After breakfast, we loaded everything into my Mercedes GLS 580, my first car, bought two years ago after finally being promoted to Senior Financial Analyst. Val had packed our lunch—well, she had packed everything. I didn't know exactly what was in it yet, but the faint scent wafting from the coolers was enough to make my stomach growl even though I'd just finished eating a few hours ago. Fruits, sandwiches, something that smelled suspiciously like a homemade granola mix, and a few things that looked like she had gone above and beyond for a little gourmet flair.
The drive was easy, the roads relatively clear, and for a little while, it felt like nothing could touch our perfect Sunday. Val sat in the passenger seat, tapping away on her phone every so often, occasionally showing me a quick message from Naomi or snapping photos of the passing scenery. I was still somewhere between focused on the road and daydreaming about her lunch when a sudden sound cut through the calm.
