Chapter 57
I woketo the smell of bacon and chatter. The clock on the wall showed it was ten in the morning. I bolted out of bed and went to wash up. After Arrow had gotten me out of the club safely last night, we headed back home to escape the police crew and the news reporters. Someone had placed a bomb in the club and called in the news stations.
It was probably all over the news right now. Arrow and I didn’t talk much during our ride home. We were both exhausted. And the conversation that needed to happen would require a lot of energy. But it would happen today.
Nerves simmered in my stomach. What could I tell him? I’d planned on telling him all about the event. This scheme had begun before we started dating, and everything occurred so fast that I didn’t have time to explain. I supposed I could’ve called him, but I’d been in a rush.
Somehow, that didn’t feel like a good reason not to tell him. Would he believe me if I said it didn’t occur to me to let him know until it was too late? That it slipped my mind?
That would make him feel . . . insignificant.
Ugh.I didn’t know what to do.
As I strode to the kitchen, I heard Kaylee whisper, “Did you say anything about the Mercedes?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Good.”
“What Mercedes?” I asked, sliding onto the stool beside Kaylee.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?” She smiled and straightened in her seat.
“Fine,” I said.
Kaylee slid a look at Arrow, who winked at her. What were they up to? They had bonded over the last few days. Had I missed something?
“Oh, I’m just buying a new car.”
“Why? You have plenty of cars.” I jerked a chin out toward his garage.
Arrow shrugged. “I like cars. Speaking of which, you’re getting a new car too. Something better for snow.”
“Mine is fine. Don’t need one.”
“I already bought it,” he said.
I didn’t sense any anger in him. Had he forgiven me already? Did that mean I didn’t need to have that conversation with him?
Kaylee’s eyes widened. “What color?”
“Silver. Just like the one she has now.”
“Cool!”
“Hungry?” He gestured to the plethora of breakfast food on the counter.
“You went out this morning?” I asked.
“We both did.” He smiled at Kaylee.
I arched an eyebrow, pondering this bond between them. Besides my dad, Arrow was the other male adult in her life. Warmth bloomed in my chest, seeing how their relationship had transformed just as my relationship with him had shifted tremendously.
Perhaps the main reason I didn’t inform him about the club was because I needed the space to do things my way—the way things had been before he appeared in my life. Before I fell in love with him. I was trying my best to navigate being in love with someone. And I made my first mistake by not telling him I’d be putting myself in danger.
“You okay?” he asked, placing a plate full of food in front of me.
“Yeah, thanks.”I picked at a pancake.
His phone buzzed on the counter, and he grabbed it quickly. His brows furrowed as he typed something back.
He dropped a kiss on my cheek. “Got a meeting. We’ll talk when I get back.” His eyes bore into mine. “Okay?”
“Okay.” So much for not having the conversation.
He looked at Kaylee. “Don’t cause too much trouble while I’m gone. Also, the museum reopens on Thursday.”
Kaylee looked at me. “Aimee.”
I clasped her hand. “I have a feeling we’ll find her on Thursday. We’ll need a plan.”
Arrow squeezed her shoulder. “Let me know what you come up with.”