Evan Arden 01 Otherwise Alone by Shay Savage Read Free Book Online Page B

her leaving.  It’s ridiculous and idiotic.   “There’s no landline here, but I can drive you into Pinon to call her.”
    “She’ll still worry,” Lia says with a shake of her head.  “ Will’s probably called her by now, and God knows what he’s told her.”
    “You want me to find him?” I say without thinking.
    What the fuck, Arden ?  You going to kill this girl’s ex?
    She looks to me, and I don’t miss her quick glance to the rifle. She is far too observant for her own good, and s he knows what I mean as much as I do, even if it is a ridiculous notion.
    “No,” she says quietly, “I don’t think that’s really necessary.”
    I reach out and grab her fingers.
    “Sorry,” I mutter.  “Reflex.”
    Oh great – that makes it sound so much better.
    She actually flinches a little, and I might not have even noticed if I wasn’t holding her hand.
    “I won’t do anything,” I promise.
    She nods.
    “I would never hurt you,” I add.  It’s so fucking important to me she knows I would never, ever do anything to hurt her, and I have no idea why.
    She nods again.
    “I know.”
    “Come back?”  My fingers grip hers a little tighter.  I want the words to sound like a demand, not a question .  “After you see your mom, you can come back here.”
    I want it to be a statement…a charge…an order …but my own bizarre feelings of insecurity win out.
    “You don’t have to-”
    “I want you to come back here,” I interrupt.  I need her to understand, even if I don’t.
    “Why?”  H er voice is so soft , I can hardly hear her.
    I don’t know how to answer.
    “Because,” I finally say.   I look into her eyes, hoping she’ll find meaning there since my words are so inadequate.
    Lia sighs and reaches up with her free hand to run it through my hair.
    “How long will you be here?” she asks.
    “I don’t know.  It could be days or weeks.  I just don’t know.”
    “I need at least a couple of days with my mom.”
    “Take them,” I tell her.  “Just come back when you’re done.”
    She stares at me for some time without saying a word but finally nods her head.  I don’t know if it’s meant for me or if it’s just the way she is confirming her own decision to herself.   I don’t care – she’s agreeing.  Nothing else matters.
    “All right, Evan ,” she says softly, “but only on one condition.”
    “Anything,” I say.  Again, all brains have left me.
    “Tell me your full name.”
    “ Lieutenant Evan Nathanial Arden .”   No brains whatso ever.   Maybe the doctor who did my psyche evaluation and said I couldn’t serve anymore was right.
    Brains become completely irrelevant as she smiles at me again.
    “Okay,” Lia says with another smile.  “I’ll come back to you.”

Chapter Four
    Odin sits next to the open window of the truck, so I have Lia sandwiched between the two of us.  I like it.  I like it way too much , actually .  Odin seems to have accepted her, or at least decided she smells enough like me now that it doesn’t matter.  He licks her hand when she pets him and even nuzzles her neck with his nose, making her laugh.
    The journey is quiet, but I hold her hand in mine and place them both on her thigh .  It i s a two - hour drive to Tuba City , and the nearest bus station where she can get a ride the rest of the way to Phoenix.  I want to take her to see her mother myself, but she makes it clear she wants to do this alone , and I know I can’t really leave my station for the extended trip.  At least I will be able to get some gas for the generator and some supplies.
    I watch her legs as they move up the steps of the bus and wonder when they will be wrapped around my waist again.  Lia turn s back and gives me a smile that doesn’t touch her eyes, and I return the sentiment.  Then the doors close, and she is gone.
    The drive back to the empty house is a blur – too uneventful to bother committing to memory.  Even if it had been more exciting,