Chapter 8 #2
There were groans and good-natured complaints, but Kara could tell that no one really minded.
She was an early riser herself, liking the calm of the morning before the world woke up.
In her “pre-kidnap” world, she’d pour a cup of coffee, sit on her tiny little deck and enjoy the morning before the sun came up.
“Come on, Kara. Let’s get you sorted,” Arrow said.
She walked with him out of the building, waving shyly at the other women when they called out their goodbyes and promised to be in touch soon. The men all gave her chin lifts, which made her smile a little. Then Arrow was helping her into the passenger side of his Cadillac Escalade.
She couldn’t help but tease him when he got into the driver’s seat. “Fancy wheels.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. It’s a little over the top. But it’s an older model, and I got a great deal on it. Can’t beat the safety of the thing either, which I like.”
Kara nodded. The seats were leather, and it didn’t look like an older model to her, but she wasn’t a car aficionado, so she had no clue what year it might be. All she knew was the seat was extremely comfortable and there was a ton of room in the back.
She closed her eyes and sighed as Arrow pulled out of the parking lot.
She relaxed for the first time in what seemed like forever.
She was exhausted. Was it just the wee hours of this morning when she and Arrow had been in the woods, wondering if his friends would find them? So much had happened since then.
Once more proving they were on the same page, he said, “Hard to believe we were sleeping in the dirt last night, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope everyone didn’t overwhelm you.”
Kara opened her eyes and without picking her head up off the headrest, turned to him and said, “They’re great. You’re blessed to have such great friends.”
“I am,” he agreed. “They were all sincere in their wanting to help, you know.”
“Yeah.”
“Sometimes I feel as if we’re the land of misfit toys, from that holiday movie. And somehow we all found each other and are thriving.”
Kara smiled. “I like that analogy.”
“We’re all weird in our own ways, and I think that makes us better friends.
And the women my teammates have found only make them stronger.
Which makes our connections stronger. The missions my team and I go on…
they aren’t safe. Or fun. But knowing we have each other’s backs makes us able to do what we were born to do, without worrying about the external dangers quite as much.
I’m not explaining this very well, but it almost feels as if my friends’ flying has gotten better, now that they’re each part of a couple.
More focused, precise. Not that they were reckless before, but there’s so much more at stake for most of them. ”
Kara nodded.
Arrow looked over at her and said, “I understand that a lot better now.”
She swallowed hard but didn’t look away from him. His attention was split between her and the road in front of them, but she had no concern about his driving skills and his ability to get them to his house safely.
“I’m going to do everything possible to keep you safe, Kara. But I need you to do your part too. Don’t take any risks with your safety. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t let your guard down until we know where Nolan is, and until he’s behind bars.”
“You make it sound like a sure thing,” Kara said softly.
“That he’ll be caught. Too many times men like him get away with abuse or stalking or even rape because there’s not enough proof, or it’s the woman’s word against his.
And let’s face it, the system is still stacked against women.
We’re judged for what we wear, if we were drinking when the incident happened.
People think we were ‘asking for it.’ As if anyone would ask for what happened to me. ” The last was said more as an aside.
“I’m not going to rest until he pays for what he did. To you and others. I’ve got friends who know how to get things done, Kara. We just need to let them do their thing and keep you safe in the meantime.”
“I’ll stay vigilant,” she told him. “I have no desire to see Nolan again, or to be back in his clutches.”
“Good. So…you’re okay with going to my house tonight?”
It was an abrupt change of topic, but that was more than all right with Kara. She was nearing the end of her rope and just needed a moment to herself. Well, not completely to herself. Having Arrow with her seemed…right.
“Yes.”
“Okay. What do you want for dinner?”
Kara was confused for a moment. Then it registered that he was giving her a choice—and it seemed like a huge deal.
She’d gone weeks without being able to make any decisions about anything.
Nolan told her when she could and couldn’t speak.
When she could pee. When she could sleep. When and what she could eat.
Arrow’s simple question of what she wanted to eat almost had her sobbing. But she had to hold it together for a little while longer. The last thing she wanted was for this man to see her break.
“Pizza?”
“What kind?”
“Pepperoni?”
“Is that a question, or is it what you really want?” he asked with a small smile.
“What I want,” she said a little firmer. “And ground beef. And cheesy bread. Oh, and if they have fried pickles, those too.”
Arrow chuckled. “You got it. And for the record, that sounds delicious. I think I could eat a whole pizza all by myself. I’ll be sure to get extra, so we can have it for breakfast if you want.”
“You like cold pizza?” she asked.
“Am I a guy?”
It was her turn to laugh now. “Uh…yeah, Arrow. You are definitely a guy.”
He smirked. “Cold pizza is practically one of the basic food groups for a dude.”
“I like mine dipped in ranch.”
“Same.”
They smiled at each other.
Kara remained silent for the rest of the trip, but it was a comfortable silence.
She didn’t feel awkward or have an urge to offer innate babble, as she often did.
And soon enough, Chaos pulled onto a quiet street in a nice-looking neighborhood.
She could see water behind the houses, and was amazed to realize he had a place by the ocean.
The houses were small but well-kept. The lawns were all mowed and there were lots of nice climbing trees.
It might seem funny that she noticed that, but being a kid who’d often lost herself in a tree when she felt unwanted or awkward, she was glad there were spots in his neighborhood for similar kids who might need a place to go.
Arrow pushed a button on the ceiling of the car and a garage door opened on the house to their left.
It looked as if it needed some renovations, but it was still adorable.
He pulled into the driveway and then the garage, not turning off the engine until the door was once more shut.
Then he unlocked the doors and turned to her.
“Habit,” he said with a sheepish shrug. “If anyone manages to sneak into the garage while I’m pulling in, I don’t want them to be able to open the car door and catch me off guard.”
Kara was a little taken aback. “Has that happened before?”
“Not to me or anyone I know personally, but I’d much rather be safe than sorry.”
Kara agreed, and she filed the info away for the future, if and when she ever had a car and a garage.
“Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the place, then come back for the bags in the back.”
Kara had forgotten about the stuff the women said they’d gotten for her, and nodded before reaching for the door handle.
She got out and realized she was crazy sore. She hobbled around to the front of the car, and he obviously noticed.
“A hot bath will help. Come on, quick tour, bags, then I’ll leave you to do what you need to in the bathroom.”
Arrow held out his hand and, without thought, Kara took it. Surprising herself with how easily and fast she’d come to trust this man. It seemed natural to hold his hand. He didn’t squeeze at all, was very careful not to hurt her bandaged hand as he led her into his house.
He pointed out the half bath and tiny laundry room in the hall that led to the garage.
Then they were in the main living area, which was an open concept.
There was a decent-size living room with a TV that took up most of one wall, a couch, a huge beanbag in a corner, and a rocking chair.
A low table was in front of the couch, and it was filled with magazines, what looked like unopened mail, and an empty glass or two. It wasn’t dirty, just a bit cluttered.
There was also a bookcase against another wall, which was overflowing with books. They were stacked haphazardly. Kara had to smile at the helicopter made out of Legos sitting on top of the case.
She let go of his hand and wandered over to the shelves, curious as to his reading tastes.
To her surprise, she found many of the authors she loved to read herself.
He was a thriller fan, which made her smile again.
He actually might like her books, but she’d be way too shy to ever tell him her pen name.
She’d die if he read one and didn’t enjoy it.
A picture caught her attention, and she picked it up. It was a five-by-seven shot of Arrow standing next to a woman. She had her arm around him, and his head was tilted so it was resting on top of hers. She was tiny compared to him. It was more than obvious they were related.
“My mom,” Arrow said from behind her.
Kara smiled at the picture. The woman was covered in dirt.
She’d obviously been gardening or something, but it was the smile on her face that had Kara grinning.
She looked content. Happy. In her element.
There was a house off to the right in the distance, and rows and rows of vegetables behind them.
The clouds in the blue sky were in stark contrast to the greens of nature all around them.
“It was taken not too long ago, at her place in Maine. She lives mostly off-grid and loves every second of it. She grows a lot of her own food, has chickens and goats, and is kind of a hippie.”