Their Perfect Match

15

Blake

I watch from the window as they slowly walk back from the bathroom building. I am curious what they would be talking about. They haven’t really had much communication lately. It’s not either of their faults, but mine. I’ve kept them apart because I’ve wanted her all to myself. I see her smiling at him, a smile she only showed me once, jealousy rose inside me.

By the time they reach the truck, my knuckles are white on the steering wheel, he opens the door for her and she hops inside, giving me a small smile before lowering her eyes, making me realize I’m glaring at her. I soften my gaze,

“Ready to go?” I start the engine and shift into gear, pulling back onto the highway. I give Leon a look in the rear-view mirror, he meets my gaze and holds it for a moment before looking away first. He’s always been the one to back down, never had the courage to stand his ground and go for what he wanted. Not that I’m complaining now, the last thing I want is for him to challenge me and try to take Morgan from me, not that he could. But it would be amusing for him to finally stand up for something.

I can see Morgan is getting tired and bored from sitting in the truck all day. Around three in the afternoon, I pull into a truck stop, one of the last edible places we will come across for a while, and turn off the truck.

“Alright, let’s get some food, this is our last decent place until we get to your brothers. After this, it's gas station food, so let’s try and get some food to go that will travel well. Sandwiches, that kinda thing”

The inside is dingy and smells like diesel, it’s very off putting, Morgan looks like she’s going to vomit as she looks around.

“Why don’t you wait outside while I order our food and I’ll meet you out there?” I suggest

“Sure, I’m just going to use the washroom first,” She holds her hand over her nose and hurries towards the back of the building where the washrooms sign is pointed.

“I don’t know what you’re up to but you better think long and hard about the consequences if you piss me off brother,” I say as I look over the small menu.

Leon sighs, “When are you going to learn that not everything is about you, Blake? You can’t always get everything you want. Have you ever considered that maybe she will choose me over you? That she will want me?” He leans against the sticky counter.

“We both know that won’t happen. She has already fallen hard for me”

“I wouldn’t be so sure” He shrugs.

“What are you boys having?” An ancient waitress comes over to us, I place our order and tell Leon he can wait for the food. I head back outside and the wind has picked up, Morgan is shivering by the locked truck. I shrug off my coat and drape it over her shoulders,

“How are you feeling?” I ask as I pull her into my side, running my hands up and down her back. She leans into it and sighs,

“In general or about seeing my brother after all these years?”

“Both”

“I’m terrified. What if I’m not the person he expects? Or what if I’m not-”

“I can promise you one thing for certain, your brother thinks you’ve been dead for fifteen years. Seeing you alive, he’s not going to care about anything else other than that simple fact”

“You don’t know that” She argues

“Yes I do”

Before she can argue anymore with me on the subject, Leon thankfully comes out with our food. We all pile back into the truck and I scarf down a dry roast beef sandwich as I drive. Morgan picks at her food. She says she’s not hungry, but I think she just feels too worked up and giddy with excitement and nerves to eat right now.

Deciding it best to just continue on and drive through the night, Leon takes over while I climb into the back to get some rest. I pull Morgan into my arms. She awkwardly lays beside me but the seat is too small for the both of us, so when she tries to move she nearly falls onto the floor, I simply shift our weight so she lays flat against my chest. She doesn’t weigh very much and it’s not much different from sleeping in our bed at home, with her sprawled across my chest.

I can feel Leon watching us from the rear-view mirror every now and then. I wear a small smirk as I close my eyes.

Morgan.

I wake with a crick in my neck, I try to move but strong arms hold me completely still, pressed against a chest. Opening my eyes, I look around and see I’m on the backseat still, sleeping on top of Blake, just where I had been for god knows how long. It feels like hours and only minutes at the same time.

“Blake, wake up” I whisper as I press my hands to his chest, his grip only tightens its hold on me, pressing me deeper into him. He moans slightly before turning his head, looking at me. He leans forward and pecks me on the lips firmly.

“Morning Princess”

He finally lets me go and I am able to awkwardly crawl off him and sit back on the seat. I turn to look out the window, seeing the scenery had completely changed. Last night there were green tree tops and lakes shining with sunlight, now everything is covered with snow. The sun is almost blinding as it reflects off a small frozen pond.

“Wow” I whisper

“Views even better from up here” Leon clears his throat, I’d almost forgotten about him, he was so quiet driving. I smile at Blake and climb over the console and into the passenger seat. He was right, the view is twenty times better.

“Are we getting close?” I ask as the snow covered tree caps pass us by, I watch as the deer leave tracks along the side of the road, down by the bushes and into the trees. In the next moment they are gone.

“By tomorrow morning we should be there”

“Any chance we can stop for a quick break?” I ask, feeling like my bladder will suddenly burst any moment.

“Yeah I need to fill up with the jerry cans anyway and Blake can take over for a while, I need to sleep for a few hours” He finds a good spot to pull over and turns off the engine. I jump out of the truck and the cold air hits me. I’ve never felt such coldness before. Blake is right beside me with my coat, wrapping it around my shoulders.

“Thank you.. I didn’t expect it to be this cold”

“Well, we are in the mountains. It’s only minus eighteen, it will be colder at night but you’ll get used to it fairly quickly” He explains as I put my arms into the sleeves of my coat and he zips me up to my chin. He hands me a roll of toilet paper and winks as I blush and scurry off to go pee.

I walk to the side of the road, down the ditch and into the bushes, squirrels cash one another as I find a good spot. A cloud of steam erupts in front of me with each shaky breath I take, I quickly finish up, not wanting to be out in the cold any longer than I absolutely need to be.

My fingers shake from the cold as I pull my pants back up and start back from the truck, I stop dead in my tracks when a deer comes in front of me, looking at me with curiosity. It’s velvety like fur looks so soft I’m tempted to reach out and touch it but I’m rooted to the ground with fear.

Its ears twitch slightly and it jumps and disappears into the woods. I let out a long relieved breath and head back to the truck.

The boys are waiting by the hood for me, taking hits from a vape together.

We all pile back into the truck and start the last stretch of our journey.

I feel sick the entire way, the hours pass by like minutes. Eventually, Blake turns off the main highway and onto an old side road.

“Only a few hours now,” Leon says after a long hard nap, looking out the window and surveying the surrounding area. Blake nods in agreement, cracking his neck. Everybody is starting to feel tense and on edge, being cooped up in the truck for three days is not helping anyone. I close my eyes and take some deep calming breaths.

After some time, the truck finally comes to a stop, the engine cuts off and we sit for a moment. I open my eyes and see them both looking at me.

“Ready when you are,” Blake says

I look outside and see a large log cabin, smoke coming from the chimney.

Obviously, Micheal is here. Whether he is expecting us is a different story altogether, I nod, my shaking hand reaches for the door handle. Blake reaches for me, grasping my thigh with his large calloused hand, making me stop short.

“Look at me” He commands, “Everything is going to be okay. You can do this” He looks me in the eyes, raising his other hand to lift my chin, “Whatever happens, I’m here,”

Tears well in the corners of my eyes and I nod before launching myself at him and hugging him.

We get out and start heading towards the cabin, it’s so quiet. Too quiet.

The c*****g of a shotgun makes us all stop dead in our tracks.

“I suggest you all get back in your truck and hightail on out of here. This is private property” A voice calls out from a few yards away.

I feel like I’m going to be sick. Blake gently pushes me behind him as he lifts his hands into the air, Leon does the same. I try to make myself as small as possible as I cower behind Blake.

“That’s how you greet family?” Leon shouts