“I think it’s more likely they’re watching the race, which incidentally we’re not going to win now.”
“I need to get up.”
“Okay, calm down. It’s not easy, seeing as we’re still connected.”
He managed it with Lani’s help, and seconds later they were back on their feet.
“Let’s go, we need to finish,” Noah said, wrapping his arm around her again.
“But we’ve lost.”
“We still have to finish.”
They were last, but still received a fair amount of applause.
“Mr. Harris, I’m Jackie Rolland, DVT news.” Lani froze as a woman appeared with a microphone. With her was a cameraman. “We’re doing a segment each week on small towns and their traditions.”
Lani’s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, and her limbs suddenly didn’t work.
“As one of the local business owners, we would like to interview you for the segment.”
Shock changed to fear, and that’s when she started moving. Bending at the waist, she struggled to get the tie at their ankles undone. She had to get away from that camera. Had they already taken footage of them? Who would see it? Would he see it?
Panic had her fingers clawing at the knot.
“Okay, if you come to the Howler later, we can talk then.”
She saw the feet walk away but still couldn’t breathe.
Large hands cupped hers. “Lani, let me do that.”
“I-I it w-won’t undo.”
“Calm down, you’re making the knot tighter.” He gently pushed her aside and worked the knot free.
“G-got to go.” She didn’t stop to thank him, simply ran back to the Howlery. Buddy was there, still leaning on the wall. Lani dropped down and hugged him close, needing to feel his warm body. He rested his head on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs. C said from above her.
“Nothing. I just missed him.”
“In the twenty minutes you were gone?”
She took a few seconds more, then got to her feet feeling calmer.
“Are you all right if I take a br-break, Mrs. C? I’m hot and sweaty. It’s not a good look when serving.”
“You go on inside and take five. I’ve got things under control here.”
Looking down as she entered, Lani noticed her hands were shaking. Thank God Mrs. C hadn’t noticed. Running through the shop, she took the stairs up.
You can’t keep doing this, Mel had said, and she was right. But running was the only option she could come up with, and now she’d have to do it again. The thought of leaving Lake Howling was not a good one. She’d tried not to form bonds, but it had happened when she wasn’t looking. These people had slipped into her emotions.
Falling onto the bed, Lani put her face in her hands.
“Lani?”
Lowering them, she found Noah entering the room.
