Page 28 of Gypsy's Lady
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Kelsey
Whatever Nary was sayingwasn’t actually audible, but the tone broke throughandKelsey squeezed her arms tightly around her friend. Tiny sobs broke every word intopieces,andeach of them tore another part of Kelsey’s heart open.I have to tell her. She has to know. They were standing in front of the compound with the taxi already waiting, ready to whisk Kelsey and Gypsy away to the airport. This was goodbye.Not forever, she reminded herself, forcing down tears that threatened at the thought.
“Nh-Nary.” As if the stuttered word was magic and could conjure silence, Nary grew quietandKelsey knew it was because she was listening. Kelsey took in a deep breath, imagining it filling her with strength andpeace,likeone of the Hawks’ women had coached her.I’m going to miss all of them so much. “I love you.” Nostuttering, no hesitation, she said the words straight out. “So much.” Nary’s arms gave her a tight, tight squeeze and Kelsey heard herself squeak a tiny bit, the sound enough to make Nary giggle. A tiny giggle, instead of a tiny sob.I’ll take it.
“I love you, too, Kelsey.” Soft as a feather, Nary’s breath brushed against the curve of her ear. “I’ll come see you soon. Promise. And if Gypsy…ifhe turns different once you get there, though I doubt he will,butto be safe, and I want my girl safe, all you have to do is tell me. I’ll be there faster than you can spit. We should make up a secret phrasesoI’ll know, even if you can’t tell me what’s wrong. You’d just have to say…” Nary’s voice trailed off as she appeared to cast around for ideas.
Kelsey grinned at the idea of Gypsy beinganything other than the honorable man she knew him to be. However, she quite liked the idea of having a secret with Nary, a good one this time, one they would be able to pull out in ten years and talk about, complete with giggles and smiles about how silly they’d been once upon a time. It startled Kelsey to realize she was thinking of the future likethat,as if it were something to lookforwardsto. Another thing Nary and Gypsy had given her.
“Almond milk.” Kelsey smiled and buried her face in Nary’s shoulder, trying to keep from laughing at the randomness of Nary’s mind. Pretending to be offended, Nary scoffed. “What? It’s a good phrase. I can work that into anything. Like…I could askwhat you wouldhave for lunch, Kelsey? And you could say something like kale salad, or—” She pausedfor dramatic effect, her arms giving a smaller squeeze around Kelsey’s ribs. “—you could sayalmond milk. If it’s the one, I’ll know it’s all goodwithyou, and if it’s the other? Well, it would have me forcing Saxon on a plane before you could snap your fingers.”
Kelsey angled her headsoher mouth was next to Nary’s ear, keeping her voice quiet as she asked for clarification. “Almond milk?”
“Yes.” Nary’s response was firm, so certain that Kelsey knew what she said next would get the response she most wanted.
“Almond milk is just…” She let her words hang there for a moment, then finished, fighting to keep from laughing.I want to laugh, she thought with amazement.I really do. “I-It’s actually nut juice.”
Nary froze, and then her laughter started low and built, gathering happinessand delight along the way until by the time Saxon and Gypsy heard her, it was full-on filled to the brim with joy, exactly as Kelsey intended. It felt like only a moment later they both looked up at Saxon’s shrill whistle, signaling an end to their goodbyes.
“You-you’re only permitted to think of k-kale salad,” Kelsey whispered as Nary pulled away.
“But, you’re my nut juice,” Nary returned,her voice softly affectionate, warming Kelsey’s belly.
Kelsey looked around to find Gypsy standing at her back, the position emphasizing all his promises. Last night, during the going-away party the Hawks threw for them, he had only been farther than an arm’s length away when she asked for it. Unlike with everyone else, when it was Gypsy in her personal space, she didn’t feel crowded or nervous.He made her feelconfidentand secure. Even without thinking about it, she knew her shoulders were back farther when he was close by, her head held a little higher. And, as Mena had pointed out more than once, he wasn’t hard on the eyes, either. Even now, with his long hair up in a man-bun and his jaw clenched in a stoic expression, his beauty was breathtaking.
She turned back to see Saxon hadgripped the waist of Nary’s jeans, pulling her away from Kelsey. Warmth bloomed across the skin of her back as Gypsy fitted himself to her form and she felt the firm pressure of his arm around her waist, drawing her against him. He did this a lot, and not only when she was nervous. She thought sometimes he didn’t even know when he did it, having seen his surprised look when he’d realized she wasclose to his side, his arm around her waist or shoulders.
Heat crept up her cheeks as she blushed, remembering him doing it even in his sleep, too. He was so strong it seemed to take him no effort at all to drag her across the mattress if she got too far away from him, bringing her back in line with his barely-clad body. She’d wake to find him draped across her, the hot and hard pipe of his privatespressed against her butt. She liked it. Liked it more than she wanted to admit, even to herself. That was one of the best things about Gypsy, nothing about him made her think of any other man. He was just…Gypsy. Always.
And he’d vowed to keep her safe. Told her he’d be worried sick about her if she wasn’t with him. Wanted her to go home with him. Promised it would be her home, too.
There wasnothing left to keep her here. No blood family, not anymore. Remembering Baxter’s dismissive words made her shudder, muscles shaking all along her frame. Gypsy’s arm tightened, and he wrapped himself right around her, chin to the top of her head. He’d said he wouldn’t leave her, and this was him making truth out of his words. Nary was her best friend, but they both knew the healing to be done couldn’thappen while they leaned on each other like they’d been doing.Time to make my own way.
Once in thetaxi,she turned on her knees to wave out the back window, only stopping when Gypsy’s hand settled on her back, pressing firmly as he said, “Darlin’, it’s time to lookforwards.” His words held more meaning than he realized and as she turned around to place her butt to the seat, she nodded. Itwas time to look beyond what had happened to her, and seize the opportunity Gypsy was so generously offering. He was here with her, and for now that was enough.I just have to be brave. Taking a breath, she reached out and placed her hand palm-down on his thigh. He seemed to understand her need for a connection and covered her hand with his, fitting his fingers through to curve around and coverher palm, too.
“It’s…it’s going to be okay.” His fingers squeezed tight at her words,andshe smiled as she took another breath, holding it deep to strengthen her resolve. Blowing air out slowly, she told him, “I-I’m going to be okay.”
“You are, darlin’. Promise.”How can he sound so certain?As if he’d heard her internal doubts, he answered. “Because you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.Smart, and you feel things down to the bottom of your soul. And everything you feel you give back to the person. Love and trust. And when you do that, it gets bigger. Every pass, it’s bigger. You can’t be anything other than okay with that much love and trust inside you. Promise.”
I hope he’s right.
The airport appeared, seen in the distance through the taxi’s windowsandshe gulped, her bellysuddenly rolling.
I really truly hope he’s right.
