“I’m so excited. It’s been so long since Oly and I did something away from the apartment.”
I’ve been worried about running into Rylan, and I also worry that I’m going to be found if I keep going out.
“Well, I’ll help get you out of the apartment more often,” she says.
Harley is so nice, but I can’t take her up on the offer.
“How was your date last night?” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
She’s been so frustrated with Aftershock lately. He’s not closing the deal with her.
“I want fry fries,” Oly says from the back seat.
We glance up and see those damn Golden Arches as we drive toward Big Lake.
“No, baby girl. I have snacks for you,” I answer, and she huffs.
“Oh kay,” she replies dramatically. I love how full of drama she is sometimes.
“Well?” I poke Harley in the side to get her to answer me. I know she’s avoiding it.
“Fine. It was another night of him ending it with just a deep kiss and holding me tight. I swear he’s broken or something.” She sighs just as dramatically as Oly did, and I laugh at her.
When I finally regain control, I ask, “So… he only got all hot and heavy with you that day you wore his shirt last month and hasn’t done more since?”
“No. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I’m tired of waiting. I’m about to jump his bones or go find someone willing.”
“I doubt you’ll find anyone else. You’re in love with Aftershock.”
I see it in her eyes when she talks about him. I wish I could feel that, but I can’t and won’t ever go there. For me, loving someone is basically signing their death sentence. I don’t have the right to love anyone except whoever my father and Silas choose.
“Do you want me to stop and get fireworks for later at Rylan’s?” She changes the subject, and I’m laughing again.
I’m nervous about going to Rylan’s, but I can keep him at a distance if I have to. Although I realize that now I’m referring to him as Rylan instead of Kodiak, even in my mind. Damn it.
“Girl, you got it bad. No, we don’t need to,” I answer her.
I think about the emergency stash of cash in my wallet. The rest of my money is in a bank in town that I refuse to touch unless I absolutely need it.
“Too late.” She pulls up to the fireworks stand, and I want to get upset with her. I don’t want to feel indebted to her or anyone ever again. “Wait here.” She gets out.
Staring out the window, I think about the fact it isn’t going to get dark enough for fireworks, so it’s a waste of money. But she wants to do it. I guess I’ll just have to slip a bonus in her check to make up for it.
I look into the back seat at my sleeping daughter. Hopefully, the nap helps her mood. I wonder if she struggled to sleep as much as I did last night. She doesn’t have the nightmares I do, but she was two the last time he found us.
He had scared her so bad, told her that her new parents were going to love her so much. It freaked out Oly and took me weeks to comfort her and make her feel safe with me. I know the truth, though. She’ll never be safe as long as they are on this earth.
Harley pulls her truck up to the North Big Lake Recreation Area, and Oly pipes up from the back.
“I swim now?” she asks in a sleepy voice.
“Only with your vest on do you go near that lake, baby,” I tell her as I open the back door and unbuckle her.
The beach is crowded, but we find an area to settle. The guys protecting Harley today help us carry our stuff down from the truck. Icarus is among them, and Oly waves at him.
I strip Oly’s shirt and shorts off, revealing her unicorn swim set. I slip the life jacket on her and buckle her into it. Oly sits down and starts playing in the sand.
“Want me to take you in the water, Oly?” Harley asks, and I indicate that I’m going to sit down and watch them as they go. “Come on, Marnie, don’t worry. Fezzik will make sure no one takes our stuff or spot.”
