Page 57 of Searching for Bristol
“Guess he wants me to go over there,” Bristol said apologetically. “Hey, I know I don’t live here, but would it be possible for me to check out some books sometime?”
“Yet,” Khloe said with a small smile.
“What?”
“You don’t live hereyet,” she repeated.
“Oh, but…I don’t…I’m not…” Bristol was flustered and not sure what to say. She hadn’t discussed her thoughts on staying with anyone.
“Sorry. That was rude of me. You need a local address to get a library card, but I’m sure Rocky wouldn’t mind opening an account and letting you use it. And just sayin’…you and Rocky fit. I’m sure he can help you find a place big enough for a workshop so you can do your stained-glass stuff, if you wanted to move here. If you had your own place, then you could get your own library card,” Khloe teased.
“Yeah.”
“Rocky’s looking worried, you’d better start that way, otherwise he’ll be over here, hovering and worrying.” Khloe met her gaze. “And don’t rush things with that leg,” she warned. “You can reinjure it fairly easily at this point.”
“I’ll be careful,” Bristol said. It felt good that the other woman was so concerned. She was beginning to think there was a lot more to Khloe than what she showed the world. Before today, she’d gotten the impression Khloe was shy and didn’t say much. Her one visit to the apartment had been friendly but short. Today, however, she had plenty to say, and it was all pretty damn helpful.
“Thanks for the chair,” Bristol told her as she stood and pulled the knee walker over and got herself situated.
“You’re welcome. Be careful,” she said, as Bristol began to wheel herself away.
Looking back, she saw Khloe was absently petting Duke’s side with one of her feet and an aloof look was back on her face. She could be a little intimidating, but now that Bristol had seen beneath her veneer, she wanted to get to know her better.
She didn’t want to jaywalk, so she headed to the end of the row of businesses, past Doc Snow’s clinic, and once more crossed Cedar Street. She was about to cross Tenth to the grassy square when a kid of around five or six of age, darted into her path.
Bristol jerked the handlebars of her knee walker to the side to avoid hitting him and let out a small screech as she felt herself tip off balance. But she didn’t land in an undignified heap in the middle of the street because someone caught her elbow, allowing her to regain her balance.
Looking up, Bristol saw an older man, maybe in his late forties or early fifties, holding on to her arm. He was dressed casually, in a pair of jeans and a polo shirt. He had gray hair at his temples and a dimple in his cheek. He was also tall, about the same height as Rocky, but not nearly as muscular. “Easy there,” he said as he steered her to the other side of the street.
“Thank you so much. I thought for sure I was a goner there for a second.”
He chuckled. “Glad I could help.”
“Me too.”
“I’m Lance. Lance Zaun.”
“Bristol Wingham,” she said, holding out her hand.
They shook, and by the time he dropped her hand, Rocky was by her side.
“Are you all right? I saw you almost lose it and my heart stopped. I was too far away to get to you in time.”
“I’m okay. Lance caught me before I embarrassed myself. I’m still getting used to this knee walker thing.”
“Thanks, man,” Rocky said, giving Lance a chin lift. “Haven’t seen you around before.”
“I just moved here. Saw the signs about the parade and thought I’d check it out. It’s been fun. People are very friendly around here.”
“They are,” Rocky agreed as he wrapped his arm around Bristol’s waist.
“You needed me?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I just wanted to know how you were doing. Wanted to check on you.”
Bristol smiled. “It’s been, what, an hour since you last talked to me?” she asked.
Rocky shrugged. “Missed you,” he said without any embarrassment.
