Page 38 of Deserving Lara
Even if it meant sacrificing himself.
That thought should’ve been startling. That he was willing to give his life for hers. But given how he felt about her, it wasn’t. Just weeks ago, he’d made a vow to himself that if it came down to her life or his, he’d gladly give up his own. And he felt even more strongly about that decision now.
As he thought about it, his fear waned and excitement over the prospect of getting Lara away from here grew. Showing her that she could reintegrate into the world outside of the safe bubble The Refuge offered. Not that he wanted her to leave, but he also didn’t want her to stay simply because she felt she had no choice.
“I’m okay with it if Owl is,” Stone said.
“And I’m okay with it if Stone is,” he countered, the two men smiling at each other.
After another twenty minutes of talk about financing, and setting a tentative time for Owl and Stone to meet with the contractor later that week to walk the grounds and decide exactly where the new hangar should be and what it should contain, the meeting broke up.
Owl hung back to talk to Stone.
“You sure you’re good with this? It’ll mean we’ll be way busier,” Owl said.
“Hell yes. I love this place, and I love helping with the hikes and landscaping, and clearing the trails, but working with birds again? I’m definitely all right with being busier. What about you?”
“I’m in,” Owl said with a grin. Then he sobered. “And you really don’t mind if Lara comes with us?”
“Not at all. She’s…”
“She’s what?” Owl asked, concerned about what his friend might say.
“Good for you. You seem more settled lately.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “She understands me in a way not many people can.”
Stone nodded. “Happy for you.”
Owl snorted. “There’s nothing between us, Stone.”
“Yet.”
He grinned slightly. “Yet,” he agreed.
“What are you waiting for?” Stone asked.
He gave his friend an incredulous look. “He tied her to a bed. Drugged her.Jacked offon her. She’s still working through that shit in her head. I’m thinking getting into a romantic relationship this soon probably isn’t the best idea.”
“What does Henley say?”
Owl shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her about it.”
“You should.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I’m thinking Lara just needs more time.”
“Life can change on a dime,” Stone said with a small frown. “We know that better than most. One moment you’re living the dream, and the next you’re being beaten to within an inch of your life and you don’t know if you’ll live to see the next day.”
“I understand that. YouknowI do. But the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt her, Stone.”
“So, you’re moving slow then,” his friend said.
“Yeah. And maybe going with us to check out whatever chopper Tex finds will be the catalyst to her seeing me as more than a crutch.”
“If I can do anything to help with that, just let me know. I mean, having a third wheel around probably isn’t the best thing for romancing your girl.”
Owl didn’t crack a smile. “You aren’t now, nor will youeverbe, a third wheel. I haven’t said it before, but…you know that I wouldn’t have survived that hell without you, right?”
