Husband With Benefits-Chapter 571: A Picnic

"We’re going on a picnic, Lets go! lets go! Nothing can stop us! Oh no! On no!"

Gabe glanced in the rear view as the two girls grinned and screamed in the back. Early in the morning, when they left for the company to investigate the invoice that Autumn had found, the two girls had been sleepy. Which was why he’d placed them in the back seat. And now, after a few hours of sleep, the two were singing on top of their voices.

Gabe chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "You two sure know how to wake up the entire neighborhood," he called out over his shoulder.

Autumn chuckled, while Arabelle screamed on top of her voice," We’re going on a picnic! Its the best day ever! I can’t wait to see the ducks at the pond and then feed the birds and jump into the waterfall!"

"Wow, Miss Arabelle, you sure have a long list of things you want to do."

"Yes! I’m old enough for a picnic now! I am having fun already!"

Autumn on the other hand chuckled and reminded her sister," Remember, Gabe has some work first. Only after that is done, can we go for a picnic."

As they drove along the winding road, Gabe’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror again. An old beige sedan, had been trailing them for the last few miles. There was nothing noticable about it other than the fact that it was too common. It disappared at some turns but continued to reappear. His jaw tightened as he shifted in his seat, keeping his movements casual. It was time to check if the car really was going in the same direction or following them?

If it was going in the same direction, well and good. If it wasn’t...

"Hey, everyone, make sure your seatbelts are tight," Gabe said, his voice light but firm. "We’re going on a trip."

Arabelle laughed. "Gabe, we’re already on a trip!"

Gabe smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "I know that, Miss Arabelle. I mean, keep the belts on as I’m gonna go and get there faster!" freēwēbηovel.c૦m

He glanced at Autumn in the rearview mirror again, meeting her gaze. She caught his look and immediately understood. Something was wrong. And if he was speeding up? Her eyes widened. Someone was following them?

She started to turn around to check for herself, but Gabe’s voice stopped her. "Autumn." She froze and met his gaze again. She understood the warning and nodded. Any panic on her end would scare Arabelle.

"Keep singing, girls," Gabe prompted, his voice a bit more cheerful than before. "We need to keep the energy up!"

Autumn remained silent, trying to compose herself while Arabelle, oblivious to the tension, resumed singing, her voice loud and carefree. "We’re going on a picnic, let’s go! Let’s go! Nothing can stop us! Oh no! Oh no!"

Gabe’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror again. The beige sedan was still there, matching their speed. He took a deep breath, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. He needed to lose them without alarming Arabelle.

Autumn joined in, her voice a little strained but trying to match Arabelle’s enthusiasm. "We’re going on a picnic, let’s go! Let’s go! Nothing can stop us! Oh no! Oh no!"

He took a sharp turn onto a narrow, less-traveled road, hoping to throw off their tail. The beige sedan followed, sticking close. His eyes narrowed. Without warning, he swerved and slammed on the brakes, causing everyone to be thrown forward. Meanwhile the sedan, still speeding, could not brake as that would mean revealing their covers. While the sedan continued forward, Gabe quickly turned around the car, speeding away.

Arabelle, still unaware that this was not a game but something else, squealed happily.

"That was awesome!", her eyes wide with excitement. "Can we do that again?"

Autumn smiled, her heart rate slowly returning to normal. "Maybe next time, Arabelle. Let’s focus on getting to the picnic spot first."As they sped off, Autumn continued to look back but finally calmed down when the sedan did not appear for a while.

Gabe kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel relaxing slightly as the tension eased. He glanced at Autumn in the rearview mirror and gave her a small nod of reassurance as well. He could see the worry in her eyes.

As he refocused, he decided to make another call. Autumn had mentioned that she’d felt someone following her but his people had been unable to find anything. However, today was proof. They’d picked her up directly after her shift so whoever had been there had decided to follow them.

"We’re here!" Gabe announced, pulling the car to a stop. "Time to unpack and enjoy our picnic!"

Arabelle jumped out of the car, her excitement renewed. "Yay! Ducks, here we come!" But then paused and turned around," Are we not going to get to wherever you wanted to go first?"

"Nah! With all your singing, I’ve decided that I’ll do that later! Time for a picnic first! Go look for a goo"

As Arabelle jumped away and went ahead first, Autumn and Gabe walked side by side. I don’t know if those people would have any idea, so I thought we’ll make it a proper picnic and then we can later go and check it out..."

Autumn nodded," Do you think that they’ve been keeping an eye on us all the time or is this a coincidence?"

Gabe shook his head." If they’d been keeping an eye on me, I would have known. I think they’ve jsut been keeping an eye on you, but not as a threat."

Autumn nodded, her hand holding his wrist," Thank you for guarding us, Gabe..."

Gabe smiled and somehow, unknowingly and naturally, caught her hand in his," It’s my dute, Autumn. Don’t over think it. Lets go... The ducks are probably starving without us."

Autumn laughed and followed the path Arabelle had taken, a small light shining in her eyes as she held hands with Gabe.