“Never mind.” I hold up a firm hand. “I get it. He’s a large man. Tall with muscles.”
“That he is. But I’m not talking from experience, of course. There is nothing romantic happening between me and him. Sure, he’s been here enough times, always fixing something. A leaky pipe. Squeaky cabinet. But that’s about it.”
A part of me, for reasons unknown, is pleased to hear that. Maybe because Lana and him don’t seem like a good mix. She’s bubbly and he’s… him.
Logan.
“A brotherly sister bond,” I suggest.
“I’d say more of a distant cousin. One you only see on holidays and family reunions.”
Still, I can’t believe he lives next door. He shares a wall with Lana and now me. And I’m not even sure how long I’ll stay.
Lana leaves the kitchen counter she was previously leaning on, pinning me with a look of concern and I know a maternal talk is coming. “You can stay here for as long as you need, Sora. I mean that. My home is your home. Never forget it.”
My heart swells. “I know, and I’m incredibly lucky to have you. But I don’t want to impose on you forever. I just need to lie low for a bit and come up with some sort of life plan.”
She knows me too well, so when I say life plan, I wonder if she’s taking me seriously. I go back on my word, but that was mostly early high school. Being young, I should get a pass. I then became less depressed and less crazy. I suppose I have my dad to thank for that. But a part of me will always retain that side. It just becomes less noticeable.
“Does he know?” She’s talking about Jason. “Sorry. That’s the only question I’ll ask. I promise.”
“That I left? By now, absolutely. Does he know where to? No.” A twinge of worry settles in my chest. It’ll always be a constant what if. What if he finds me? What if something happens to her? And it’ll be because of me.
Jason is giving me time to panic as punishment or he doesn’t give a damn about me anymore and I’m going to say it’s the first one. Because with his manpower, it won’t be hard to find me.
Shit.He's smart. He’ll know the first person I’ll go to is Lana. My only friend—my only family.
I swallow back the fear rising in my throat.
“Hey.” Lana places a gentle hand over mine. “Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”
My eyes dart up to meet hers. “I would never purposely involve you in something dangerous, Lana. I hope you know that. I’d never come here knowing I’d put you at risk.” But now that I think about it… “Maybe this is a bad idea. Coming here.”
“Absolutely not. I won’t lie and say I’m not a little freaked out here, but I’m more concerned about you andyoursafety.” Even now, Lana is still looking out for me over herself.
“I’m truly so lucky to have you. At least there’s one good thing, he can’t trace me. I left his credit cards. And the car parked in your drive is kind of registered to my maiden name.” Not sure how legal that is. I also kept it in Mr. Hendrick’s vacation house. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt.
“Credit cards, hiding your identity. Jesus, Sora. What kind of man did you marry?”
You have no idea.
“A bad one,” I tell her.
“Shit. I keep the pepper spray in the top drawer with the butter knives. Just so you know.”
“With the butter knives? So, I’ll be reaching for a knife to butter my toast and accidentally burn my eyes out?”
“Hey. I live by myself. Extra protection never hurt a girl.”
“You live next door to a mountain man who wears a backward baseball cap.”
Lana chuckles. “That does help in making me feel safer.” When her phone buzzes on the table, she stares at the screen with a sigh. “This is the worst timing ever, but… I met a guy.”
I straighten with excitement. “Lana, that’s great.”
For as long as I’ve known her, Lana never really dated. She was the quieter, more studious one. Now, she seems to have blossomed out of her shell, which makes me happy.
“It’s early in our relationship, so it’s not that big of a deal. But he is taking me on a day trip. The thing is, it’s a couple hours away, so I’ll just tell him I can’t make it and—”
