Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 385 – Long Miles

I gasp a few hours later when I see the gigantic RV that rolls up out front of the clinic.

“Seriously?” Hanks says, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at it, somewhere between impressed and revolted by the extravagance. “The gas mileage on that thing must be horrible

“Ohhh,” I say, laughing and swatting him on the arm with one hand, the other holding Rafe’s carrier where he’s already bundled and ready. “Don’t spoil my fun, Hank – you’re just jealous because you’re not coming.”

“Yes,” Hank murmurs, giving me a good-natured side eye. “Yes, there’s absolutely nothing I want more in the world than to be cooped up in a tin can with Roger and Cora for forty-eight hours. You’re right.”

I laugh when I consider this point, stepping closer to Hank and wrapping him in a one-armed hug that he’d probably rather avoid. But we’ve grown a lot closer in the past few days, working together, and well? If he’s going to be my friend, then he’s going to have to get used to a great deal of affection.

“You’ll be all right here when we’re gone?” I ask, pulling away.

“Ah, don’t worry about me,” Hank says with a little smirk and a shrug. You guys have bigger things on your plate.”

“When I come back,” I say, looking at him seriously now, hoping he understands how much he means to me – to all of us. “We’re going to do big things, okay? Help a lot of people. With the gift, and with your skills.”

“That’s all I want, Ella,” Hank says seriously, giving me a nod and a little smile that’s likely the most emotion I’m going to see from him anytime soon. But then his eyes drift to Cora and Roger who come through the door of the clinic and I know…well, I know that what Hank says about this being all he wants is a little bit of a lie. And my heart aches for him because I know now, for sure, that he’ll never get it.

I purse my lips a little, trying not to let him see me pity him. But he catches me in the act.

“Don’t,” Hank sighs, shaking his head at me. “I’m good, Ella. I really am.”

“I know,” I say, putting a hand out to his shoulder. He gives me a sad little smirk before turning back into the clinic – intent, clearly, on busying his mind so that he doesn’t have to think about her. Cora and Roger call brief goodbyes to Hank before coming to my side to admire the RV.

“It’s huge,” Cora says, her eyes wide.

“It’s not so big,” Roger says with a shrug. But Cora and I both roll our eyes at him as Sinclair parks the vehicle and climbs out of the driver’s seat. Cora and I didn’t grow up with much as kids, and we’ve certainly never been on a vacation like this – with a whole fancy vehicle reserved just for us.

I’m so incredibly excited I can barely contain it.

Sinclair asks, opening the door to the living compartment of the RV and pushing a button that activates a little metal

Cora’s hand and pulling her with me to Sinclair’s side. ” Is

the lift. “Just go in, Ella,” he says, nodding towards the door with the short flight of

gasping with excitement again as I look around. It’s absolutely gorgeous inside, and everything

wow,” Cora says, her eyes as wide as mine as

we wander around the space, admiring the gorgeous kitchenette with its white leather table space, the little living area that comes after that, the adorable, cleverly designed bathroom that makes the most of the minimal space

bed, and plush

my god,” I say, quickly unbuckling Rafe from his carrier and groaning as I sit down with him on the bed which is as comfortable as it looks. “Oh,

Cora says, smirking at me from the doorway. “What do

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

she says,

I remember Sinclair’s promise to her –

doorway behind Cora. “The couches transform – one into a queen for me and you, and the other into a twin, which my

I sleep in here

room with little travel bags filled with his and Cora’s stuff which isn’t much, considering we haven’t had access to any of our possession since we left the bunker.

it,” I whine, pouting at

eyes even

at her for

way back to the living room. “But this queen-sized bed better

me back into the main living area of the RV and giving Roger and Cora a

where the passenger seat should be. He gives me a little wave before turning back to a set of maps. I take a moment to admire the ingenuity of the

an arm around my shoulder and looking down at Rafe,

I say, meaning it as I give him a big smile. “How long do you think it will take to get

nods in agreement. “Oh,” I say with surprise. “So where will we

campground somewhere,” Sinclair says with a shrug. “We have to see how far we get. It’s part of the

out the windows. “That

placing a finger beneath my chin and turning my face back to him. “It’s all right, Ella,” he says softly. “You can relax. Enjoy it. You’ve worked so hard lately – let me… let me give this to