Chapter 7 #2
She takes another drink. When she lowers the bottle, she pauses for a beat. “I don’t think it’s necessary. Most of my injuries have healed. They’ll ask too many questions anyhow and probably call the cops. To be honest, I just want to go home, shower, and sleep in my own bed. For like a week.”
My stomach twists. I hate that I can’t give her that just yet. “Sweetie, I’m sorry. We can’t go home because no doubt Reed is camped out. If he sees you like this, he’ll know something happened. It’s best to find a hotel for the night. He’ll be gone by morning.”
Kenzie lets her head flop against the headrest and closes her eyes. “Dammit, Reed.” With a whine, she grouses, “Finally saved after being kidnapped for more than a month and can’t even sleep in my own bed.”
I bite my tongue, bound and determined not to spend any more of my emotions on Reed tonight.
It’s bad enough I’ll be stuck replaying that kiss every night for the next few years.
Not to mention how hard his package was when I gave it a little distracting caress.
That’s not a memory that’ll be fleeing anytime soon.
A few miles from home, I pull into a motel. “I’ll go get us a room. Are you comfortable waiting in the car?”
She barely opens her eyes, flicking her wrist toward the building. “Yeah.”
“So brave,” I whisper, pulsing my hand on her shoulder supportively.
“I see you’re still as clingy as plastic wrap,” she teases, her mouth quirking upward.
There she is. My sarcastic, snarky best friend is still inside this frail package. They didn’t destroy her spirit.
Fighting a smile, I exit the car. With each step, gratefulness fills every dark corner of my soul. For weeks, I’ve been terrified of losing the closest thing to my family I have left.
But I didn’t lose her.
I did it.
She’s alive.
She’s safe.
And it’s over. Finally over.
The motel front desk clerk gnaws on a toothpick, eyeing me down uncomfortably. “Credit card and ID.”
“I’ll be paying cash,” I respond, suddenly grateful I work in a profession that provides ample cash tips.
Reed is likely doing his FBI stuff to track me, and he’ll get an alert if I use my card. Well, that’s assuming he’s still searching for me, which he probably is. No doubt just to make my life miserable.
“ID then.” He flings his thumb toward a sign that states identification is required at check-in.
Dang it.
“Will it be run through a system or something? A database?”
He grins and leans on the counter. “You on the run from the law or something?”
Yes, but not for the reason he’s assuming.
“No, nothing like that.”
The clerk’s gaze slithers up and down my frame, making me want to shimmy off the cringe. “Working girl? You don’t look like the usual type.”
Is that a jab at my weight?
Ignoring the urge to sass at him in defense of my body type, I let my face fall lax and attempt to fib my way out of the situation. “No. My friend is hiding out from her abusive ex. He’s got connections, and I’m sure he’s tracking our stuff. I just want to keep her safe.”
He purses his lips and straightens. “Fine. I’ll keep your info private. But I still need a card and your ID in case you damage the room.”
Darn my luck to find the only motel clerk in town who insists on following rules.
“As long as you promise not to put this information into a computer system or whatever, then fine.”
Once he nods in agreement, I slide my cards toward him.
Thirty minutes later, I aimlessly flip through TV channels while Kenzie takes a long, much-needed shower. The high of having my best friend back rapidly fades into boredom.
Is there anything worse than late-night hotel television programming? Doubtful.
My stomach growls, but I ignore it. I’m good at that.
Kenzie sticks her head out of the bathroom. “Lila, I hate to make this about me. But I just realized I don’t have any clean clothes. So you’re about to get an eye full.”
Grinning, I toss her a plastic bag. “I got you this at the gas station, silly.”
She peeks into the bag, spotting the swimsuit cover-up I bought while getting her food and drinks. “Best friend ever.”
The perks of living in a beach town. There’s tourist attire at nearly every store.
Once she’s dressed, she plops down on the bed beside me and grabs my hand. “I mean it, Lila.”
“Mean what?”
“You’re the best friend ever. No one else would have done everything you did to save me. I owe you my life. And I knew—I just knew—you wouldn’t let me down.”
“That’s because you’re my family.” My voice deepens with an influx of emotions. “When I had no one, I still had you.”
And I mean that.
Kenzie isn’t perfect. Neither am I. But she was there when my entire world crumbled to pieces at my feet.
Well, I should say crumbled for the second time.
She’s been the only constant in my life, like the sister I thought I’d have beside me forever.
Losing one sister was enough for me. I’ll do anything I can to keep this one.
Kenzie cuddles beside me, wrapping one arm over my lap. I run my fingers through her hair, unable to tear my eyes from her. Soon, she rolls over and falls asleep. Poor thing must be exhausted.
As much as I’d love to get some rest, I’m too keyed up. I abandon the TV and opt to doom scroll on my phone.
A message pings a few seconds later, shattering all bits of my peace and ripping away my comfort.
Silas:
Hope you enjoy your night at Turtle Sands. Tomorrow, the real fun begins.