Page 17 of Keeping Kara

They walked back to the clearing they’d passed a short time ago, and just as he remembered, it looked like a good place for them to wait for rescue. The sun had come out, as if the awful hurricane hadn’t ripped apart the landscape less than twelve hours ago, though its evidence was everywhere. There were several logs strewn about the clearing that looked as if they’d been uprooted by the storm, so they were pretty sturdy and not rotted.

He led Kara over to one and gestured exaggeratedly. “Your throne, Queen Kara.”

She smiled at him and sat on the tree trunk.

Chaos sat next to her and sighed. “Feels good to be off my feet.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “How’s your shoulder? Do you want me to look at it again?”

It was infected. He could feel that it was hot and painful to move. But since there was literally nothing they could do about it at the moment, he shook his head. “It’s okay. But thanks. How’re you feeling?”

She shrugged. “All things considered, I’m all right. I’m alive.”

“Yes, you are. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you stay that way. I mean…not in a creepy, stalkerish way. You’ve already had to deal with that. And if you don’t want me to, that’s okay too, but I’d like to help you. Ah shit. I’m fucking this up.”

To Chaos’s relief, she chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not sure I want to trade one stalker for another. But honestly, I’m at a loss as to what to do next. Press charges, for sure. But the cops aren’t going to be able to keep me safe, and a restraining order is nothing but a piece of paper. I also don’t think I want to go into Witness Protection, though I don’t even know how that works. I’m probably not eligible, and it’s not as if I can afford to change my name and go off the grid. Shoot, now I’m the one babbling.”

“Yeah, Wit Sec is mostly for helping to put away major criminals or organized crime members,” he told her reluctantly.

Kara shrugged.

Chaos found himself more and more distressed about the position she was in. And his hatred for this Nolan guy grew. “What’s your favorite food?”

Her brows furrowed, and she frowned at him. “What?”

“Your favorite food. I figure we have some time to kill, we might as well get to know each other. We can play twenty questions.”

“You know it’s just mean bringing up food right now, right?”

Chaos wrinkled his nose. “Shit. Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. Dill pickles.”

“Seriously?”

“Uh-huh. I love them. There’s a quick and easy dinner I make with leftover diced chicken or turkey, bacon, ranch seasoning, cheese, and dill pickles. Combine it all, throw it in the microwave for a minute or two…and instant high-protein yumminess for dinner.”

“It sounds weird. I mean, chicken, cheese, bacon, and ranch are all good. But pickles?”

“Yes! They give it just the right amount of tartness. Don’t knock it until you try it. What about you?”

“Steak.”

“That’s such a guy answer.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but I am a guy.”

“True.”

“Your turn. Ask me anything.”

“Um… What do you like about flying?”

Chaos laughed. “How much time do you have?”

She looked down at her wrist, as if checking a watch that she wasn’t wearing. “I’m thinking we have plenty of time.”

“Right.”