Read with BonusRead with Bonus

8. LARA: AN ALMOST ACCIDENT

“There is no easy way to tell you this,” Kenzie said softly as his eyes darted over us. “The bar has been sold. We signed the papers this morning. I talked the new owner into allowing me to stay open until everything is finalized which will take about three weeks if not sooner.”

“So we don’t have a job anymore? This is bullshit!” someone yelled.

“I had warned you earlier that this might happen. Since the bar will be open until everything is finally decided, you guys still have a job for about three weeks. Hopefully it will give you enough time to find something else.” Kenzie stood. “The bar will open again tomorrow at the usual time. Everything stays the same.”

“Come on Kenzie, you can’t do this to us!”

He shrugged and gave us an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry.”

And then he walked away like he hadn’t just given us the worst possible news we could get in a small town like this. I followed Andrea out of the bar and down the street. Panic was slowly invading my senses. I didn’t know why I was panicking. I’ve been in these kinds of situations before. It was nothing new.

“I guess we should start asking around,” Andrea said softly. “Maybe we’ll find something new around here.”

I stopped and turned towards her. She looked sad but I knew it wasn’t because we just got told that we’d be jobless in three weeks. My eyes fell to the sparkling ring on her finger as she gripped the strap of her bag. Brian had finally popped the question last night. We were supposed to go out celebrating but Kenzie called us in before we could make any plans.

“We won’t be doing anything,” I said softly. “This time you’re not going with me.”

“Lara—”

“Don’t. Are you really willing to leave the love of your life behind—?”

“You’re my best friend!”

“And he’s your future!”

She sucked in a breath and slowly blew it out. Shaking her head, Andrea turned away from me. “I’m too hungry to talk about this now. Let’s get something to eat and then we’ll talk about this.”

I silently followed her towards the diner. No matter what happened, I wasn’t going to allow her to leave with me this time. She was the one who offered to come with me that night. Andrea threw her family, her plans, her career—everything—away for me. She was my sister in every sense of the words, and now it was time to let her go. It was time for me to start living on my own without clinging to her.

My future looked bleak but hers didn’t.

A million thoughts raced through my mind as I walked. With every thought that became clear, the worry in me rose a notch. I was so focused on my problems that I wasn’t paying any attention to my surroundings. I was snapped back to reality when I heard a car honk and Andrea letting out a scream.

Something slammed into me hard enough to knock the air from my lungs. For a few seconds I was airborne before I landed—not on the ground like I was expecting, but on a hard body that felt really familiar.

Tingles shot up my spine from the warm hand resting against my skin on my lower back. I sucked in a breath and squeezed my eyes closed when his spicy cologne filled my nostrils. The air got locked in my throat when his fingers brushed against my cheek when he moved the hair from my face. I raised my head from his chest and glanced up him.

“Are you okay Lara?” he whispered.

I swallowed and managed a small nod. His eyes trailed over my face before dropping to my lips. As if it happened only seconds ago, I felt his lips against mine again. His eyes darted up to mine and stayed there. Emotions flashed through his peculiar depths one after the other, making it hard to make sense of any of them.

“Oh my god Lara!”

My body jerked and my eyes snapped away from his. The sound of her voice seemed to have snapped him out of whatever daze he was in. Silas slowly sat up with a low grunt. That little sound had me scrambling from his lap and up onto shaky legs. Thankfully Andrea was there to help support me.

“Stupid jerk! He should’ve been—”

“It’s not his fault,” I croaked. “I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going.”

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Silas asked softly.

“I’m f-fine.”

I felt fine but it only lasted a few seconds before the reality of what could’ve happened if he hadn’t saved me in time hit. My body started to shake. I felt sick, like I was about to pass out any second. Andrea said something to what Silas answered. Suddenly people surrounded us, asking if I was alright.

Silas wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me against his side. His touch offered the comfort I was seeking.

“She’s fine,” Andrea said to someone. “Just a little shaken up. Please excuse us.”

Andrea gripped my hand as she started pushing people out of the way. Silas stayed with us all the way to the diner. He guided us towards a booth at the back. I didn’t want to leave the comfort of his arm but I was forced to when they pushed me down to take a seat.

“Get a glass of sugar water!”

Clasping my thighs, I squeezed my eyes closed and sucked in a deep breath. I counted to ten before slowly blowing it out. The pain of my nails digging into my thighs helped ease the panic slightly. A few more deep breathes and I managed to get my heart beating normally again.

“Drink this,” Silas said softly. “It’ll help with the shock.”

I opened my eyes and stared at the tall glass he held in front of me. Reaching up with a shaky hand, I took it from him and took a few sips. Placing it down on the table, I glanced around. Andrea had taken a seat next to me and Silas opposite me.

“T-thank you for . . . rescuing me, again.”

He smiled at me. “Maybe you should hire me as your bodyguard.”

I smiled at him. If he wasn’t joking, I would’ve taken him up on that offer.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter