Safe in Clua

THIRTY-FIVE

Laia

Kenzi folds her arms and leans back in her chair, a stubborn set to her jaw. “I’m not leaving, so stop telling me to, woman.”

“Your shift finished over an hour ago.” I focus on my computer screen and not on my over-protective friend.

I switched my cell on this morning to a dozen missed calls. And arrived to work to hugs and tears and a shed load of worry. She hasn’t even told me about the party. She hasn’t even pulled me up over the fact that Felix bailed on the party to help me with my pies. And that is not the Kenzi I know.

I don’t want my shitty past to change things. I don’t want to be just the girl that everybody is worried about. And I really don’t want to talk about Damon and what I think he’s up to. If he’s here, or if he’s really gone.

I want to talk about pies, or Mylo, or man bans. Hell, I’ll even talk about Flappy Eyes right now. Anything to distract me from the constant replay of door handles rattling and the knowledge that Damon knows where I live, and I’ve not started running yet.

“So, we’re sure he got on the ferry?” Kenzi pins with worried eyes, fiddling with the strap of her purse.

My heavy sigh starts at my toes and works its way right through my body until it blows past my lips and my fingers still on the keyboard. “So, the guys at the port say.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

I finally spin my chair to look at her. “I’m not. I don’t get why he’d track me all the way here just to turn around and leave again. None of it makes sense, but I can’t—I won’t put my life on hold, not again.”

“Does Pete know? I think Pete should definitely be told. He can hire an extra security guard or something. Or we can get Mylo to do it.” Her eyes are wide. Worried. And about as scared as I feel. “Mylo would totally do it.” She bites her lip, already pulling her cell from her purse. “I’ll call him now.” She pauses and her lips twist to the side. “Or maybe you should call him. Things are kind of weird between us right now. Oh. Maybe we can get Jackson to post someone here.”

“Kenzi.” I reach over and clasp her bouncing knee. “Calm. Please. He’s just one guy.” One fucked-up sociopath of a guy. I swallow down the unease that’s been twisting my gut all day and force a smile. “Felix will be dropping me off and picking me up until we make sure he’s not coming back. Okay?” I widen my eyes when she shakes her head and opens her mouth to say more. “Okay?”

She nods, but her bottom lip pouts out. “Okay.”

“So, you can go home now. You’re working in the bar tonight. You need to go home and chill out. I’m fine. I’m safe. I promise.” I offer her what I can only hope is a reassuring smile.

She lets out a yawn, covering her mouth with both hands. “I did have a pretty late night.” She blinks and the Kenzi I know and love is back. “We missed you at the party. And Fee. You guys were the talk of it until Rylie showed up and refused alcohol.”

I stop spinning back to my desk and twist back to face her.

The mischief sparking in her eyes settles something inside me. Like a little bit of normality. “So, Rylie wasn’t drinking? Why would that be talk of a party?”

Her face breaks into an excited grin. “Rylie is my partner in wine. She never misses an excuse to party.”

I shrug, still completely lost.

“She’s pregnant, Laia. She found out after our girls night when her hangover lasted a week.”

“That’s great news. Wait. Is that great news?”

“She and Kane have been together forever. It’s great news.”

The happy on her face is fleeting, her lips turning down and her eyebrows tipping up in the middle. “You left Arizona when he found you there. Does that mean you’re going to leave here too?”

I can’t meet her stare. Can’t lie to her and tell her I’m one hundred percent staying either. “I want to stay, but I won’t if it’s going to put everybody else at risk.”

“You’re safe in Clua with us—safer than out there on your own. But if you leave, I’m coming with you. Don’t even try to stop me.”

Tears of a different kind sting behind my eyes and before I know what I’m doing I’ve got my friend in a bear hug.

If she’s surprised, she doesn’t show it, she just rubs my back and hugs me right back.