Chapter Eighteen
W hen she headed home , the sun was setting. Fatigue was pulling at her so much that Keira stopped at a drive-thru for a large cup of caffeinated soda, hoping that would help her get home.
She opened the windows to let in the cool air, turned up the volume on the radio, and sang—anything to keep from falling asleep.
She was relieved when the sign for her town came into view. A few minutes later, she pulled into her driveway and looked apprehensively at her house. She had forgotten to leave the lights on that morning, so now she would be walking into a dark, silent house. Keira took a few deep breaths to get up the guts to go in, when her phone rang. She bit back a scream, so it came out as a gasp.
She cleared her throat. “Hello?”
“Where are you?”
Keira took a deep breath. “I’m sitting in my driveway.”
Daniel was silent.
“I just got home. I was going to call you,” she said quietly but in a defensive manner.
“I’m coming over. Keira, is that all right?”
She did want him there, besides caring for him deeply, she was so afraid. The shadows seemed to lengthen and darken around her. “Okay.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Keira heard him hang up and sat, looking around the yard and at the dark house. She should get out and go to the house, but decided she would wait a little longer. She couldn’t seem to get her limbs to move, some from fatigue, but the rest was definitely caused by fear.
About ten minutes later, Daniel’s SUV pulled up beside her car. Keira took a relieved breath and reached for her purse, at the last minute sticking the bullets she’d bought in her glove compartment. She jumped as her door opened.
“Come on, Keira.”
A sense of relief rushed through her. “I’m coming.”
He helped her out and kept an arm around her waist, not saying anything until her front door was unlocked. He didn’t comment on the fact it took longer because she was shaking so much. He tried once to reach for her keys to help, but she nudged his arm aside, saying she could do it.
Daniel looked down at how shaky Keira was, and as she tried to hide the fact that her eyes were darting frantically around the room.
She pulled away and set her purse down, trying to act nonchalant knowing she was probably failing. “How was your day?” A hand pulled her to stop. She raised her face to look at his.
“Where have you been?”
“I told you, I had to do some shopping.”
Daniel turned her to face him, cupping her cheek when she tried to pull away. “So, where is everything?”
She turned her head aside. She hated lying and had always been bad at it, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. “Daniel. I’m tired, so if you want to interrogate me, you should just go home.” She used the fingertips of one hand to rub her forehead, where the headache that had throbbed on and off all day was starting to strengthen.
Keira moved away and walked into the kitchen, pulling out a glass to fill at the sink. She took out the bottle of aspirin she kept in one of the cabinets, then stood at the sink while she drank the rest of the water, her back to the door, where she could see his reflection in the window as he stood watching her.
“Did you eat?”
She waited for a second to answer. Tell him the truth and hear about it, or lie? She’d lied enough for the day. “No, but I’m not hungry. I have to get up early, so I’d rather just go to sleep.” She hoped she sounded firm enough to stop this line of questioning.
Daniel gritted his teeth. “When was the last time you ate?”
Guess not. Keira turned to face him. “It doesn’t matter, and frankly, it’s not your problem.” Her chin tilted up. “ I’m not your problem.”
He took the few steps needed to get to her and speared his fingers through her hair to hold her head. “You’re not a problem, Honey, and I can’t help but worry about you. I care about you very much, Keira. Please let me help you.”
Something in her chest loosened and softened. Keira rested against his chest, wrapped her arms around his waist, and lay her cheek against him, letting his strength and warmth invade her body. This was the first time he’d mentioned his feelings. She needed to feel like he cared, if only a little. “I care about you, too.”
“Whatever’s going on, we can work it out. We’ll figure this situation out, Honey. Just don’t give up on us.” He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Keira pulled in a long breath and closed her eyes. “I won’t,” she said, but thought she might not have a choice, and that just saddened her.
She was glad when he decided not to push her further tonight for answers or try to get her to eat.
“Let’s go to bed. I need to hold you.”
“I’d like that.”
“Go get ready, and I’ll be right in.”
Keira nodded and slowly walked off. Her only thought was to get some sleep. She needed that more than anything now.