Page 30 of Knox
He lifted his head in return, his mouth a tight line.
“Knox was worried about you,” Glo said. “And sent Tate to find you.”
Kelsey closed her eyes. Shook her head. “I can’t bear to see him again. It was awful, Glo. I just…I completely freaked out. You’d think I hadn’t had a minute of counseling. I was fourteen, stuck—”
Glo touched her arm. “Don’t. You’re fine. Safe.”
Kelsey slid her hand over Glo’s.
“But it’s also completely normal to be shaken up when a freakin’ building blows up around you!”
Kelsey met her eyes. Swallowed. Nodded.
“But you’re okay, right?”
Kelsey kept nodding. “I wouldn’t be if Knox hadn’t caught me, but—how is he? He was cut—”
“He’ll be fine,” Tate said and took another step closer. “He’s on his way to the hospital, but he wanted to see you.”
“No.” She made a wry face. “No. I’m too…” She looked at Glo. “We need to get back on the road. To our next gig.”
“It’s a week away. I think we can take our time—even cancel.”
“No!”
Glo jerked at her response.
Kelsey held up her hand. “Sorry. We just…let’s just get out of here. Put this behind us.”
Run.The word pulsed in Glo’s head, but she didn’t voice it. Because maybe yes, for tonight, go. Get someplace safe.
Then they could all take a breath, figure out their next move.
“Listen, I hate to butt in, but really, Knox needs to know you’re okay—” Tate came up to the stall. “He’s really worried.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but…” Kelsey looked at Tate now, pushing herself up. “Knox was amazing. Sweet and yeah, I’ve been sitting here for the last hour remembering him singing to Hot Pete. It helped. He probably saved my life tonight.” She reached up and pulled the feathers, now stripped and grimy, from her hair. She dropped them into the stall. “But he’s just a reminder of…” She shook her head and met Glo’s eyes. “I just need to forget this entire weekend.”
“Okay,” Glo said, taking Kelsey’s hand.
Kelsey turned to Tate. “I’m sorry, Tate. I don’t want to see him. But tell him thank you.”
She squeezed Glo’s hand, then let go and headed out of the stall, past Tate.
Glo followed her but stopped in front of Tate. “Thanks—”
He touched her arm, softly, but with enough strength in it for her to hear him. “Let me help. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m pretty good at reading people, and your friend—and you—are probably suffering from a little PTSD. I could run security for you, make sure that nothing like this happens again.”
She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty bold statement—”
“I mean it. I used to protect some fairly important people with targets on their backs, and they’re still alive, so…I’d like to help.”
Something sarcastic, along the lines ofI’ll bet you would, entered her brain, but the earnestness in his blue eyes simply shut it down.
And she fought the crazy urge to nod.
Especially when he added, “I’m good at what I do. Ask around. Look me up, Glo.”
Not honey, not sweetheart. Her name on his lips found its way under her skin, held her hostage for a long moment.