“I’ve been fine. I don’t like driving without all the right papers, but I really don’t have a choice. And it’s given me some freedom to go and pick up food and stuff.”
He just watched her, and for some reason, he seemed to be looking for something. “I had the T.V. hooked up, and here’s a cell phone for you. It’s an unlimited family plan,” he said, handing her the phone. “And we have a meeting with the base housing office next Monday at ten thirty. With any luck, we can get a place sooner.”
She didn’t know if she had just become used to the quiet in the past week or what, but it was strange having him here. She hadn’t had anyone over other than Baca. “Have you talked to your parents?” she asked him, hoping that they weren’t too hurt.
“Yes, they are disappointed, but they didn’t think you would leave your parents’ house. Hannah is disappointed, though,” he said, smiling. “Have you seen Savannah?”
There was no point in asking if she had talked to her parents, because that was the last thing on earth she would do. “Nope.”
“You want to go see her? There’s a party, and Jay said they’re going,” he offered.
She just shrugged. “If you want to. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“You haven’t gone anywhere but to work in the past week, and I’m betting you haven’t seen or talked with anyone either,” he accused.
“I told you that is how I am. What’s the point in going out if you’re not there? And I’m trying to lay low. I took on three extra shifts because one of the girls is in the hospital, and I knew it would keep me busy,” she defended poorly.
He stood up and pulled her up. “Come on, we’re going out.”
“Can I change first?” she asked.
“You have ten minutes,” he teased.
It didn’t take long before they ended up at one of his friends’ houses in the middle of a full-swing party. She didn’t like the large crowd of people, but it was nice to be out. For a while, they mainly walked around, and he introduced her to people. But then she found Annalise, and they started talking. A few minutes later, Savannah found them, and she knew from her sister’s anger she was in for it. Somehow, Savannah had to have found out what she had done.
The three of them walked off a little to get away from everyone, but she kept her eyes on Dakota as they did. She was watching him talking when Savannah hissed, “Where in the world are you staying?”
She looked back to her sister and started, “At—”
She didn’t get to finish that before Savannah hissed, “You’re not staying at his parents’ house. Hannah has been calling. So where in Hades have you been?”
She looked back to Dakota, terrified, and he just happened to look over to her and started toward them.
Savannah snapped, “He’s not going to save you! Where have you been staying?”
She knew better than to lie to her sister who gave her no choice but to try and explain. “We have an apartment, and I’m not hosting any parties, so get that out of your mind now.” He was still a few yards away. “If you tell anyone, I swear I’ll kill you.”
Savanna was shocked. “He’s letting you stay by yourself? What the freak is wrong with him?”
Dakota was just behind them when he answered, “We are fine, and when I’m not there, Baca is and she’s been checking in on Cally for me.”
“You’ve been talking to Baca?” She wasn’t sure if it was an accusation or anger that made her say it.
“You didn’t think I was going to leave you alone and not be able to check on you. I talked to her before I left, and a few times this week.” He wrapped his arms around her protectively. “I couldn’t reach you, so it was that or have my parents check on you.”
She was ready to yell when Savannah demanded, “Who is Baca?”
“A lady I work with,” Cally answered, never taking her eyes off Dakota and feeling a little betrayed by his admission.
“This is so wrong. You’re fifteen and living by yourself?” Savannah protested.
She nodded and looked at her sister. “I’m also married and want my own space when my husband comes home.”
“But he doesn’t come home every weekend. And then what are you going to do? And if Mom finds out, she’s going to kill both of you.”
Annalise offered, “I can stay with her when you’re not there.”
Dakota looked at Annalise, and then to Cally. “I like that idea better.”
She shook her head. “You really don’t like me being alone, do you?”
“She’s twenty, and if someone was to say anything, you could at least have someone there with you. It would be easier to defend to people,” Dakota offered. “And she wouldn’t have to stay with her parents full-time,” he joked.
“Baca said I should learn to pick my fights wisely, so fine, you can have this one, but—” she looked around the open yard and house “—“no one tells my parents, and no parties.” She Cally directed the last part to Savannah, because she knew that’s what her sister was planning.
Dakota just pulled her into a hug and said, “You’re far too wise for your age.”
Savannah was still upset. “When do we get to see this place?”
“You want to follow us over?” Dakota asked Jay who appeared from nowhere.
“All right,” he answered absently.
They pulled in the drive with Jay behind them, and Cally saw the light on at Baca’s, so she offered. “I’m going to tell her what you decided.”
“We’ll be upstairs,” he agreed as he got out and she headed over.
When she walked in, everyone was sitting around the T.V., flipping through channels. Dakota looked at her, and she told him, “Baca is fine with it. She thinks it will help if someone was to say something about it, but she said she’s still here if we need anything.”
That seemed to be all that needed to be said, and then they went back to watching T.V., and Cally went in the kitchen and made some dinner. She hadn’t eaten since lunch, and it was nearly eleven. She leaned against the counter and watched as they talked and laughed. It was strange, but it wasn’t. She knew this was their apartment, but this was the first time Dakota was in it with her, and to see him sitting back and relaxing was nice.
Annalise came in and asked, “Are you all right with this?”
Annalise was nice, and they had hung out before, so it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah, it will make him happy, and that’s all that matters.”
Annalise offered, “I have a friend with a futon that we can set up over there.” She pointed to the empty wall near the bathroom. Baca had said that a dining room set had been there, but she had given it to her son when he moved out, so now the space was empty.
“Okay, whatever you need.” She didn’t say anymore, because she was exhausted and didn’t want it to come out wrong.
She turned and washed her dishes and put them away before she went in the living room and sat down next to Dakota. Annalise asked, “When are you going back?”
“Sunday night. We can move your things in Sunday if you want,” he offered.
She leaned against him as he wrapped his arm behind her and closed her eyes. She had gotten up at six and was lucky to have tomorrow off, but she was dead tired. She didn’t know how long she was asleep, but she woke up when she heard Jay saying, “Well, thanks for havin’