Kirk's POV
I walked towards my beat-up truck, parked under a thick canopy of pines. It was old, dusty, with dents in the bumper and mud splattered on the tires, a far cry from the sleek, expensive vehicles Norman favored. But it was mine. It had taken me through rough terrain and long roads, a loyal companion to my wandering life. I climbed in, the springs groaning slightly, and started the engine. The familiar rumble of the old truck filled the air, a grounding sound.
I backed out of the clearing, driving slowly down the winding dirt road. The silence of the forest gave way to the distant sounds of civilization as I neared the edge of the wilderness, then the hum of the main road. My mind kept drifting back to Riley, to the feel of her in my arms, to the look in her eyes. It was a powe
