“Of course I do.” Chloe took a seat at the table and started to coo at Ana, who sat in her high chair.
Kayla poured a cup of coffee for her friend and went back to fixing Ana’s oatmeal. “Thanks for the casserole and the dessert,” she said. “Zach loved it.”
“I’m glad.”
Kayla set the cup down in front of Chloe. It took her a moment to say what was on her mind. “Do you think you could teach me to cook?”
Chloe’s grin was huge. “Of course I can, honey. I’d love to!”
Kayla took a moment to appreciate the relief and love washing through her. It was hard for her to ask for things sometimes, especially things she considered big, because she might get a no instead of a yes.
But not from Chloe, apparently. Kayla returned the smile. “Thank you. So much.”
She’d originally intended to ask how to make the dessert he loved. But that wasn’t big enough. Zach deserved more. He loved Chloe’s food, so she would learn to make it.
Maybe. She might suck at it, but at least she could try.
“No problem.” Chloe sipped the coffee. “So how much do you know how to do anyway? For reference.”
Kayla laughed as she brought Ana’s oatmeal to the table. “I can microwave a frozen dinner. Heat up a can of soup. Oh, and I can fix ramen noodles. And oatmeal. That’s probably my greatest accomplishment.”
She spooned some up and blew on it before offering it to Ana.
“Okay,” Chloe said. “I can work with that. If you can follow the directions on an oatmeal packet, you can follow my directions. And those in a cookbook. It’ll be fine, hon.”
They chatted while Kayla fed Ana. When Ana was done eating, Chloe followed Kayla into the newly decorated baby room so Kayla could put Ana’s dress on.
“Oh my goodness, this is so sweet,” Chloe said. “You and Zach did it this weekend?”
“Yes. I’ve got some things coming from Wayfair tomorrow and then I’ll finish it up.”
Chloe stood in the middle of the room and turned around, looking at the paint and furniture. “So adorable. I love it. I bet she will too when she’s old enough.”
Kayla frowned. “We won’t be here then. Zach’s applying for base housing.”
Chloe made a face. “I forgot. Damn. But you’ll fix her room up there! It’ll be great.”
Kayla looked at the pink wall, feeling wistful. She’d lived in this house for a few days. It shouldn’t mean a thing to her, and yet it did. Crazy.
“I know. I’ll hate leaving you though. I think it’d be so fun to live across the street from you and Ryan. Heck, I wish Bailey and Alexei were here too. One big happy family in the same neighborhood.”
Chloe squeezed her hand. “Oh honey, I get it. But it won’t be so bad. The base isn’t too far away from any of us. It’ll be fine.”
It would, and she would get used to it. She always did.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked Chloe as she picked Ana up and propped her on a hip. “I think I have everything. Ana’s diaper bag is by the door.”
“Yep, let’s roll. We’ll get Ana-banana to Princess Ella and then we’ll be at work in time for Mrs. Jenkins to roll in and demand I change her hair color yet again.”
Kayla had gotten used to the idea that Ella was a princess by now, though it was always a little strange to be reminded of it since the woman was so normal. She snorted at the thought of Mrs. Jenkins. “She’s a fun one, isn’t she?”
“She sure is. I’ve told her that much color is going to break her hair off at the roots, but she keeps arguing with me. One of these days I’ll give in and let her find out.”
They grabbed everything and headed out the door. Kayla locked up, double-checked the lock, and they walked across the street and piled into Chloe’s car.
“I’m sorry we have to do this every day,” Kayla said as Chloe put the car in reverse. “It’s such a pain in the butt to move the car seat all the time.”
“It’s fine, honey. Ryan and Zach and the others will take care of everything soon and life can get back to normal.”
Kayla wasn’t sure she believed life would ever be normal for her, but she fiercely wanted it to be.
They turned out of the neighborhood and Kayla’s phone dinged with a text. She thought it might be Zach, but it was an unknown sender.
Do you have my money?
Her heart throttled into high gear as she shoved her hair behind her ear and typed back: I have two more days. I’ll get it.
Unknown: Not sure I believe you. If you don’t have it by now…
Kayla: I’m working on it. I swear.
She sent the text with shaking fingers. When there was no reply, she set the phone on her lap and turned to look out the window, trying to pull herself together before Chloe figured out something was wrong.
They were chatting about work and Kayla was feeling almost normal again when Chloe slammed on the brakes. “What the hell?” she cried.
Kayla’s hair had fallen in her face with the sudden stop and she dragged it out again so she could see what Chloe was looking at.
All she got was an impression of an object blocking the road before the glass beside her head shattered.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mendez listened attentively as Viking briefed him on the situation. Tension crawled across Neo’s forehead and down his spine. If Mendez didn’t give them the go ahead to do something, then Neo was going to explode. Collecting intel was all well and good—and vital—but not acting on it was a fucking nightmare.
And yet the military didn’t do shit like that because an act of Congress forbade it. Made sense when you thought about all the ways the
