My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 03

My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 03

Muffled laughter followed.

I stood outside the door, just as I had outside Gavin’s apartment the night before.

Suddenly, the whole situation seemed ridiculous.

The people inside were the ones who belonged.

I was always the one left outside.

When dinner ended, everyone filed out of the restaurant and said their goodbyes. They gathered in small groups along the curb to wait for their rides.

I naturally headed toward Gavin’s car and reached for the front passenger door.

Vanessa hurried around from the other side and pushed past me.

She smiled. “Let me sit up front.”

“I get carsick, and sitting in the back makes it so much worse.”

Before she had even finished speaking, she opened the door, climbed in, and fastened her seat belt.

The entire sequence was so smooth, as if she had done it countless times before.

Then she turned to Gavin. “Come on, Gavin. Let’s go.”

Gavin glanced at me, his tone perfectly casual.

“Vanessa really does get carsick. You can sit in the back.”

I pressed my lips together and opened the rear door.

The car pulled away.

Vanessa casually opened the glove compartment and took out a bag of nuts.

She ate a few herself, then held one to Gavin’s mouth. “Open up.”

Gavin leaned toward her hand and took it from her fingers.

His lips brushed her fingertips.

“Gavin, Jordan and the others are planning a trip to that new campground next weekend. Are you going?” Vanessa asked.

“Yeah. I haven’t gotten out in a while,” Gavin said.

“Then I’m coming too. You’re taking this SUV, right? I’ll ride with you.”

“Sure. I’ll pick you up.”

Vanessa smiled. “It’s a deal, then. Don’t flake on me again.”

She reached over and poked his arm.

I sat in the back seat, listening to them discuss their plans for the following weekend as my fingers dug into my palm.

I knew nothing about the camping trip. Gavin had never mentioned it to me.

At a red light, Vanessa pulled out her phone and held it up for Gavin to see.

“Derek’s hounding me about that proposal again. Look at what he’s asking for. Is he out of his mind?”

Gavin glanced at the screen. “Just structure it logically. Don’t let him throw you off.”

Vanessa put her phone away and sighed. “You’re the only one who gets me.”

“When I try explaining it to anyone else, they have no idea why I’m so frustrated.”

As we neared Gavin’s apartment, Vanessa suddenly began coughing.

At first, the coughs were light, as if her throat were irritated. Then they came faster and faster.

She clutched her chest and leaned back against the seat, her voice weak.

“Gavin… I can’t breathe…”

Gavin immediately slowed down and pulled over, his tone changing in an instant.

“Where’s your inhaler? Did you bring it?”

Vanessa shook her head, her breathing coming faster and faster. “I-I forgot to bring it…”

Gavin reached over and patted her back with practiced ease.

He turned toward her, keeping one hand on the steering wheel while rubbing her back up and down with the other.

After several ragged breaths, Vanessa suddenly turned toward me in the back seat and frowned.

“Did you put on perfume or something? I really can’t handle that smell…”

“I’m not wearing perfume,” I said.

Vanessa ignored me. Her coughing worsened until she was curled up in the passenger seat.

Gavin glanced at me.

His expression carried the kind of irritation that said I should have known better.

“Nora, are you sure you didn’t put on anything scented?”

“I didn’t.”

He didn’t question me again.

He looked out the window and fell silent for several seconds before saying, “We’re not that far from my place. Nora, you can walk the rest of the way.”