by Aria Ford
“Dominic,” she said slowly.
“He owns a garage! He can sell my car for me! I’m going to call him now.” I was already taking my phone from my pocket, the possibilities exciting me like nothing else had done in a long while. I must be mad not to have thought of all this earlier! But, I reasoned, earlier I had been trying to get as far away from Miami as I could.
“Hell, Brett,” Kerry chuckled. “Shouldn’t we slow down?”
I sighed. “Sorry,” I said. “I just can’t believe I’ve been so dumb lately.”
I could ask myself why the heck I had moved all the way up to Colorado, where my uncle had helped me to get a small cheap apartment, when I could have stayed rent-free in the house in Florida? But, I reasoned, I had wanted to flee the state entirely, just in case the gang could catch up with me that close to Miami.
As it happened, it didn’t help much.
I laughed. My shoulder still ached, a reminder of how close I’d come to nearly getting shot. I might have got shot just as easily staying in Miami.
“Well,” Kerry said slowly, “I guess I could resign.”
“You could,” I agreed.
I imagined the two of us living in the house on the coast. What quite we would do for a living, I wasn’t sure. It was in a pretty remote place. And I had to admit I hadn’t thought about that overmuch. With the rent covered—I owned the place so we wouldn’t have to pay rent—I hadn’t thought any further.
She cleared her throat. “I’ll need time to think about it,” she said slowly.
I laughed. “Well, I need to see the police,” I said shakily.
“Let me come with you, okay?” Kerry said. “You shouldn’t have to see them alone.”
I reached over and held her fingers. I felt quite emotional. It had been a long time since I had considered anyone caring about me.
“Thanks,” I said.
I sipped at my coffee and I was still sipping it when my breakfast arrived.
“Thanks so much,” I said fervently. She smiled, and so did Kerry.
As I ate—I couldn’t believe how hungry I was—I discussed the plans a bit more with Kerry.
“So,” she said slowly, “the idea is that we settle things with the police, then we go to my place, yeah?”
“Yes,” I said. My throat was tight with tension. I was nervous. I was also astonished. Of all the crazy things in my life—which included coming second at the Golden Grand Prix in Japan—this was the craziest thing I had ever done. And easily the most wonderful.
She grinned at me. “You want some more coffee?”
I laughed. “I don’t need any caffeine right now! I am already shaking.”
We both laughed.
“Okay,” I said, drawing a shaky breath. “I should probably settle the bill and go see the police.”
“I’m coming with you,” she said firmly.
We drove there in her car. I wasn’t nervous anymore—miraculously, with all the other things I was thinking about, my heartfelt belief that the police would take one look at me, guess my history and lock me up, simply dissolved as if it had never been.
We were treated with a surprisingly-friendly lady cop, who took our statement, and promised they would be in touch.
“Um…” Kerry cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, officer, but we’re going to be on holiday.”
“Oh?” she frowned. “Well, let me know when you’re getting back to town, then.”
We looked at each other.
“We’ll probably be back next week,” Kerry ventured. “Can I leave my card?”
“Sure,” she said.
I was amazed. Of all the crazy things, I would never have expected this to go off so easily. I was still lightheaded with amazement when we sat down again in her car.
“Whew,” I said.
“See?” she chuckled. “Not so bad. It’s not like anybody knows your story, is it? Except you. And them.”
“And you,” I pointed out. “And I’m glad.”
She got a surprisingly tender look on her face. “I’m glad you trusted me,” she said.
“I did trust you,” I nodded. “I do trust you.”
I did.
We both leaned in. My lips brushed hers. With a feeling of rising wonder in my chest, I kissed her. My mouth tasted hers, my tongue gently parting her lips and slipping in, and I knew I had never before felt quite so happy.
We talked later, on the way back.
“I’m glad I’m coming with you,” she said gently.
“I’m glad you’re coming with me,” I laughed. “I guess it’s silly of me, but I’ll feel safer knowing you’re going to be there with me.”
“I’ll feel safer,” she said slowly. “Not that I think there’s any danger for me here right now.”
“No,” I said. “I guess I would worry, but there’s nowhere they could have seen us together, is there?”
“No,” she grinned. “You have been quite careful of not having me in your apartment.”
I shook my head, laughing. “It’s not on purpose. It isn’t because of how horrible it is in there or anything.”
“It’s not horrible,” she protested. I laughed.
“It’s not as good as yours.”
She smiled. “I like it. And it is far away from yours, so they’re unlikely to know about me.”
“No,” I agreed. “The shop is quite close, though, which is nice, since I can visit you there.”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Like the other day, when you visited me there, and…” she trailed off, frowning.
“And what, Kerry?”
She looked at me. “Nothing, Brett. I’m just being silly.”
“No,” I insisted. “What, honey? What is it?”
“I just…you don’t think they could have seen you there, do you?”
“Well, it is close to my apartment, but I’d be surprised if it’s that close. I mean,” I frowned. “I don’t reckon they’re dedicated enough to do that. Why?”
“Nothing,” she said. She was white-lipped. She looked terrified. I was worried.
“What?” I asked, scared.
“Brett, I think I saw them. They saw me.”
“What?” I was speechless. “Kerry? When?”
“The other day. When I was in the yard. Someone looked over the wall. It’s probably nothing. Probably unrelated. But they were looking at me.”
I was scared. I looked at her. Suddenly, I was more worried about her than I was scared for her. I reached out a hand, rested it on her knee.
“It’s okay,” I said gently. “I think they did see you. But it’ll be okay. You’re coming with me.”
She turned and her eyes locked with mine. Then, to my surprise, she smiled.
“Good,” she said.
My heart felt full of light.
We drove back together.
CHAPTER 16: KERRY
I spent the rest of that afternoon in a kind of crazy whirl of excitement. I moved about slowly, lightheaded. I was just amazed. The fear had given way to the excitement, and I spent far more time thinking about the future than I did about the past. About the possibility that these crazies who had shot Brett knew where I lived.
Weirdly, that seemed completely insignificant, compared to the sweet excitement spreading through me now.
Who would ever have thought that I could have such a crazy thing happen in my life?
I had really thought that my exciting days were over. That I was stuck here, living day by day, never quite content because I missed my old life. Now, something much more remarkable and unusual had turned up. Instead of dancing romantic stories, I was now doing something super-romantic.
I was running away with the man I loved.
“Brett?” I called.
He had fetched a case of things and his car from the apartment, and then brought it here. Last time I saw him, he had been texting someone in the sitting-room. I was busy packing in the bedroom, wondering what to do next.
“Yes?” he aske
d. He was in the hallway, his head just appearing round the door as I turned to call him.
I smiled. He looked so boyish and handsome, so hesitant. I wanted to kiss him.
“I was just thinking,” I said, “that I should go in to work tomorrow, to explain things to my boss.”
He frowned. “You want some support?”
I sighed. “I wouldn’t say no, Brett.”
“Sure thing,” he said. “You came with me to the police-men.”
I chuckled. “Well, then. I can do that. Thank you.”
“Sure,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything less.”
He hugged me and I leaned against his chest. It was wonderful to feel so safe, so supported. It was, I realized, the first time in ages that I had felt I could turn to someone and get support. It might be the first time in my life. If I had thought my family could live with the idea of my career collapsing on me, I might have stayed in my hometown. I just didn’t think I could let them down like that.
“Brett,” I whispered. I leaned into him, my hand kneading his arm, my other arm holding him close.
He kissed me, a tender kiss. Then he smiled.
“Honey, if we stand here, I am going to stay here all day. And then what will happen?”
I giggled. “Well, not a lot.”
“Not a lot of preparing,” he agreed, “but a lot of action.”
I giggled and pressed closer to him. The way his hands were exploring me left no doubt as to the kind of action he meant. I could feel a slow heat rising in my body and I knew that if we didn’t move soon I would be tempted to take him to my bed and not let him out again all day.
“Okay,” I sighed shakily. “We need to get preparing.”
“Yes,” he said. His voice was a ragged whisper and he sounded about as reluctant as I felt. I chuckled and pressed my body to his, then stood back.
“Come on,” I said.
“Right.”
I was busy looking up flights—there were some for Tuesday that weren’t ridiculously expensive, though they were all indirect and would take a day. We would have to do those.
“Sweetie?” I called through the door.
“Yes? Oh, hang on…” he ran through, lifted the phone I could hear ringing from its place on the dining-table, and spoke.
I went back to the bedroom and contemplated contacting my mom.
While I was still phrasing the request in my head, turning it over to see how I could make it sound reasonable and still not put myself in a compromising position, I heard Brett laugh.
“Guess what?” he called.
“What?” I said.
“Dominic said there’s no problem. He’d be happy to sell my car for me. He’ll deposit the cash when he’s done, and he’ll come around tomorrow to check it, but he reckons it should sell pretty quick.”
“Wow,” I said. I grinned. “That’s awesome.”
“Isn’t it?” he was beaming. “I’m so happy.”
“I am too.”
With that being true, I felt ready to phone my mom. I went through to the bedroom and half-shut the door. There was sunshine coming in through the window now, making a big, glowing square on the bed, and splashing on to the floor like shining water. I sat in the sunshine, closed my eyes and thought.
“Mom?” I said.
“Honey!”
All my carefully-planned statements, stuffy and awkward and full of recrimination and excuses, flew out the window as I heard her voice.
“Mom!” I said. I was laughing. She was laughing too. I wondered if she was crying, because her voice was tight with feeling as she spoke.
“Kerry! It’s been ages! You have no idea how much I miss you! What is it?”
I sighed a bit happily. “Oh, Mom, I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure!” she sounded genuinely pleased, which amazed me. I had always had the impression that I was a nuisance, but she sounded eager to help.
“Um, I don’t know, Mom,” I cautioned. “It’s a big favor.”
“Ask away,” she said.
“Well,” I paused. “I want to fly down to Miami tomorrow, but I can’t…”
“Your father and I are paying,” she said instantly. “No question! Baby! I’m so excited! How long can you stay? When will you arrive? Have you found flights?”
“Mom!” I laughed, feeling a slow, giddy joy spread through me like the bubbles in water rising to the surface. “Mom! Slow down! I’ve got flights. Can I send you the details?”
“Send it to me,” she demanded. “I’ll fill it out and pay it. Should I send the tickets to your email?”
“Mom!” I couldn’t believe how helpful she was being! I felt bad. How had I cut her out for all this time? “That would be awesome,” I said.
“Baby! It’s nothing.”
When we eventually terminated the call, I sat on the bed, amazed. There were tears running down my cheeks and I barely noticed. I had never, in a million years, thought Mom and Dad cared that much about me. I had thought I would never be good enough for their approval.
And now—after pushing myself to the top of my career, then damaging my ankle beyond repair—I discover they loved me anyway?
I wanted to laugh. I was crying, laughing, shaking my head. If that accident had to happen so that I could see this, I could even say it was worth it.
How could I have gone through my whole life without ever noticing how loved I was?
I vowed to myself that I would never do that again.
I stood and went out to the kitchen. I wanted to see how Brett was and what he was up to. At least we had one less expense for our crazy, amazing trip.
“Brett?”
“Kerry? Kerry!” his face fell from amused to worried in an instant. “You’re crying.” He ran over and wrapped me in his big, strong, arms. Laughing, I fought, ineffectually, to escape him.
“Brett, it’s okay,” I said, laughing. “I’m happy! Brett—let me go!”
He laughed and soon we were engaged in a pleasant battle of strengths that ended with us both laughing, lying side by side on the couch in the sitting room together.
“So,” he said as we sat up. I leaned against his shoulder and his hand covered mine, warmly.
“So?”
“You all set?”
I nodded. “Just have to see my boss tomorrow.”
“Great,” he said. “I’m all set too. Except for the flight. You must send me the details. I’ll book on the same plane.”
“Perfect.”
We sorted that out, and then we were ready. I looked at the time. It was well and truly lunchtime.
“So,” I said. “You prepared for a culinary adventure?”
“Adventure?” he asked.
“Well,” I said with a shaky laugh, “we have to finish everything that’s in the fridge. That means that between now and breakfast tomorrow, we have a lot of mismatched ingredients to go through.”
He laughed. “Wow! Well! That sounds fun.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” I grinned.
Surreal and wonderful, the afternoon passed us by. We made hamburgers—well, vegetarian ones, made with leftover butternut squash, onions and cheese—and then we went to my bedroom.
We were in bed together when the doorbell rang and Brett jumped up, flushed.
“Sorry, Kerry,” he said sheepishly. “That’s my friend from the garage, to look at the car.”
“On Sunday?” I said.
He nodded. “The faster I go down and sort things out, the faster he’ll go.”
I grinned. I kissed him.
“Off you go,” I said.
He was still red and surprised as he pulled on his trousers again and hurried downstairs. I lay where I was, watching him, a smile on my face.
He came in with a bigger grin. “He said he’ll take it: he expects to sell in the next two weeks.”
“Heck,” I said. “He’s confident.”
He laughed. “I’m just so glad,” he murmured.
“I’
m glad too,” I agreed. “And I’m very glad about something else too.”
“What’s that?” he asked. I thought, though, feeling my body heat up as I looked at that smile, I could see he was thinking the same.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, right now, right close…” I said, reaching to stroke that dark hair.
He shivered and pressed his body close to mine, then, in a gesture that brought tears to my eyes, he lifted my hand to his lips. “So am I,” he said.
We were together, we were happy. And we were leaving on Tuesday.
CHAPTER 17: BRETT
We got a ride with one of Kerry’s friends to the airport that morning. She had also agreed to store Kerry’s car for her in half of her double garage, which I thought was a kind thing to do.
“Okay,” she called cheerily. “Safe journey.”
“Thanks!” Kerry said, hugging her tight. I looked away, giving them time to say their goodbyes. Then we were heading into the airport together.
My stomach was churning with butterflies. I looked at Kerry. She took my hand and we walked through to the departures area together.