Page 78 of Deserving Lara
“Right.”
“Anyway, he was also the one who stayed calm when we were discovered, stripped, and thrown into those cells. It drove me crazy at first. I mean, I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t more…emotional. But his stoicism was what helped us both stay in control. I owe him everything.”
Lara squeezed his hand.
“I think that’s why he has night terrors,” Owl said softly. Stone was still on the phone and wasn’t paying any attention, but it was obvious Owl didn’t want him to accidentally overhear them talking about him. “Because he shoves shit so far down, it unconsciously comes up when his guard is down…when he’s asleep.”
“Probably,” Lara agreed.
“Thank you for coming with us,” he said, changing the subject. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but having you here…it’s nice. For both me and Stone.”
“It’s nice for me too. I feel as if I’m really taking control of my life back. Carter is still out there, I know that, but me being here kind of feels like I’m spitting in his face. Like I’m actually living, even though he doesn’t want me to.”
“You are. And every day, I learn something new about you.”
Lara smiled up at him. “What’d you learn about me today?”
“That you love flying. The expression on your face as we flew was the same thing I feel deep down, when I’m in the air.”
She loved that. “Being in a helicopter is so different from a plane.”
“Yup.”
“We’re all set!” Stone said, breaking the intimate moment.
Lara didn’t mind. She was looking forward to a lifetime of those kinds of moments with the man at her side.
“Brick was happy to hear everything checked out. He’s gonna start the ball rolling with the money transfer. Tomorrow at this time, we’ll be in the air headed south.”
“We’re all good for the first fuel stop and our overnight?” Owl asked.
“Yup.”
“Awesome.”
“So…what are we gonna do for the rest of the day?” Stone asked.
Lara felt Owl shrug, and she looked up at him.
“Sweetheart?” he asked.
A part of her wanted to go back to the hotel. Wanted to hide out, away from people. Away from anyone who might hurt her. But hadn’t she just said that she enjoyed taking control of her life back? How enjoying her life was like spitting in Carter’s face? She wanted to hold on to that feeling. Besides, it wasn’t as if Owl, or Stone for that matter, was going to abandon her somewhere on her own.
The thing that made up her mind was the deep-seated belief that Owl would do whatever she needed him to do. If she said she wanted to go back to the hotel, he’d take her back there without a second thought and without feeling salty or bitter about it. He’d sit with her in that small room and find a way to entertain them. Stone probably would too. But the morning had been so fun. Exciting. And she didn’t want to ruin the good mood they were all in.
“I’ve heard the view from the Space Needle is awesome. I mean, I’m sure it can’t compare to seeing the world from the window of a helicopter, but…”
Owl and Stone’s smiles were so big, they looked almost goofy.
“And there’s Pike Place Market. Oh! Seattle is the place where they have that gum wall, right? I think it’s close to the market too.”
“A gum wall?” Stone asked, looking confused.
“Yeah! It’s a wall covered in chewed gum!” Lara said enthusiastically.
“Gross,” Owl muttered.
“And this is on the top of your must-see list?” Stone asked, the skepticism easy to hear in his voice.
