Page 97 of Deliverance

"You'll take care of my daughter in California?"

"Without a doubt, sir."

"I'm still not sure why you two need or want to move to the West Coast, but I can't stop her. She's a grown woman, and you might have more training with a gun than me, but I will kill you if you hurt my daughter."

"I wouldn't blame you, but know that I would never hurt her. She's an amazing, strong woman, and I feel fortunate that she even wants to be with me," I admitted.

He nodded slightly. "Would you like to go have lunch with us before you two leave?" her father asked.

"I would love to."

* * *

After a tearful goodbye, Erin and I got on the road to head back to Long Island. "I have to warn you, we're sleeping on an air mattress," I stated.

"We are?"

I lifted a shoulder. "We had some issues with my uncle. Let's just say, we're not taking much with us."

"Your uncle?"

"The guy that came over after everything went down?" She nodded. "He's my uncle."

"I've been meaning to ask you what that was all about. What happened?"

I blew out a breath and told her everything I knew, from the fake carjacking to him getting me the job at Lock and then to him destroying the house.

"Wow," Erin breathed.

"Yeah, so, we have no beds."

"That's okay. I don't mind."

"I kinda do."

"Why?"

I looked over at her for a brief second and then back at the road. "Air mattresses aren't quiet."

She furrowed a brow. "I don't remember you being a wild sleeper."

"I'm not talking about sleeping, baby." I smirked.

"Oh," she chuckled. "Well, you'll just have to keep your hands to yourself, then."

I snorted. "You really think I'll be able to? It's been almost a week."

Erin bit her lip. "There's always the floor."

* * *

The air mattress squeaked as I got on it next to Erin. We’d gone out to dinner with Momma and come home to call it an early night because we were leaving before dawn the next morning to head toward the West Coast.

"Holy crap, this thing is noisy." Erin chuckled.

"It's because it's a cheap one."

"And we just need to sleep on it one night, right?"