The cabin is warming quickly, mostly due to the blazing fire. Despite the testosterone-heavy vibe of the cabin, I think I’m going to like it here. It’s cozy. Quaint. But mostly, I like it because it feels safe. Still, we can’t stay here forever. Something will have to give. But what?
“Will you be good here for a little while? I need to get over to Bart’s before it closes.”
“Bart’s?”
“It’s a mom-and-pop grocery store a few miles from here, the only one around. There isn’t much to eat in the cabin other than some canned food.”
“I’m sure whatever you have will be fine. I can go shopping tomorrow.”
He shakes his head. “I really don’t think you should leave the cabin.”
“Then why bring my car?”
“So it wouldn’t be in Calloway Creek. With all the street cameras, it wouldn’t be that hard to track down a license plate, especially if he has all the resources you say he does.”
“So we’re stuck here.” I sigh. “For how long?”
“As long as it takes. I told you I’m keeping you safe. Now stay here and warm up. I’ll get food and then fetch your things.”
I watch as he bundles up and heads for the door, wanting to ask him once again why he’s going through all the trouble. But his words echo in my head.‘If you are so blind that you can’t see how things are between us, then you’re not half as smart as I’ve given you credit for.’
What does that mean exactly—how things are between us? Howarethey?
I know howIfeel. Despite trying to keep it from happening, I’ve fallen for him, and fallen hard. Could the same have happened for him? Or is he simply playing the part of knight in shining armor to my damsel in distress?
But for the hundredth time, I can’t help wondering how he would feel if he found out I’m not in as much distress as he imagines. That my issues don’t carry nearly the weight he thinks they do. That I’ve lied to him.
I’m not stupid. I know he thinks I’m running from an abusive ex. Even though I told him that wasn’t the case, if I look at it from Carter’s point of view, it’s the only thing that makes sense. And now he’s met Cyrus in person. He’s seen what lengths he’s gone to in order to find me. And he’s scared. I could see it the second I told him who showed up on his doorstep.
To pass the time, Amelia and I explore the cabin. I chuckle at the ridiculous bedspread. Fish and beer cans. Who sells this kind of bedding? I imagine Mia doesn’t frequent this place. It’s a bachelor pad if I’ve ever seen one.
Having stripped the bed and started a load of laundry in the small, stacked washer and dryer in the kitchen, I find a nighttime snack of semi-stale crackers for Amelia. She never got one at Carter’s thanks to Cyrus’s untimely appearance.
By the time Carter returns, Amelia is asleep on the still-unmade bed, wrapped in her favorite blanket, Horton at her side. I close the door to the bedroom so we won’t wake her.
My eyes go wide at all the bags of food Carter puts on the counter.
I cock my head. “Just what army do you think you’re feeding?”
He shrugs and goes back outside, coming in moments later with our suitcases. Then he disappears again to retrieve the boxes from my car. “Can I help you unload?”
I check the time. “You need to get back to Christian. It’s late and he’ll be worried.”
“I’ve been checking in with him. He’s fine. I need to get you settled.”
I sweep my arm around the room, at the food, our stuff. “You’ve done enough for one day, don’t you think?”
I expect him to leave, but he sits on the couch. “Kenna, we need to talk about Cyrus.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
It’s a stupid thing to say, because we both know it’s a bald-faced lie.
“Okay, listen. I don’t know why he’s after you. In my head, I’m thinking the worst things. Things like he hurt you or Amelia, or that he would do the unimaginable to either of you in order to pay off his debt. Things that involve the word trafficking. Things that make me want to hunt him down and make sure he can never get to you. I might even consider it if I didn’t have Christian.”
Christian. Oh, my God,Christian!“Carter, you need to protect Chistian. And yourself, for that matter. Just by helping me you may be putting yourself in harm’s way.”
“You think it would come to that?”
