Chapter 14
14
A lex
The moment Opal yawns, I know it’s time to get her home. She’s had a rough day, and even though The Blue Lantern has been a great distraction, she needs to rest. I catch Kathy’s eye, who nods, and I stand.
“Come on, Opal,” I say gently, taking her arm. “Let’s get you home.”
Opal nods, looking a bit sheepish but relieved. “Thanks, Alex. I think I could use some sleep.”
“I got this,” Kathy says, handling the bill, and I take care of the tip. Opal doesn’t need to worry about a thing.
We step out into the cool night air. Kathy drove, so we pile into her car even though Opal’s apartment isn’t a far walk from here. The streets are quieter now, the hustle and bustle of the city winding down. I sit in the back with Opal, keeping a protective arm around her, my eyes scanning our surroundings out of habit.
“You okay?” I ask her softly.
Opal nods, her steps slow and deliberate. “Yeah, just really tired, but I’m glad we went to the bar. It helped take my mind off things.”
“I’m glad too,” I reply. “Jake was really sweet, wasn’t he?”
Opal chuckles lightly. “Yeah, he was. You two seemed to hit it off.”
“Right?” Kathy calls from the front.
I burst out laughing. “You didn’t even know?—”
“You talked about him a lot,” she says.
Did I?
I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks but choose not to delve into that right now. “Let’s focus on getting you home safe.”
Soon, Kathy, Opal, and I reach her apartment building. The other two head to the front door, but I hang back.
“I’m going to call the police to let them know you’re all right,” I say. The officers who took our report earlier need to know that she’s safe. “I’ll be right up.”
Opal smiles gratefully. “Thank you.”
They head up, and I call the police. The dispatcher answers quickly.
“Hi, this is Alex calling about Opal Zall. We’ve found her, and she’s safe. She’s been through a lot and needs to rest, but she’ll come to the station in the morning to talk to you.”
The dispatcher thanks me and assures me that he’ll update the officers on the case. I hang up and head up to Opal’s apartment. She looks a bit anxious.
“What did they say?” she asks, her voice soft.
“They’re glad you’re safe,” I reply, giving her a reassuring smile. “They want to speak with you in the morning.”
“Thank you. I… I don’t want to have to talk about it again right now.”
“Of course not. You need to sleep.”
Opal nods, relief washing over her face. “Thanks, Alex.”
I hug her tight. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad you’re safe. Get some rest, okay?”
She nods.
Kathy has made herself comfy on the couch. “I’m spending the night. You don’t have to.”
I eye Opal who nods. “You can go, Alex. I’ll be fine.”
“All right. I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”
Opal yawns. “Goodnight, Alex.”
“Goodnight, Opal,” I say, watching as she closes the door behind her.
I leave the apartment complex. Almost immediately, my thoughts drift to Jake. There was something about him tonight—something more than just his kindness and willingness to help. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel drawn to him in a way that I haven’t felt in a long time.
I don’t really want to go to my place. I doubt I’ll be able to sleep, and I figure Luna’s Moon will still be open, so I head back that way. Soon enough, the neon sign of Luna’s Moon comes into view. The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses greet me as I step inside.
The bar is still busy, though not as packed as it was earlier. I spot Jake behind the bar, still helping out Lila. The sight of him brings a sense of comfort, and I make my way over to an empty stool at the bar.
Jake looks up as I approach, surprise and concern flickering in his eyes. “Alex? I thought you’d be getting some rest.”
I offer a tired smile. “I’m too wired to sleep. Thought I’d come back here for a bit.”
He nods, understanding. “Do you want a drink? Something to help you relax?”
“That sounds great,” I reply, taking a seat. “Surprise me.”
Jake moves with practiced ease, mixing a drink while keeping an eye on me. When he sets the glass in front of me, I take a sip, grateful for the distraction. The drink is perfect, a balance of flavors that calms my racing thoughts.
“How’s Opal?” Jake asks, his voice soft.
“She’s safe,” I say, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “I called the police and let them know she’s been found. They want to talk to her in the morning, but for now, she’s resting. Kathy’s with her.”
“That’s good to hear,” he says, leaning against the bar. “I’m glad she’s okay.”
I take another sip of my drink, the tension slowly easing from my shoulders. “Thank you, Jake. I don’t think I could have gotten through today without your help.”
He smiles, a hint of shyness in his expression. “I’m just glad I could be there for you.”
We lapse into a comfortable silence, the buzz of the bar around us providing a soothing backdrop. As I sit there, I can’t help but feel a growing connection to Jake, something deeper than just the events of the day.
“So, tell me more about yourself, Jake,” I say, genuinely curious. “What’s your story?”
He chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Not much to tell, really. I grew up around here, been working at Luna’s Moon for a few years now. It’s a good place, good people.”
I nod, intrigued. “You seem really close with everyone here. It’s nice to see such a tight-knit community.”
“Yeah,” he agrees, his gaze meeting mine. “It’s like a big family. We look out for each other.”
As we continue to talk, I find myself relaxing more and more, the events of the day fading into the background. Jake’s presence is comforting, and I can’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, this unexpected connection is something worth exploring.