Page 54 of Keeping Kara

“Are you getting a caterer, or are the cooks from Anchor Point making the food?”

“Anchor Point.”

“Okay. I’m thinking since so many of the guests will be familiar with the bar already, why don’t you get with the owner and see if you can make a limited menu for the night? Like, put together a few special appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, and let everyone pick what they want? You could also do a buffet, but that’s pretty limiting,” Kara said.

Laryn’s eyes lit up. “Why didn’t we think of that? We could let them pick one of four things from each section of the menu. That way, it won’t be too overwhelming for the kitchen staff. And it’ll be just like ordering dinner there on any other night. You know…people can come and go as their schedules allow. We all know the military isn’t the best at being able to plan things, so if someone’s late they can still get food, and it’ll be hot and not have been sitting on warming trays for who knows how long.”

“And since neither of us really want presents, we could say that in lieu of gifts, guests should tip the waitresses and cooks instead,” Penny suggested.

“As far as seating…why have a seating chart at all? You want it to be kind of low-key, right? Anchor Point’s not that big anyway. We can reserve a table or two for you guys, of course, but maybe everyone else can sit where they like?” Kara suggested tentatively.

“Why were we making this so hard?” Laryn asked Penny.

She laughed. “We? If I remember correctly, you were the one having a meltdown because we couldn’t agree if we should have pork or chicken.”

“All right, I might’ve been a little stressed-out that day. But I’m pregnant, I have an excuse,” Laryn said with a laugh.

“And you’re going to milk that excuse for as long as you can, aren’t you?” Penny asked.

“Of course. Then when the monsters are born, I’ll be saying I’m a stressed-out mom of twins, so any and all bad behavior or rude things I say are because of that.”

They all laughed.

After a bit more discussion, it was decided to put emergency window breakers at each place setting, as decorations and party favors that everyone could take home. Kara approved wholeheartedly. She’d had one in her own vehicle…when she had a car, before Nolan had stolen it along with all her other belongings.

They’d put shells on the tables as well, the ones Bowie had been collecting every time Pyro brought her to the beach. Amazingly, even after her recent harrowing experience, the little girl still loved the beach. The sand, the water, everything about it. She was also becoming a good swimmer, much to Pyro’s delight. She’d told her mom that she wanted to help decorate, so they all agreed that putting the shells she’d so painstakingly collected on the tables would soften things up a bit and make Bowie feel included in the event.

“So…” Laryn said, after shoving another chip into her mouth and swallowing. “What’s up with you and Chaos?”

Kara felt herself blushing. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t pretend you two aren’t attracted to each other,” she said with a smile. “It’s as obvious as the nose on my face. And trust me, I’ve had loads of experience denying my feelings for a guy.”

Penny reached out and took Kara’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Chaos looks at you as if you’re the sun to his moon. Have you talked at all about the possibility of dating?”

Kara was thrilled down to her toes that her friends thought Arrow might like her as much as she liked him. She thought he did, but was too afraid to say anything in case he was simply being nice. Thinking of her as nothing more than a housemate who’d be leaving as soon as she got back on her feet and the threat from Nolan was one hundred percent over.

“I had such a bad experience before…I’m afraid to try again,” Kara said softly.

“I get that, but Chaos is not that asshole you were with before. Not even close,” Penny told her.

“I know. But I was so sure Nolan was a good guy too. He never gave me any clue that he was a psychopath serial killer who would turn on me so viciously.”

“Do you seriously think Chaos would ever hurt one hair on your head?” Laryn asked, lifting one brow.

Kara didn’t have to think about the answer to that. “No, but it seems…weird, to go from what happened to me to…” Her voice trailed off.

“To what?” Penny asked gently. “To being happy? To feeling safe? Loved? Appreciated?”

“Well…yeah.”

“Look, we get it. We’ve both been through some shit,” Laryn said. “And what happened to you was awful. It’s no wonder you’re having a hard time trusting Chaos. But life is short. It can be hard. Unfair. Cruel. But that just means you need to grab on to the good stuff even harder. And Chaos is part of the good stuff for sure. I’ve known him for years, and he’s always been right there for all the guys. Without question.

“I can personally vouch for him. He won’t hurt you. And if the look in his eye when he sees you, or when he gets to leave work early to come home to you, is any indication at all, he’ll bend over backward to make sure you have everything you need to be happy. But in order for that to happen, one of you will have to make the first move. And I don’t think it’ll be him, because he’s probably too worried about what you’ve already been through, and because he doesn’t want to rush you.”

Kara stared at Laryn for a long moment. Was she right? Was Arrow holding back because he thought that’s what she needed? What she wanted? The more she thought about it, the more she realized that was likely the case. It was the kind of man he was. He might want something with all his heart and soul, but if he didn’t think it was okay to take it, he’d forgo what he wanted.

“She’s getting it,” Laryn said with a grin. “And it’s not lost on me that I’m the one giving you advice to make the first move, when I was a scared little shit and didn’t do the same when the shoe was on my foot. But I’ve learned my lesson. I wasted so much time. Time that means Tate and I could’ve been together for three years by now, if I’d had the courage to admit that I liked him.”