“What is it?” My voice presses and I know he can hear the urgent curiosity.
“Your mom set me up. She told Sheriff Beauchamp some lie about me being involved with her nephew, Nicky. Now he’s on my ass. I didn’t do anything though so I’m not worried. It was just time to get the fuck out of Duncan.”
Hearing my mother set Mars up to get in trouble with the law makes me furious. Flames lick at my ears and I know they burn bright red.
“What? Oh my God, Mars…I’m sorry she’s such a bitch.”
“I left after her and my dad got into it. I knew they wouldn’t follow me since they were busy fighting.” Things fall silent between us. I wet my lips with my tongue and tug on a loose tendril of hair hanging down.
“I’m coming,” I blurt after a while. “Give me the address, I’m coming.” My heart pounds against my chest.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you facing Eleanor’s wrath.”
“I don’t care about her wrath. What can she do if I’m not here?” I ask. “I’m not going to be happy unless I can be with you.” I’m already on my feet, walking to my closet. I pull out a black duffle bag. I used to lug it back and forth to ballet when I was younger. Now, it’s the perfect size to throw a bunch of clothes in so I can be with Mars.
“Sage, you have school. You have everything going for you. I’m just going to fuck it all up.” I hate how torn he sounds. I push out a heavy breath and drop my bag on the bed.
“I don’t have anything without having you first. You’re home for me. I don’t know how but everything will work out. We need to do what makes us happy first though. Everything else will fall into place.” I think of Dad’s words and they fill me with peace.
After a few more minutes of convincing, Mars gives me the address to the motel he’s staying at and I type it into my phone. “I’ll be there as soon as I’m done grabbing things,” I tell him.
“If I’m being honest, Sage…I need to see you. Sometimes I feel like everything is dark until your smile lights up my world.”
“I’m coming. I love you.”
“I love you too. Stay safe.” I end the call then begin to frantically pack comfy clothes. I don’t know much about Maple Grove, other than it’s pretty quiet. From what I’ve heard, it’s less glamorous than Ashton Hills but way more developed than Duncan. Maple Grove is somewhere in the middle.
It’s perfect for me and Mars because we’re somewhere in the middle too. I’m not quite Ashton Hills and he’s not quite Duncan.
We’re Mars and Sage.
We’re somewhere in the middle, hovering above it all like dragonflies.
I throw one thing after another in my bag until it’s full and bulging. The zipper barely pulls over the crap I have crammed in there.
I’m going to need another bag.
I fill my big purse with toiletries and a bunch of other girl stuff I know Mars won’t have on hand. My palms are tingling thinking about finally leaving Ashton Hills behind. Leaving behind my hometown also means leaving behind my mother. She lives and breathes this place, and she won’t pry herself away from it long enough to really look for me.
I don’t know what I’ll do about school, but I’ll figure it out. It’s thinking about Dad that really makes me sad. I pause in my rushed packing and think of his big smile and kind brown eyes.
I’ll reach out to him once Mars and I figure out what we’re going to do.
Once I have my big purse and my duffle bag packed, I load them onto my shoulders then look at the semi-empty corner where my easel is. I’ve stuffed my bag full of most of my paints and brushes. I wish I had time to take my paintings. I feel a pang of sadness in my chest as I think of leaving them behind.
I don’t know how much time I have before Mom comes home though. I don’t have time to mourn my art. Hopefully, Dad will make sure it’s safe.
“Hey, kiddo, why is Mom leaving me messages telling me to make sure you don’t leave the house?” Dad rounds the corner and leans against the doorframe while his eyes are fixed on his phone’s screen. When he lifts his chocolate eyes and sees me standing with bags anchored to my shoulders, he frowns.
“Sage, where are you going?” Worry furrows his brows. He walks into my room and slips his phone in his pocket. His eyes never leave mine as he waits for my answer.
My mouth is dry and I don’t know exactly what to tell him.
Do I tell him I’m running off to be with my brother?