Henry drove us down the off-ramp, and there was a gas station across from it. He looked around, pulling straight across into the lot. Sophie pulled up next to us. He turned to me after he shut off the truck.
“We will discuss this in the near future. I promise you. Just know that I love you with everything that I have, and I have your best interests at heart right now. I want to tell you, believe me when I say that. This is tearing me up.” His voice cracked. “It’s tearing us up.” He looked up toward the roof and exhaled, trying to hold back his emotions. I saw him wipe his cheeks with his sleeve. “I can only hope that, someday, you will take me back and wear your ring again.” He paused. I know he wanted to curl up into a ball and cry like a baby because I did, as well. “Please, just stay put for now.” Back to business, I supposed.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I mumbled. I didn’t even look at him. He grumbled something unintelligible, and made sure his Sig was loaded. Then he jumped out, and went to the driver’s side of Sophie’s truck.
I decided to stay put, doing what I was told to do for a change. I got out my Sig and checked to see how many rounds were left. I rotated around in my seat, scanning the area for anything living or undead that could possibly be roaming out there.
Chapter 15
S
ophie got out and slammed the door shut. She put her hand on Henry’s back, giving him a quick rub, and guiding him away from the trucks. They stepped several feet away for another one of their private discussions, scanning the area while they talked.
“So what’s the plan, Stan?” Sophie narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you all right?”
Henry shook his head. “I’m hurting big time, and we just had another major fucking fight.” His jaw trembled, and he jammed his thumb and forefinger under his aviators and into his eyes to stop the tears from pouring out. “It’s not looking good for us. It’s bad, Sophie. I’m feeling hopeless at this point. It’s killing me, but I’ll still do anything I can to protect her.” He fought his emotions with a valiant effort. After several long and loud exhales, he looked back at Sophie.
“Henry…I’m so sorry. I can see how much this is hurting you.” It thrilled her that Henry and Elaina were fighting, but she didn’t want to see him so upset.
“I love her so fucking much.” He groaned in pain as he spoke.
“Is it your joints? You look like you are stiff.”
“Yeah. I think every single one is screaming.”
“Shit.” She lifted up his aviators and didn’t like what she saw.
“Tell me about it. I almost feel like I’m going to fade out soon. It’s becoming unbearable.”
“We need to find you a fix, or we are going to be in some serious trouble.”
“Yeah, sooner rather than later would be great. I’d prefer to stay on this side of the earth.”
“Maybe we should tell them? One might volunteer for a draw.” Sophie was getting really concerned because Henry was looking really bad. His body was stiff, and his eyes were faded.
He shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. You were right before. It’s not the right time yet. Elaina is still really pissed at me, and barely talking to me. Once we get to her parents’ place, I can pull her aside and talk to her about it, get her to understand. I know she would be willing to defend me. Then we can go from there.”
She could see the torment it was causing him, and decided to change the subject. “Well, how do we get to their parents’ place?”
“About a mile up the road, we will come to the middle of the village. The first light is a four-way. We have to turn right and go down about a block. It’s on the right.”
“All right then. I’ll follow.” Sophie looked around at the gas station. It was a rather decent sized convenient store, as well. “You want to hit up this place first?”
“Sure.”
“Maybe there’s someone inside you can drain.” She let out an evil chuckle.
“Yeah, I can only hope. Sadly, if there is, I’m sure Elaina will refuse to have sex with me later. Christ, it feels like it has been an eternity since we’ve been together.”
“I’m always available.” She winked at Henry.
“You know I won’t do that to her. She’s it for me. It’s Elaina or no one. I don’t want anyone else ever again.”
“Right. Well, I was just kidding anyway.” She wasn’t, but he didn’t need to know that. “Let’s tell them what our plans are.” Sophie walked to the front of the trucks where she could see both groups and waved them out.