. She didn’t try to clear her throat as she continued. “You and I are driving to the rest of the tour dates, okay? I’ve called the car company and they’ll be here in twenty minutes. Can you get our things?”

I stopped us at the edge of the grass and grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face me. When she still wouldn’t look up, I lifted her chin with my fingers. Reluctantly, her eyes moved to mine.

“Ember,” I whispered. “What happened?”

Without hesitation, her face melted into a torrent of tears. Words stumbled out fragmented between sobs. “Just … just get the stuff, okay?”

I pulled her to me, holding her head to my chest, still left with as many questions as I had hours earlier. When her cries quieted, I kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be right back.”

Ember nodded and wiped her face dry as she turned her back. “I’m going to freshen up in the restroom.” She spoke softly without turning around.

As I walked back to the RV, I watched Willow exit with her parents and move to the other RV. I hadn’t seen Raven or Ashby yet, but I was about to since I needed to get our things from inside the vehicle.

Not knowing the protocol for such a thing, I rapped my knuckles against the side of the open door. “It’s just Bo … I’m … coming to get our stuff.”

I walked the rest of the way and found Raven and Ashby sitting silently at the table that just this morning held the laughter of me and my friends.

“Of course, Bo. Come on in.” Raven tried a smile, but it barely spread across her entire mouth before disappearing.

I pulled our backpacks down from the overhead cabinet, and stuffed them with our phones and iPod’s and other things we’d strewn around as we’d made ourselves comfortable for what was to be a long drive. Asbhy and Raven remained silent.

“So …” I started, feeling more awkward around Ember’s parents than I ever had. Especially since I wasn’t sure if I was looking at both of Ember’s parents. “Ash, can you just … give me the names of the next few venues so I can program the addresses in my phone?”

Ashby stood, his thick greying hair sticking up as though he’d raked his hand through it one too many times. “Of course.”

He moved to the front of the vehicle, and I followed, glancing back over my shoulder in time to see Raven rest her head against the window with her eyes closed.

“Here you go, son.” Ashby handed me a sheet with the list of our tour dates, venues, and times.

It was then that he met my eyes. Water worn and tired, a flicker of Ember passed through them that had me more confused than ever. I wanted answers, but wanted them from Ember.

“Thanks. We’ll see you in San Francisco. Drive safely.” I turned on my heels, not knowing what else to say or do.

“Bo?” Ashby called after me.

I turned back around to find the broken smile of a kind man. “Take care of her okay?”

I nodded. “Always.”

Regan was waiting, leaning against the RV as I planted my feet on the ground.

“Is everything … you’re not leaving the tour are you?”

“God, no. Thankfully. At least, that’s not the plan right now. We’re driving.” I nodded to the far end of the parking lot where I watched Ember climb into the driver’s seat of the rental car that must have shown up while I was inside.

“I … so … Ember’s my friend, and so are you, but I’m thinking you two should drive alone for a while? Right?” His eyebrows twisted as he struggled to find the words.

I chuckled. “That’d be great, man. Trust me, I want you with us as much as I’m sure Ember does, but I still don’t know what the hell happened there. We’ll see you in San Fran tonight.”

Regan nodded, then gave my shoulder a firm slap. “Godspeed, bro.”

“Thanks.” I gave him a slap in return and walked to the car, placing our belongings in the trunk.

I walked to the driver’s side door and knocked on the window. Ember rolled it down but didn’t look at me.

“Do you want me to drive, so you can … relax?” I’d never been so tongue tied in my life as I was during this situation.

Ember kept looking forward and shook her head. “I need to focus on something else for a while. Let me drive for a few hours.”

I walked to the passenger side without a fight, got in, and allowed five full minutes of deafening silence as we navigated toward the highway before I spoke.

“Ember.”

“Not right now, Bo. Not … right now.” I watched her cheeks turn crimson as she widened her eyes—her only defense against impending tears.

I ground my back teeth together, impatience and anxiety brewing. Her constant assertion that she could handle things herself was starting to wear on me. All I wanted to do was take care of her. Why was she so resistant?

“We need to talk about what just happened, Ember.” My voice was firm but caring as I tried to pry open the gates around her heart.