Chapter Seven
Jonah
The ride home from the diner had never seemed longer. Normally the drive flew by without thought since only a few miles separated my place from the diner. But tonight, it felt as if I was driving halfway across the country. The time and miles passed at a glacial pace. By the time, I had finished my dinner, my raging hard on had subsided enough that I could walk to my truck, but I still sported a serious case of blue balls. And they hung on during the ride, adding to the torturous hell I was in. I shifted in my seat to try to alleviate the discomfort. Ally had really done a number on me. After her mop up job on my crotch, I had to sit there for nearly an hour so that everyone wouldn’t see my flag flying at full staff. I hadn’t been that embarrassed since I was a randy teenager in high school. What that woman did to me was totally innocent, but so fucking erotic at the same time. She was so sexy and didn’t even realize it. And I couldn’t believe she actually agreed to go out with me Saturday evening. Hell yeah! I did a little victory dance inside. I knew exactly where I would take her too.
Step one in “Operation Protect Ally” was successful. Now I needed to follow up with Shane to see if he discovered anything about her past. That could wait until morning though. I glanced down at my watch and realized that Ally’s shift was just ending. I did a U-turn in my black, fully-loaded Chevy Suburban and headed back toward the diner. With everything that happened earlier, I forgot to talk to Frank about her choice of parking spaces in the back of the diner. I gunned it a little bit so maybe I could catch her before she left. At the very least I would make sure she made it safely to her car and then home. Pausing I contemplated my thoughts and actions. Ok, maybe I was being a bit of a stalker but, I wanted to make sure she would be safe. I had this unexplainable urge to protect her, like my very existence depended on my ability to keep her safe.
As I approached the diner’s parking lot, I noticed a commotion out back. Several people milled around and when I grew closer, I could see that it was Ally’s car they stood around. What the hell? My vehicle skidded to a stop next to Frank’s pick up. Hopping out, I headed straight to Frank, who was in the middle of an argument with Ally.
“Frank, what’s happened? Ally are you ok?” I demanded.
“Hold on there, SEAL, I have things under control. There is no need for you to come over here and run rough-shot like Ally is yours or something!” Frank angrily growled.
Shocked for a second, then it dawned on me that Frank had been a Ranger for over thirty years and was due a bit of respect. A bit.
“If someone doesn’t tell me what the hell is happening right this minute you will regret ever speaking to me like that!” I growled right back.
Frank started to step toward me, until Ally stepped in between us placing a hand on each of us. Her touch was enough to cool my temper so I could concentrate on her and what happened. She was pale but didn’t seem hurt. I did notice a slight tremble in the hand pressed to my chest.
“Ally, please tell me what happened,” I pleaded in a quiet voice.
“It’s really no big deal, Jonah. I was leaving to go pick up Sam and go home. When I got to my car, I noticed I had a flat tire. See no big deal.”
She wouldn’t quite meet my eyes and she seemed nervous. She was hiding something so I walked over to the rust bucket she called a car and looked for myself. I walked the entire car’s perimeter.
“What the hell do you mean it’s no big deal? All four of your damn tires were slashed!” I shouted furiously. “Frank, go call the police and get them here now. Bella, get Ally back inside the diner while I take a good look at things.”
As I started to walk back to the car, Ally ran up to me and yelled, “NO! No police Jonah. You are totally blowing this out of proportion. It was probably some kids getting back at me from a while back when they came in drunk and I had Frank throw them out.” She looked toward Frank for confirmation.
Frank mumbled something behind me. I turned to look at him. He just shrugged, looking at Ally, and said, “That is only one possibility, Bright Eyes. The police should be called. I’m sorry but it’s the truth, sweetheart. This wasn’t random. No other vehicle was touched in the parking lot. I don’t understand why you are being so stubborn about this, but it’s up to you. I will support whatever you want.” Frank looked at her with the eyes of a loving father. Tears glistened in her eyes.
“Well, I don’t give a rat’s ass, I am calling the police. A report needs to be filed and any evidence collected. But I am guessing all of you have been walking around the car and touching it, so anything left behind will be tainted. Great job everyone,” I spit through my teeth.
“Jonah, please let this go. It’s just tires. The police have much bigger fish to fry don’t you think? I’m fine. No harm. No foul. It was just kids doing what kids do, ok?” she pleaded with me.
“Ally, I came back after I left to tell you that you needed to park somewhere safer, well-lit and where you can be seen from the door. I was worried about your safety and I was right. If I had been here sooner, I may have caught whoever it was.”
Ally’s eyes were as big as saucers when she looked up at me and said, “Thank you for caring Jonah. I’m ok though. Nothing happened. I need to go inside and call Frannie to let her know that I will be late picking up Sam.” Then she turned to Frank and said, “Frank, is it ok if my car sits here until payday? I don’t have enough to get them replaced with even used ones right now,” her tone filled with embarrassment.
“Sure thing, Bright Eyes, it can sit here as long as you need. And don’t you worry about those tires. I’m sure I have some at home that will work just fine for you. I will take care of it.” Frank walked over and gave her one of his famous bear hugs and I could see some of the tension release.
“Thank you, Frank, but I insist on paying you back. I’m so glad I didn’t mention Little League signups to Sam. He would be so disappointed that I won’t be able to let him play this summer. But tires are a little more important than signup fees. Ally sounded as if her heart had shattered into a million pieces knowing she would be disappointing her son.
“Little League Baseball?” I asked.
“Yes, I have been saving for months to surprise him. Nothing is free these days. Now I will have to use the money for the car,” her voice hitched as she explained.
“What do you mean nothing is free? There is no fee to sign up for Little League, Freckles. They get sponsors ahead of time to pay for equipment and uniforms. All you have to do is bring him to practice and games. Simple as that, babe.” I smiled at her.
Ally’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. She squealed and launched herself at me. We nearly fell over from the impact but I was able to steady us just in time. I could hear Frank and a few of the diner customers chuckling and making more bets. I just rolled my eyes at them and wrapped my arms around this stunning woman. Drawing in a deep breath, my nostrils filled with the smell of some flower I couldn’t place and something earthier. Her scent called to me in a way nothing ever had. Home. This woman was my home. She abruptly let me go and stepped back. Even in the dark of night I could tell she was blushing.
“I need to go see if Bella will give me a ride home. She gets off in about an hour. I need to go get Sam and put him to bed. He has school tomorrow,” Ally stated as she turned to walk back to the diner.
“Ally, wait! I would be happy to give you a lift to pick up Sam and take you both home. It’s right on my way home as a matter of fact,” I commented.
Ally stopped and looked at me for a minute. A wariness filled her eyes. My heart stopped beating for a second while waiting for her answer. “Ok, Jonah, thank you,” she replied with a tiny smile.
I felt like I hit the jackpot. Progress. Yes, we were making progress. I motioned toward my Suburban and escorted her to the passenger side, opening the door for her. Ally grabbing the suicide bar and hopping in with one smooth motion was a site to behold. Though she was tall, standing at least five foot five inches, it was still a jump up. It was impressive. I closed the door and went to my side, cranking up and driving off before she could change her mind.
Heading toward her side of town, the silence in the vehicle is so thick and full you could hear a pin drop. I needed to say something to break the awkward silence. “Ally, you have lived here for what, three or so years now?”
Her reply was short and not descript, “Yeah, about that.”
Ok, this was going to be tougher than I thought. “Where did you grow up?” I waited for her answer and it was not at all what I was expecting.
“Oh, you know, just here and there.” Ally said vaguely looking out the window.
Well, hell that was not an answer, unless… I got it! “You were a military brat?” I asked excitedly.
Ally shook her head and that was it. No other response. Damn. I thought I was on to something there for a sec. “Do you have any family nearby? Brothers or sisters in the area?” I asked with trepidation as I turned onto the street where she lived.
“How do you know where I live Jonah?” Ally demanded.
What should I say? Hey Ally, I am a stalker and I followed you home the other day to make sure you were safe. That would be the best choice, the truth. I had always been taught to tell the truth, so I did. “Well, I know this is going to sound creepy or bad or … I don’t know. But I want to be honest with you, so I am just going to say it. The other day after the grocery store incident, I followed you home so I could make sure you were safe. I was worried. I know I shouldn’t have and I am so sorry.”
She looked so stunned by my admission. For an eternity, she was so quiet that I was sure she was going to slap me. “Why do you care about me? I really don’t understand.” She just shook her head.
“Ally, I don’t know or understand fully myself. What can I say to make you believe that I really do care for you? Ever since the first day in the diner years ago, something just…happened. It was a feeling that I can’t explain, even now three years later. There is a connection between us. I think you feel it too, but you refuse to let it in or to explore what it could be. You avoid me. And I let you. Why? I think that I’m a bit scared too, if I’m being honest. I have never felt this connection or whatever this is, when I first met someone.” I finished earnestly.
Silence filled the cab again. I just laid all that out there and she said nothing in response. I was such an idiot. My rambling of truth scared her. “Where do I go to pick up Sam?” I asked an obvious question to try to get her to come around again.
“Oh! Sorry. He is just a couple houses down from mine so you can just drop me off in front of my duplex. Thank you, Jonah. You didn’t have to do this. And I need to tell you something too. You’re not totally alone in the feelings you just expressed. I feel them too and it scares the living hell out of me.” Ally said as she jumped out of the car as soon as I parked.
I sat there dumbstruck. Did she just really say that she felt the same way I did? Did I just imagine that? I glanced up and saw her walking down the street. I got my wits back about me quickly. Hell no, she was not walking at night alone. Plus, we were so not done with this conversation. Well, maybe it had to be tabled for now since we were picking up Sam, but we would revisit it as soon as I could get her alone.
Turning off the engine, I jumped out and trotted to catch up with her on the sidewalk. “Hey Freckles, wait for me,” I called to her.
“Jesus Jonah, what are you doing now? I have to pick up Sam and I am almost two hours late as it is,” her voice was laced with frustration.
“I am not about to let you walk down a dark street all by yourself, Ms. Ally Black. You are stuck with me, so get over it.” I smiled down at her when she moaned.
“Fine. Whatever. But you better mind your manners around my son, mister,” she said with a worried look.
As we walked up to Frannie’s house, the door flew open and a boy the spitting image of his mother except he had blondish/red hair to her brown hair sailed directly at her. I noticed that she spread her feet preparing for impact as if this were a regular occurrence. Then it was impact time. He misjudged his power and lunged, I saw it coming just as it was happening. They were both going to go down and down hard. Moving with experience and agility, I grabbed them both, turning quickly so that I took the full force of the crash when we hit the ground.
The air was knocked out of Ally as we landed. Sam started laughing. We were a tangled mess of legs and arms as we all tried to right ourselves. Somehow my arm ended up through the strap of Ally’s purse and when I tried to move while she was getting up, it slammed her back on top of me, which set off another round of giggles from Sam.
“Look, Grandma Frannie, Mommy is all tied up with the strange man,” he said as he pointed at us.
When Ally landed on me the second time, her elbow hit me right in the ribs and I wasn’t prepared for it. Hell, if it didn’t hurt.
“Oh, my god, I’m so sorry Jonah, here, hold on let me get up first,” she said and without thinking put all her weight on her elbow, which was still in the same spot in my ribs, causing me to moan in pain.
“Woman! Are you trying to kill me or what?! Just hold on a second. Crap, you have boney elbows,” I said with a grimace. I put one arm securely around her, and used my other arm and my legs to get us both upright and on our feet in a quick maneuver.
“Oh wow! Did you just see what he did, Grandma! He was so fast that when he moved I could hardly see it! He must be related to the FLASH,” Sam said with such awe that my ego grew about ten feet taller.
“I sure did, Sammy boy. Jonah is a true hero. He was a Navy SEAL, so he can do many things that would amaze you,” Frannie said with a twinkle in her eye.
“Frannie that is not exactly true,” I said with a chuckle.
“Oh wow, Mommy, maybe he is the hero we need so badly. Mister, can you be our hero, since you can move like The Flash and you were in the Navy too?” he asked so seriously that it kicked my instincts into gear.
“Hey, buddy. I will be your mother’s and your hero any day and everyday if you like,” I said as I walked closer to him.
“Time to get home Sam. Sorry I was so late. Thanks again for the ride, Jonah. We really have to go now.”
Ally grabbed Sam’s hand before I could say anything. I watched as they practically ran home. I followed quickly behind and barely caught Sam saying to his mother, “But Mom he is a real true hero. You said that’s what we needed. Stop Mom. Go back and get him before he flashes away,” Sam said as he tried to turn in my direction.
I couldn’t quite make out what Ally said back to him and by that time they were already at the door. She yanked the door open, then shut it quickly. I just stood there staring. What did Sam mean when he said they needed a hero? My instincts kicked in again and confirmed my suspicions. They needed help and now.