Kiri didn't realize how often she'd been peeking back at the door until her neck began to ache. Even though her eyes were trained on the spot where he now stood- Roy somehow still managed to startle her as he reentered the house.
He moves like a cat, she thought, flinging herself around to give him her back.
"They don't have a spare and the tire's shredded" he spoke to Lady as if he weren't staring at Kiri again, but she felt it. It was like being watched by a hawk, if she were the kind of creature who's primary function were to die in the walls during mid-summer.
After some further discussion that sounded very distant due to the roaring in Kiri's ears, her mother got on the phone with a tow truck company.
"...You don't have anything available sooner??" Adelaide was frantically thumbing through Lady's phone book. "No I guess that's fine, we'll see you then." SLAM!
She shut the book in frustration, nearly sending Kiri toppling out of her seat.
"Mom?"
"They don't have anything till tomorrow, we..."
A weathered little hand covered hers on the table, making Adelaide stop short.
"It's settled, then. You'll stay in the guest room."
"We couldn't possib—" and "Lady, that's not—" both sounded simultaneously. From Adelaide and Roy.
"Nonsense! There isn't a town for miles, and I've been absolutely starved for female company" Lady cut in firmly. She shot Roy a look Kiri was quite familiar with as the pipe-down-or-else face.
Kiri and her mother recognized a losing battle when they saw one, so they gratefully accepted and went to retrieve their possessions from the car.
Dinner was a delicious affair, consisting of cornbread and chili. It would seem Lady never ceased cooking, and for that Kiri was thankful. She only missed the presence of Roy who had disappeared after their earlier interaction. The ladies scraped their bowls and chatted amicably until everyone was too stuffed to sit upright.
Lady then showed Adelaide and Kiri to the guest room, which was very comfortable-if a little dusty. It seemed like only a few moments until her mother was sound asleep, snoring softly. It had been a stressful day, Kiri thought as she tucked her in affectionately. She was however, unexpectedly amped after such a stout meal, and decided to take the opportunity to slip away, out into the dark yard to explore.
They have so much land! She thought. The crickets were chirping and stars were all out, and Kiri felt suddenly overcome with an urge to run. Exhilarated, she took off across the field pumping her arms, she felt so fast. the tall grass whipped her calves as grasshoppers zinged out of her path.
Then a dark form just two steps ahead popped up with a startled "Wait!!"
She was going too fast to stop. As she skidded past the form, it threw out an arm like iron and spun her to the side. A little scared and struggling to get her bearings, Kiri fell back and Roy, she realized now, lowered her to the ground as he tried to explain.
"There's a drop off! Right here, I was sitting at the edge. I'm sorry if I surprised you! You were going too fast.."
"Oh" was all she could manage, still breathing heavy, acutely aware of their bodies pressed together and his enormous hand supporting her back. She looked into his face and in the closeness could now make out sharp angles, piercing black eyes and softly curling brown hair...Oh, and full red lips...!!! Keep it together, Kiri!!
She jolted upright as quickly as she could manage to inspect the supposed drop, and found herself flooded with gratitude. The grassy lawn gave way to a much steeper slope populated by knee-height concrete blocks. Just thinking of how she had barreled towards it made her a little queasy. She looked over at Roy to thank him profusely only to find him already watching her intently. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Possessed by a weird urge, she twined her arms around his neck and leaned into his embrace again.
"Thankyou, ohmygod, thank you. I'm such an idiot. That would've been reeally bad."
His stunned expression slowly gave way to a wicked grin, and Roy let his arms tighten around her.
"You are most certainly welcome."