Page 28 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Kaylee didn’t say that it felt bad, too; she just looked over at Dana and asked, “Do you mind if I go to the bathroom?”

Dana nodded. “Sure, we can hold down the fort for a few minutes.”

Kaylee went to the bathroom and washed her hands, dabbing at the burn. It was red but not blistering, so it should be fine. She’d been so distracted by everything, including having Rick in her home, which brought back bad memories of Elasia. He made her think of things that she hadn’t in a long time, like having someone to talk to about her past or hold on to.

She wondered if he thought about that night, before the laxatives had kicked in. Had he been about to kiss her? Would he have crossed that line if Kaylee hadn’t run?

They’d been sitting on the floor, watching a movie, and when the food arrived, he’d set it down, and they started talking about what they wanted to do in the future. He told her that he wanted to work his way into a white-collar role so he could have a desk job and be home in the evenings, eventually allowing him to have a family. She told him that she’d been working on her degree so that she could be a school counselor, helping kids who struggled with family, life, school, and peers. When she slipped the stuff into his drink, she’d given all that up.

Instead, Kaylee was helping students stay caffeinated and sugared up for their days.

All these dark, defeated thoughts had come about because of her dream last night; she kept having nightmares about what happened to Elasia, and about Elasia visiting her, telling her that it was Kaylee’s fault, that she should’ve never let her go into that bar, and she should have protected her.

Kaylee had woken up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding and tears pouring down her cheeks. She had stumbled out into the kitchen, forgetting that Rick was still there. When he’d popped up behind her, she had been at her worst. He’d placed a hand on her back, rubbing soft, gentle circles across her skin. She’d let him for several moments, gripping the side of the sink as she tried to catch her breath.

Finally, Kaylee slipped out from under his touch, grabbed a water from the fridge, and went back to her room. She’d lain in her bed awake for hours, thoughts racing through her head. Why hadn’t he just thrown her in the back of his car and taken off? That was his whole intention when he got here, so what had changed his mind?

Kaylee dried off the burn and then went back out to the crowded lobby, forcing a smile on her face. She tried thinking of anything else. The breakfast rush ended just in time for the lunch rush to start. By the time two o’clock rolled around, they all crashed onto stools, flushed and disheveled from running around all day. Only a few people were left in the place, and the coffee shop was closing early because of tonight’s event.

“So now that it’s mostly just us,” Gill said, leaning forward with her arms on her knees, “are you going to explain why I tasered a cop yesterday?”

Kaylee’s cheeks burned, and she cleared her throat. “It was a misunderstanding.” Kaylee told them the cover story she’d come up with: Rick was a friend from college and had done something terrible, which was why they had been arguing, but they were good now.

Gillian frowned at her, disbelief radiating from her like heat from a stove. “That is a mild version of events. He had you by the wrist, and you were struggling. I thought he was kidnapping you and going to stick you in his basement, where he planned to dismember you.”

Kaylee blinked at her. “Well, that’s graphic and terrifying.”

“Not as terrifying as me thinking I’m going to go to prison for tasing a cop! I texted you a dozen times.”

Kaylee winced. “And I told you it was fine. He doesn’t care about being tased. He’s here for me.”

“What do you mean, ‘here for you’?” Dana asked.

Gill leaned forward before Kaylee could answer Dana, whispering, “Did he kill somebody?”

“What, no! Why would you even ask that?”

“Because you said he did something terrible, and I’ve been watching too many serial killer documentaries.” Gill sat back, waving a hand in front of her. “Continue.”

Before she could, Dana blurted out, “Are you thinking of giving him another chance?”

Kaylee considered Dana’s words in a different context. Maybe if she softened toward Rick, she could convince him to leave. That he didn’t need her, and he could walk away, letting her live out her life.

“I don’t know. There are a lot of reasons why I shouldn’t, and I’m considering all of them.”

Both women nodded, but Gill said, “Well, depending on what he did that was so terrible, I’m never a fan of recycling exes. There is usually a reason you didn’t work out in the first place, and no matter how much you think you’ve grown up, the issues are still there.”

Kaylee shook her head. “It’s nothing like that.” He’s just an FBI agent, standing between a fugitive and her freedom.

“Regardless of what it is now, keep your heart safe,” Dana said, frowning. “Loving someone is hard enough, but falling for a guy who hurts you, emotionally or physically, is devastating.”

“You get yourself a taser or whatever else you need,” Gill said, taking off her hat and smoothing a hand over the top of her head. “You’re a woman living alone. If somebody comes knocking, you take them out. I know Idaho is a stand your ground state, so as long as you are in danger, you are all good.”

“Is he going to be at the lights festival tonight?” Dana asked.

Their barrage of questions was giving Kaylee a headache. “I really hope not. People are already speculating about us after last night’s town meeting.”

Dana and Gill shared a sheepish look before Dana offered, “And news travels fast.”