up a bank truck has been traced across two states with two of the offenders being captured in a non-lethal shootout with police. Local sheriff’s say that the crime spree isn’t over, with a hostage being believed to have been taken by the third bandit who remains at large…’
There’s some aerial footage of the same armored car from the night before, but my heart stops when I see Sheriff Brodie’s cruiser, plus a dozen others surrounding an old plantation house.
It’s only for a second before Noah flicks the channel over to an old movie, but I recognize the place.
I also recognize another car in the long gravel driveway before Noah changes the channel.
It’s my Dad’s car. The one who took him to the airport.
“What’s the matter, Faith?” Noah asks, feeling me tense up under the water. “Don’t like old movies?”
I try and say something, but only manage a dry croak, pretending to fill my mouth with food instead and then taking a sip of a glass of juice in front of us.
“Honey? What is it?” he asks me again, but I can’t speak, I feel like I’m in shock.
“Faith?” he asks again, switching off the TV and leaning over me, asking if I’m alright.
“We should go,” I tell him quickly. “I don’t think you should spend any more money on places like this Noah, it doesn’t feel right,” I confess.
I don’t believe everything I’m hearing on the news, and I don’t distrust Noah either.
But I do know he checked in with his real name and everybody saw me.
It’s only a matter of time before all that’s all over the news and Noah and I are in more trouble than just trying to explain to my Dad why I left without a proper reason for a few days with a stranger.
The most handsome, lovable stranger I’ve ever met, and the one I plan on sticking by no matter what.
Chapter Sixteen
Noah
I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. Maybe it was all that business with that stupid maid that set Faith off. Who knows?
But like it or not, our romantic breakfast, along with the day in bed I had planned for us both is interrupted by her insistence that we leave.
Immediately.
I guess it hurt her more than she let on, and I do try and explain once more that I have no interest in the maid, that I was only just trying to surprise her with a taste of things to come.
What I thought was our new life together.
Sort of how I’d like to surprise her most mornings or evenings, whenever she gets home, or just because, whenever I feel like spoiling my girl.
That’s all.
Stupid god damned Barbie-slut maid.
I’ve got a good mind to-
“Please, don’t make a scene, Noah. Let’s just go, okay?” she says, reading my face as we’re about to go.
“Uh, okay, sure thing,” I tell her. I don’t want to make a scene either, not if it’s gonna upset her.
The front desk is all apologies, even offering to refund some of our stay, but I wave them off, more worried that my Faith isn’t happy anymore.
What just happened back there?
Everything was fine, even after that stupid maid… right up until-
The TV, those news reports. Something’s got her spooked.
The thought flashes across my mind that maybe her old man isn’t the local preacher after all.
Maybe she’s mixed up in some business she doesn’t know how to get out of.
Maybe I’m up against something bigger than just a preacher?
Cheesing a grin at the valet as he brings my truck around, I forget that idea.
Faith’s been totally upfront with me so far, and I think I’ve been the same with her.
Haven’t I?
Once we’re out of the city and heading back on the turnpike to the highway, I ask her.
“Faith, if I’ve done anything to upset you…?”
“It’s not you, Noah,” she says, reaching over to grip my knee.
I notice she’s not sitting right next to me though and it hurts.
I look for a place to pull over, stopping before we even start again, but I just have to know what’s wrong.
Arterial roads and freeways, highways aren’t meant for pulling over on so I just ask her.
“I thought you said you loved me, Faith. And I sure as hell know I love you, so what the hell happened just now?” I ask her, nearly shouting, confused, and angry to see her so upset.
I see her chewing her lip again, and wanting to do the same I stop myself.
“Please, Faith?” I implore her. “What happened to