Chapter 14
Thario was glad he was getting out of here today. He'd slept, but only because he'd been totally bored since there wasn't anything else to do in the hospital.
His head felt better, but the doctor warned him that he really had to take it easy. If he pushed too hard, he would end up with more pain than he had to start with.
He knew Frog would be glad to see him, just like he would be happy to see his dog.
Danika and Sharp said he could stay for a while, but he needed to find a place of his own.
Maybe he would take a look at the cabin out near Elowen and Griz.
He liked it up there in the mountains. It would be different.
Trips to the doctor would take longer. He had friends here he could stay with in the San Diego area when he had multiple appointments.
The cabin was worth looking into. He would be close to Griz, and Elowen was really cool. Dating wasn’t happening for him, so there was no reason to stay in a populated area for that.
Frog would have plenty of room to run. His dog was getting old, and eventually, he wouldn't be able to run, but he might as well move out where he would have some land before Frog got too old to enjoy it.
The door opened, and Danika poked her head in. "You decent?"
He laughed. “I’m dressed.”
“Good enough. Calla is with me.”
He almost choked on his breath when she stepped in. Every nerve in his body seemed to be alive, which overwhelmed his concussed head, and he winced. From the way her eyes darted away from him, she took his reaction wrong.
He stood, though his head spun, and moved to her. "Hey, how are you?"
Her gaze flicked to his, then away. "Okay."
“Good. My head still hurts a bit, but I’ll recover.”
Shock filled her face, and her eyes went wide. "Oh, your head hurts."
He nodded. "Yeah, the doctors want me to rest and relax for a few days. I'm not used to relaxing. I like keeping busy. They don't want me watching TV, either. It kind of sucks because I can't relax with a movie or reading. I'm just going to have to sit around and do nothing."
She studied his face and frowned. “You have a cut near your hairline. That has to be annoying.”
He nodded. "It is. But we got you out of that place. If I'd known, I would have come to help you sooner."
"But you didn't know. No one knew. I mean, I guess people in high school should have known. At first, they were giving me privacy, I guess, but no one came looking for me. Of course, I had no way of contacting anyone. My brother took my computer, my phone, everything. Maybe he sent emails and texts back to my friends telling them lies. I have no idea what happened.”
“That must have been very hard.”
The nurse came in and gave him the last of his paperwork, along with a few prescriptions. He was finally free.
Luckily, Danika had brought dark sunglasses for him to wear during the drive home.
When he got into the house, he almost collapsed on the couch.
He was tired, but glad to be out of the hospital.
Danika had set up a bed for him to sleep on in the corner of the little room up front that was her office.
He stepped in, and Calla came downstairs.
She entered the small room, her eyes bouncing from the walls to him, then to the floor and ceiling.
“You okay sleeping down here?” she asked.
“Yes. They were nice enough to allow me to stay.”
“They’re good people.”
Danika poked her head in and smiled. "I'm going to put a couple of pizzas in the oven. So maybe fifteen minutes and we'll have food."
Thario nodded. “Sure. That sounds great.”
Danika left, and Calla stayed. He glanced around and realized the only place to sit was on the air mattress because the mattress blocked Danika's office chair.
“Um, I would offer you a seat, but there really isn’t anywhere to sit.”
“That’s okay.”
A lock of hair had fallen to cover part of her face. He reached up and pushed it back, his fingers grazing over her neck. Her shiver was unmistakable.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to overstep.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay.”
They stayed standing like that, looking at each other for almost a minute, and it wasn't weird. He liked her eyes and her smile.
“Do you remember your old email address?” he asked after a moment.
Her face screwed up to the side like she was thinking, then she nodded. "I think so."
“Once I get a hold of a computer, I can help you get logged in.”
“Oh, that would be…good, I guess.”
“It might give you some insight into what happened once Brent took everything away from you.”
She nodded, then a frown turned her lips down. "I just don't want to be disappointed. I don't know if I could go through another round of losing friends."
“Have you talked to the police about what happened?”
She shook her head. “Not really. They asked their questions that one day, but they haven’t come back around to ask more.”
"When you do talk to them, one of us should be there with you. It could be me, or Danika, or one of the other women. I just don't want you to have to deal with this alone."
She picked up the pillow he would be sleeping on and picked at a loose string on the pillowcase. “Um, do you think the police will arrest me?”
He shook his head. “What for?”
“Brent always said the police would do bad things to me if I went to them. He said that I’d make them mad, and they’d lock me up.”
He placed his hand on her arm. “No way. You did nothing wrong.”
“He said he would tell them I killed our parents.”
“But you didn’t.”
Her eyes went wide as her gaze flew to his. “No. I never would have done anything like that. I couldn’t have.”
“With the things he’s done, there is no way they would believe him over you. You’ll be okay.”
She nodded. “I hope so. I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
The door was open, and he heard Elowen talking, so he wasn't surprised when she stepped into the room.
“Hey, Calla, Thario. How are you both doing?”
"Okay," he said, though it was kind of a lie.
Calla shrugged. "I don't know what to do with my life. I'm glad to be free, but I have no clue what to do now."
"Why don't you come live with me and Griz for a few months?"
Calla cocked her head to the side. “Why?”
Elowen flashed a big smile. "For one, it would be in the country, and I've found that the sunrises and sunsets in the mountains are healing.
We have a garden, and you could help us keep the weeds at bay.
Staying busy helps while you make decisions about your future.
That way, there won't be pressure on you because you would be working, even if it was only working in the garden.
You'd have time to sit and relax, too. You could take a class or do art. Something to decompress."
He could see the interest in Calla’s face, but there was also hesitation.
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
Her words didn't surprise Thario. Calla had been abused and treated horribly by her brother. She needed space and time, and out in the mountains, she would have both.
“I’m moving to a cabin near them,” Thario said, committing to the plan to move close to Elowen and Griz.
Calla glanced up, meeting his gaze. He swore he saw a spark in her eyes just before she nodded. “Okay. I’ll move to the mountains. That sounds great. Thank you for offering. I can’t believe I found you all. You’re too nice.”
Thario couldn't stop the smile on his lips. He noticed Calla smiling, too, though she seemed to be busy studying the pillowcase.
“Good. That’s settled. Frog is on his way over, and I know Knuckles will be excited to see him. We’ll be leaving in the morning.”
"My van should be ready this evening, and I can pick it up.
" Thario had traded in his truck a few months ago for a van that was easier for him to get in and out of.
But the van had been second-hand and needed some work on it.
Luckily, he'd picked this week for the work to be done.
Otherwise, it might have burned up in the fire.
Elowen's lips thinned. "If you can't watch TV, then you can't drive. Calla and I can ride in our car, and Griz can drive your van. After a few days, I'm sure you'll be able to drive, but you'll have to be careful."
He blew out a frustrated breath. “Shit, you’re right. I can’t drive. I guess it’s me and Griz on a road trip.”
“Cool. Girls’ trip,” Elowen said.
Thario caught the worry on Calla’s face before she smiled at Elowen. He wanted to know what the look was for, but he didn’t want to put too much focus on her. Later, if he had time, he would ask her if the arrangements were okay.
He didn’t need to get too attached to her.
She probably had no interest in him, just like other women once they found out he wasn’t whole.
His stomach dropped. Other women dumping him once they figured out he’d lost parts of his legs wasn’t fun, but the idea that Calla wouldn’t like him and see him as less than freaking hurt.
He didn’t really know her, but already he was getting attached.
He needed to be careful, or he would fall for her.