Page 53 of Relentless
“What about Lucky’s woman friend?” Kara said. “Why not investigate her?”
Ethan lifted a shoulder. “We could, but I don’t think we’ll find she’s anything other than what she appeared to be. We think the whole reason someone is going after your team is because you saw or heard something you weren’t supposed to. If it were Lucky’s lady friend, she’d hardly keep coming around and making friends with you all.”
Kara let her head fall back against the couch. “You’re right. I’m not sure if it will help, but I’d be happy to work with a sketch artist.”
“Me, too,” Evelyn said.
There was a knock at the door, and Ethan called for whomever it was to come in. Two seconds later, Cody popped his head in. Evelyn hadn’t known who he was until that morning, but Warren was a big fan. Ethan made the introductions, and Cody even took a few pictures with him.
Ethan offered his cousin a beer, but Cody declined.
“I don’t drink before work,” he said. “I just came by to give you these.” He handed over two more lanyards with Warren’s and Evelyn’s names on them. No doubt Tia having told him about their visit. “I don’t know if you want to stay for the show tonight, but you’re more than welcome.”
“Cody! You’re late for final sound check,” Alex’s voice called from outside.
“We’d love it!” Evelyn confirmed after a quick, but silent, exchange with Warren. “Thank you.”
Alex came stomping onto the bus. She wore a variation of the outfit they’d first seen her in. Only today, her boots were gray. “The crew is waiting, Cody.” As she spoke, her gaze drifted around the room. A frown of confusion touched her lips when she noticed Warren and Evelyn. Unsurprisingly, Cody didn’t bother to introduce them. Instead, he held a finger up to Alex and took a seat beside Kara.
“How are you holding up?” he asked. “We didn’t have a chance to catch up this morning.”
Cody might live a big life. He might have people like Alex always wanting a piece of him. But he never let that interfere with his family. And Kara was family. Ethan had always known this about the cousin he was closest to. But the glimpse into Cody’s life that he’d had in the past few days had given him a new appreciation for his ability to stay grounded and focused.
Kara offered him a wan smile. “I’m okay. Wish it was all over, of course. But as I said to Ethan when you first offered, there are worse things than spending a few days cloistered away with him on a luxury bus.”
Cody laughed and pulled her into a hug. “If you get tired of him, you know where to find me.”
Ethan snorted.
So did Kara. Then, too quiet for Alex to hear, she said, “I don’t think your type runs to petite strawberry blondes, big guy. I think you much prefer the dark-haired sort with deep green eyes.”
“You hush your mouth,” Cody said, pulling back. “Or I’ll take your pass away.”
Kara waved him off with a regal smile. “I don’t know, seen one show seen them all. What’s one more?”
“You are a little witch, aren’t you?” Cody said on a chuckle. “I’ll give you something special tonight.”
Ethan cleared his throat.
“In the show,” Cody added with a wink, making her laugh.
“Cody,” Ethan said, his voice pitched in warning. Cody’s teasing of Kara didn’t bother him, but he didn’t want his cousin to do anything that would call attention to her. They were supposed to be lying low.
“I got it covered, dude,” Cody said to Ethan, before leaning over and dropping a kiss on Kara’s cheek. “Have a good time tonight and I’ll see you post-show?” he asked, directing the question to Ethan, who nodded. A few seconds later, Alex followed him out of the bus.
Ethan waited for the door to close before resuming the conversation. “I’ll text Sabina and Chad about getting an artist on a call with you two. Maybe we can even get it done before the show.”
“In the meantime, let me pull some dinner together,” Kara said. “We have some excellent gourmet hot dogs, pasta salad, watermelon, and more drinks. It won’t be fancy, but we can grill and eat outside.”
“Want me to get the fire going?” Warren offered.
“It’s gas,” Kara said as she leaned into the small fridge and rummaged around. “Takes two minutes, but go ahead. I’ll pull the hot dogs and buns out. Everything else is ready.”
They ate in the space between the buses. Tia and her team had arranged for two large curtains to be hung on either end, creating a private sitting area hidden from walkers-by. Despite the reason that brought the four of them together, the atmosphere reminded Ethan of all the tailgating he’d done with his brother and cousins. As the second-youngest male cousin, by the time he was in high school, most of the older ones had gone off to college. But they’d often come back to visit during football season, and when they did, a pregame tailgate was always on the agenda.
He glanced at Kara as she laughed at something Warren said. They hadn’t talked about kids, and he wondered if she wanted any. He’d always imagined himself becoming a father. Imagined himself tailgating with his own kids on those crisp fall nights. Nights when the lights of the field spilled over into the parking lot and your breath fogged in the chill as you warmed your hands over the grill.
If she didn’t want kids, it would be a hard pill to swallow. But if that were the case, he’d swallow it. Being without her wasn’t an option. He may want a larger family than the two of them, but he didn’tneedit to be a family.
