A few minutes later, there's a soft knock on the door again. I open it and a hotel staff member hands over a cold bottle of beer and a glass.
I thank him and take a sip, the cold bitterness unfamiliar but oddly refreshing. Emris sits down beside me, his presence calm and easy.
We start talking again, about small things favorite movies, music, and places we've been. It feels natural, like we've known each other longer than a few hours.
At one point, he laughs softly, and I catch myself smiling more than I usually do. The beer helps me relax, but it's not the drink that makes me feel better. It's the company someone who sees me not as a problem or a stranger, but as a person.
Then I ask, "Why do you ride?"
He leans back against the couch, thinking. "Freedom. Silence. It's the only time I don't have to talk or explain myself. Just the road, the wind, and the engine sound. No expectations."
I nod, drink slowly.
"Sounds peaceful."
"It is."
"What about your house? You said you needed help, but you seem like someone who likes to control things."
He smiles a little. "Too much control sometimes. I needed someone to shake things up."
I look at him. "So you chose a girl who was left drunk on the side of the road?"
His eyes meet mine. "I chose a girl who still had the courage to ask for help when everything fell apart."
That stops me. A warm feeling spreads in my chest. No one ever saw strength in me like that. Emris looks away first, giving me space.
After a moment, he says, "I've been thinking. Until you find a place, you can stay at my house. No cost. Just help out. No pressure."
My heart beats fast. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." He said looking at me.
"And my friend Saoirse?"
"My friend already told me she's a good in the kitchen. He likes her."
I laugh softly, then say seriously, "You've done so much for us already. It feels like too much."
He turns his head to look at me again."You said you lost everything. Let me help you get something back."
For a second, I don't say anything. The words stick in my throat. Instead, I lean forward and rest my head gently on his shoulder. He tenses just a little then relaxes. I feel breath slow and steady.
Is time to put my plan in work.