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“I’m going to inspect the car. Stay right here,” I say, praying Ava can just take direction.
She nods, and I inhale as the brisk cold hits me. I can see my breath as I make my way down the walkway. I inspect the tire pressure and turn on the flashlight on my phone to make sure there’s nothing nefarious or any trackers not belonging to TSS attached to the vehicle.
After the safety sweep of the interior, I return to retrieve Ava.
“No boogeyman hiding under the car?” Ava asks.
“No,” I begin to answer. “The only boogeyman you’ll be dealing with is me. Now, stay right by my side.”
Ava places her small hand in the crook of my elbow. Even through all the layers separating us, the sensation is a little too comforting.
I set the alarm and lock up quickly before moving towards the vehicle. Ava keeps up as I practically drag her to the passenger side, swiveling my gaze the entire time. After depositing her into the car, I refrain from reaching over and securing her seatbelt. Her fingers aren’t trembling now, so she doesn’t need my help.
I slam the passenger door quickly to refrain from what my hands are itching to do.
After rounding the grill and jumping into the driver’s seat, I start up and blast the heat. The few moments outside made my hands numb.
“There’s a deli around the corner.” I break the silence between us. “It’s one of the nicer one’s with all the trappings and creamers.”
“Thank God,” Ava retorts, shifting to look at me. “How can you stand to drive in the car with no music?”
I stop at the red light. “It didn’t bother you last night.”
“Yes, but we were running from a crazed shooter last night. Now, I need to listen to something.”
“I’m used to either silence, or if a client wants me to play music while driving them, turning on their preferences,” I say, motioning to the XM radio. “Have at it, but nothing too noisy. I do like to listen for any potential threats on the road.”
Ava tosses her long, dark brown curls back as we begin moving again and switches through about a dozen stations. She finally settles on a song with a heavy base line, turning up the volume. The literal antithesis of what I told her to select.
I peer at the screen and see Ava settled on “Deli” by Ice Spice.
I take my eyes of the road to catch her eye, but she can’t even contain her laughter.
“Cute,” I say, shaking my head and turning the radio back down.
We reach the corner deli quickly, and I circle the block twice before parallel parking a block away.
Moving to retrieve Ava, I keep aware of my surroundings, though this street is quiet and there’s limited activity on the roads. All the smart people staying inside where it’s warm.
“Wait,” Ava says, pulling the mirror visor down and running her hands though her hair. “Oh, I am a mess.”
I snort. “Look around, Princess,” I say, taking in the old brick façade of the buildings around us and the scattered trash in front of the neighboring building with a rusted for sale sign on it. “No one cares how you look.”
“Still,” Ava says, pulling up the hood on the jacket and tucking her hair into it.
She replaces her arm in the crook of my elbow as I escort us inside. I slow my steps, remembering her injured foot from last night. I do another sweep and count three people inside, one clerk behind the register and another taking an order from an older gentleman.
“Get whatever you want,” I say. “I’ll be right here.” I watch as Ava queues behind the man, who sounds as if he’s ordering for an army.
When she finally leaves the line, I push off the wall next to the refrigerated drinks. “What is all this?” I say, extracting the two steaming coffee cups.
“Got myself a latte and a black coffee for you,” she says, sticking out her tongue at the mention of black coffee. “Also, two bacon, eggs, and cheese.”
I’m touched she thought of my well-being. I’m not used to anyone doing that for me outside of work with my team. I don’t have the time or inclination to think further about this because we need to quickly make our way to Manhattan. I move with Ava to the register, setting our sandwiches and coffee down when Ava turns around to peer down at some bright-colored candy.
“I haven’t seen these in years.” She stoops and grabs several of the colorful candy.
“Ava, hurry. We need to get moving,” I say.
