"Trust me, I'll be happy to be here," she said. Though it could easily have just been a mimic his future-tense construction, the verb choice was really no accident. She wasn't happy now, certainly. Though she really was happy to see Brig and even more thrilled to see her brother, the pall cast over her coming was likely to linger.
But she would be happy here, eventually. She would be. Anything was better than being blackmailed by her parents. She settled back in her seat, her heart quickening a little as they neared the garage. "For as long as you'll have me, anyway." What she meant, really, was as long as she was allowed to stay. It certainly wasn't out of the question that her parents would try to force her back through some means or other. But that was tomorrow's problem. Next week's, even. For tonight, all that mattered was that she'd arrived, safe and sound. "Thank you, Brig," she murmured, stepping from the car. She meant it more than she could say.