20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Z ara trudged through the woods. She'd had to climb through some thick brush to get to where she was, but hopefully, Ernie, who was significantly bigger than her, hadn't been able to make it through.

She'd decided to head back in the direction of Walmart but had taken a very roundabout way to get there. She needed her car, but more importantly, she needed Ernie and Rainie to not find her again.

Moving toward the edge of the forest, she heard the low rumble of an engine, but it wasn't the same as Rainie's beater. No, that was a familiar sound. Logan's motorcycle?

It was somebody's motorcycle.

She darted out of the trees and jumped a ditch just as a black-and-blue motorcycle with a white fuel tank turned the corner. The rider's black helmet had a thin blue line. It was Logan.

She jumped to the side of the road and waved her arms wildly above her head.

He drove straight to her and stopped beside her. He kicked down his stand, pulled off his helmet, and smiled. "Are you okay?"

"I think so." She looked down at her arms and legs. Blood streaked down them. She hadn't even realized the fall from the car had left her with such abrasions. "Well, now that I've stopped, that doesn't feel real great, but at least I got away."

He set his helmet down on his bike before getting off and pulling her into a hug, disregarding the blood that might get on him. "Glad you got away, partner. What happened? Who was it?"

She told him what happened.

"We should get you to Walmart. The police are there as well as Will."

"Too bad we can't go find Ernie and Rainie. But surely they aren't stupid enough to go back to Walmart looking for me, right?"

"Probably not." Logan reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a half helmet. "You okay riding?"

"Absolutely." She took the helmet and strapped it on. "Let's go."

Logan straddled the bike, and Zara jumped on behind him and held on loosely to his waist.

They headed back toward Walmart. The store came into view with half a dozen police-car lights flashing.

As they approached an intersection, an old white boat of a Chevy drove past. Logan stopped at the stop sign.

She patted Logan's arm. "That's them!" She shouted so he could hear her above the roar of the motorcycle.

He turned. "What?" He lifted his visor.

"That's them."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"I'm calling it in."

"We should follow them too."

He turned and leaned back far enough to look at her. "You are crazy, but I agree." A mischievous glint sparked in Logan's eye.

"Too bad you don't have a police light to put on top of your helmet."

He laughed and shook his head. "Hold on."

She tightened her arms around his waist.

He told his Bluetooth to call 911, then revved the engine before taking off.

Rainie took the next turn away from Walmart. Likely they had also spotted the cops that filled the parking lot.

Logan kept his distance but didn't let them make a turn he didn't spot.

About three minutes later, two squad cars blocked the road ahead with officers out and guns drawn.

Logan pulled into a driveway, out of the other officers' line of fire.

Two more came up behind Ernie and Rainie. The officers got out of their cars and ran to the sides.

Zara jumped off the bike and stepped forward, but Logan darted in front of her, extending a protective arm. "Don't." He drew his weapon from beneath his T-shirt.

She wrapped her hands around his outstretched arm, accepting the protection her friend offered.

One of the officers closest to the car shouted instructions for Rainie and Ernie to exit the car. First, put their arms out the window to open the car door from the outside then exit slowly. The officer then instructed both of them to lie down on the ground.

The officers on the fringe ran in and cuffed both of them. It was over. Ernie and Rainie were in custody. And with all of her arrests, there was no way the judge would permit bail.

Logan holstered his gun and turned to Zara, pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you, Logan."

"Of course, let's get you to Will."

She looked down at the twisty-tie ring that was still on her finger. "Please."

They hopped back on the bike, and he pushed the speed limit as he drove them to Walmart.

There were only a couple of squad cars left in the lot near her car.

She immediately spotted Will. Barely able to wait until Logan came to a complete stop, she whipped the helmet off and ran to Will.

She leapt into his embrace. He lifted her off the ground and held her so tight she thought he was going to crush her. But she squeezed his neck with equal tightness.

The next morning had started much earlier than Will liked, considering how late he had stayed up. He'd gone back to AJ's with Zara. Well, it was Zara's apartment now too. She had been so shaken once the adrenaline had worn off. He couldn't blame her; it had been too much for one person to face in only a few days. He'd stayed on the couch with her until she'd fallen asleep.

He backed his truck and trailer carefully into AJ's grandmother's driveway. They were on their third and final trip. His small pickup and open-bed trailer didn't hold much, but Zara didn't have much either. After Will picked Logan up, the guys had met the women at Zara's old apartment at seven because they wanted to get as much done as possible before the sun baked them.

But they hadn't made it. The sun was now reaching the top of the sky and cooking them like a Fourth of July hamburger. Sweat dripped down his back as he hopped out of his truck.

Zara followed him while Logan slid out the other side. AJ had stayed at her apartment to move stuff around so there'd be room for Zara's furniture.

They loosened the ratchet straps, and Logan and Will each grabbed a side of the dresser.

AJ bounded down the stairs with an armload of Gatorade bottles. "Not so fast. Hydrate first." She handed them out.

Will took his and couldn't help but notice that Logan actually smiled at AJ when he took one for himself. It was refreshing to see those two get along for the first time in at least five years.

Zara said, "We're almost done. I seriously can't thank you guys enough for helping. This is going to be so much better than staying in that old place."

AJ put her hand on Zara's shoulder. "I'm glad I have a spot for you."

Logan said, "This should be much safer. Better neighborhood. Not on the ground floor either."

Will downed the rest of his Gatorade, grateful that Logan seemed to be warming up to the idea of Zara living with AJ.

Will screwed the lid on the empty bottle. "Let's do this."

Zara took the guys' empty bottles to toss in the recycling bin, and the guys picked up the dresser and hauled it up the stairs.

The ladies grabbed other smaller items from the truck bed.

Will and Logan set down the dresser at the top of the stairs. Will said, "What were you saying about it not being a ground floor?"

Logan laughed. "Yeah, definitely not great for moving, even if it's better for safety."

They picked the dresser back up and maneuvered it through the living room and into the bedroom that would be Zara's. They set it down, and Will poked his head out of the room. "Zara. Where do you want this?"

She turned into the apartment, phone ringing. "I don't know. Hold on." She set down the box she carried and answered her phone. "Hello."

Will leaned against the doorpost and watched the beautiful woman play with her ponytail as she paced to the kitchen, talking to whoever was on the other line.

"Yeah, that's fine. I'll be there shortly. Bye." She slid the phone back into the pocket of her cutoff shorts and came to Will.

"Who was that?"

"Doug. He wants me to come down to the station to take care of a few things regarding Ernie and Rainie's arrests. And yes, they are both being held without bail."

"Thank goodness. We can finish up unloading things without you. Are you okay going by yourself?"

"Yep." She went up onto her toes and met her lips to his.

He wanted to linger but resisted pulling her close.

She stepped back and ran her hand down his arm. "I'll be back as soon as I can. It's just a signature or two probably."

Will seized her hand. "And where do you want this dresser?" He turned back into the bedroom and tugged Zara with him.

Logan leaned against the dresser, arms crossed with a distant expression.

Shoot. Maybe he wasn't going to be okay with this setup.

Zara said, "I think this wall is good. And my bed can go over there. The chair can go in the corner by the window since the two couches will be plenty in the living room."

Logan seemed to snap out of his faraway place. "Got it." He clapped his hands and turned to move the dresser.

Will gave Zara another quick kiss before she darted out the door.

Will wanted to ask Logan how he was, but experience told Will that wouldn't work. Logan needed to bring things up on his own. He hated being asked what he was thinking more than anything.

They got the dresser in place and went back outside for the next items, Zara's mattress and box spring. About halfway up the stairs, the box spring almost took a tumble over the railing. AJ laughed. "Guys, be careful."

Will shook his head. "Easy for you to say."

Logan chuckled. "We're gonna need you to actually help with the mattress."

"Oh come on, you guys are big, tough police officers. Oh wait, even police officers need heroes, right? That's why God made firefighters."

"Whatever." Logan's voice almost sang with laughter. Almost.

The mattress proved to be a bigger challenge than the three of them had anticipated. It was a memory-foam mattress that, despite being only a full, was heavier than an elephant on steroids.

At one point, AJ ended up pinned between the mattress and railing. But she was laughing so hard she couldn't get herself unstuck until she settled down. Logan's incessant teasing didn't make it any easier for her to do so though.

They got the mattress into the apartment.

AJ said, "Look at us working together. Just like old times."

"Something like that." Logan's voice held a microscopic hint of cynicism.

"Speaking of old times," AJ said. "Did you guys hear that the old Enzweiler Insane Asylum is finally scheduled to be torn down?"

Logan snorted. "About time."

Will laughed. "You aren't still sore about that time we scared you? I'm still impressed with how girly your scream was."

Logan shook his head. "Shut it. Let's just get this thing where it goes."

Once in the bedroom, they laid it on top of the box spring.

AJ grabbed Logan's arm and pulled him close. "We did it!"

Logan stiffened like a board and yanked his arm away from AJ. He bolted from the room.

AJ leaned over and punched the mattress. "Why, Will? Why can't we be amicable? I didn't mean to … I just …" She dropped to the bed, tears brimming in her eyes.

Will sat on the bed beside her. "I don't know, AJ. I don't know what to say." He put his arm across her shoulders.

"You chose him though." She leaned forward out of his touch.

"I didn't want to."

"I know. I didn't give you much of a choice." She sighed and stood. "Let's just bring the rest of Zara's stuff inside before it melts."

"Okay." He joined her.

She wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands and plodded out the door.

He followed. Outside, they found Logan unloading the truck bed. AJ picked up a box and all but ran back up the stairs.

Will went to Logan. "Hey."

"Don't say anything. Let's just get this unloaded. I need to get out of here."

They got the bed unloaded and unhitched the trailer. Will turned to Logan and handed him the keys. "Take my truck. I'll catch a ride with Zara to Megan's party tonight."

"Thanks. I'll see you there."

AJ had been racing the smaller items up one at a time and came back down as Logan pulled out of the driveway. "Where's he going?"

"Who knows? We can handle the rest of this though."

AJ deflated a little. "Yeah. We can. It's not much more."

The two of them finished carrying everything upstairs and rolled the trailer out of the way in less than thirty minutes.

They carried the final items up to the apartment, and Will turned to AJ. "Is it okay if I hang out until Zara returns?"

"Of course. I'm gonna head out though. I need to run a few errands before Megan's party."

"You're going too?"

"Yeah. She's my friend too. I'm not going to let Logan's bitterness keep me from my friend's birthday celebration."

"Nor should you. I'll see you there."

"Make yourself at home." AJ left less than five minutes later.

When Zara arrived home, she was surprised the other two had already left but didn't question Will's answer that they had other things to do. He did not want to explain what went down while she was gone.

They ate lunch, and Will helped her unpack most of her boxes before it was time to head downtown.

Zara parked her car outside the pub where Megan's party was going to be, but they had arrived a little early. She and Will got out of her stifling car. The breeze had picked up and made the temperature tolerable.

"Wanna stroll down by the river?" He offered his hand.

She slid hers in his and held it loosely. "You gonna take me to the place where we first kissed?"

"Maybe."

"Sounds better than going to this party."

"Why so down about a party?"

She shrugged. "Not used to Christian parties. The word has bad associations for me at this point. Plus, I hardly know these people."

"You know me. Isn't that enough?"

She bumped him. "I suppose. But I like hanging out with you better when it's only the two of us."

"What about Logan?"

She giggled. "I like hanging out with him too."

"See, you'll be fine." He directed them down the path toward the river.

They didn't even make it all the way to the bridge before Will pulled her into his arms. He stopped under a drooping willow tree, and without any teasing, met his lips to hers. All afternoon, they had resisted kissing one another since they were in her bedroom without anyone else around. But he didn't hold back any longer.

She drank in the tenderness of his kiss, but passion ignited within her, and she had to force herself to hold back so they didn't end up awakening more than they could satisfy.

Breaking the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close.

He ran his hand along her back. Slow. Gentle.

She leaned back and looked in his eyes. They were on fire. Oops. She stepped back. "We should cool it a little, shouldn't we?"

He raised his eyebrows briefly. "Yeah." A big sigh came with the word.

She giggled and held up her hand, still clad with her twisty-tie ring. "So I take it you're gonna wanna replace this pretty quickly."

"I hope to. We aren't moving too fast?"

"Babe, this thing is careening forward at breakneck speeds, but I've also never been so sure of something in my life. With Ernie and Rainie behind bars, I don't have to worry about who's behind the next bend. I just hope you're there with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"How do we know? I mean, I know I love you. I know that we work well together."

"Does feel kind of like a shot in the dark at times, but we pray. Keep talking about our hopes and dreams. If they align and we have peace when we pray about it, I think that's what we need. I know I love you and can't imagine life without you."

Will's phone beeped in his pocket. "Probably Logan wondering where we are. Bet he wants to be there even less than you do."

"Doubtful."

Will shook his head and took her hand. It was as if she was floating beside Will as they strolled back to the pub in no hurry. Were they really talking marriage? Lord, give us wisdom as to whether or not this is what You want for us. It almost seems too good to be true, but I'm beginning to understand that You really are that good.

Logan was sitting against the hood of Will's truck, scrolling on his phone.

He looked up when they got close. "There you two are."

Will shrugged but offered no apology.

The three of them headed into the pub that, according to the guys, was a popular hangout for the Hazel Hill Police Department, detectives and officers alike. The country music and smell of greasy burgers welcomed them. On the left, the bar ran half the length of the building. The dining room was huge, and it opened up to an area with several pool tables and a karaoke stage in the corner. The back half of the building had streamers and a banner that said, "Happy Birthday, Megan."

"Are birthdays always such a big deal around here?"

Logan laughed. "Only when you're thirty-five."

"What's the deal with thirty-five?"

Will said, "You'll have to ask Megan and Jenna. I think it's an inside joke between the two of them."

They found a tall table near where the bar met the party area. But after they sat, there was still an empty chair. It was a shame that it was empty. Maybe this was the time to test the waters and see if Logan was ready to mend the bridge with AJ.

"So, Logan, I was thinking."

"Uh oh." He folded his arms on the table and raised a single blond eyebrow.

"Maybe we should consider making our tricycle a four-wheeler. I should find you a date."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Umm … no."

"Oh come on." She looked around the room. Perfect timing. AJ walked in. "What about AJ? Wait a minute. You two even have the same last name, so that'd be easy."

Logan pushed off the table and sat back. "No."

"Seriously, why not? You aren't related are you?" She was trying to keep it light.

"Zara. Stop." Will's voice was tight and demanding.

Logan's jaw clenched. He slid off his chair. Whacking the chair so hard it almost fell over, Logan stormed out of the restaurant.

"What just happened?" Zara stared after Logan. She hadn't meant to upset him. She should have approached it differently.

Will put his hand on her shoulder. "Like I've told you before, it's AJ's story to tell."

"She told me she didn't want to talk about it the other night. If someone would tell me, maybe I wouldn't say such idiotic things."

Will let out a sorrowful breath. "I'm sorry. But it's not my story to tell."

"I know. I just wish I understood. Two of my closest friends won't tell me why they can't seem to get along."

"It's more complicated than you could even guess. You'll know it all one day."

She nodded. "Should you go after him?"

"Probably."

"Then go."

He stood and kissed her cheek. "But know this, you aren't wrong. They would be good together."

Zara smiled.

"See you in a bit."

She watched Will cross the dining room to go after Logan.

She redirected her attention to movement to the left. AJ was coming toward her. Zara waved.

"Hey. Where's your partner and his, I mean your boyfriend?"

"Logan ran off in a huff after I said something stupid."

"Got his police panties all in a twist?"

"AJ!"

She took a deep breath. "Sorry, not very nice or Christian of me. I shouldn't talk that way, especially about Logan." She shook her head. "But enough about him. How are you? Everything go okay with the detectives?"

"Yep. Simply clarifying my statement. No big deal."

"Good. Can I join you?"

"Absolutely." Zara held her tongue. She really wanted to get AJ to tell her more. But today wasn't the day.