Kara.

She nuzzled the pillows under her cheek, dreaming of him holding her. The soft touch of an index finger ran along her cheek and she woke.

“Kara.”

Her eyes snapped open and stared at his near face, her cheeks burning a new shade of red.

He smiled at her, “How was your nap?”

Much with the relaxing. You accomplished your goal, James Dray. Like usual. She sat up and moved her sore ankle back and forth, “It was okay.”
The bed sunk at her feet as he sat, “There's still some swelling.” He gripped her foot and started to massage her ankle.

She pulled back, her heart pounding, “What are you doing!”

“I'm trying to move the fluid.” He took her foot back and continued, she didn't protest this time, “Your brother seems alright.”

She looked to him, “He's okay.”

“He's decent at football.”

Kara nodded, “He's in an after school program. There's a game tonight.”

“Yes, he's told me.”

She decided to question him into real conversation, “Do you still play?”

He paused, “Yes.”

Of course. She looked away, out of things to say already.

“There's no food in this house. Which is disconcerting, Kara. You need to have food.”
Kara looked to him, “I don't have any money. She leaves us nothing. My grandparent's bring us some stuff and some money but that's about it. Plus it's far and few between. They try.”

He looked pissed but kept himself level, “Are you going to move out after school?”
“Where?” She breathed, “I have no job and I can't leave Josh.”

James looked to her and swallowed, “Kara, this is bad.”
“My ankle?” She tore it from his massaging hands, still swollen, she didn't think it was horrible.

“Not your ankle. This.” He motioned to her living situation.

“I know, I'm messy.” She admitted.

“Kara,” He rolled his eyes, “you need to get things together.”

She stared at him, her anger flaring, “Well, I'm trying.”

He stood, running a hand through his dark sorted hair, “Are you?”
“Yes!”

Obviously. Kinda. Not. She concluded in her head.

“You can't live like this.” He exasperated.

“What do you expect me to do?”
He opened his mouth, “I...” He sighed, “You need to think about moving.”

“Moving where!” She snapped, “That's not a plan, James!”

He paused, she saw him trying to say something but not getting it out.

Kara stared at him, Fucking say it!

He sighed, “Sorry, this isn't my business, it's your life. I just get concerned because of your little brother.”

“I'm fucking trying.” She snapped.

He nodded, “I can see that, it's alright. I'll take Josh to the football game tonight, you can stay here and rest.”

Kara shook her head, “I don't need anymore rest.”

He took her foot from the bed and began to message it again, “I will and I can go get supper. What would you like?”

Her heart thundered in her chest from his general possession of a good heart.

He made a face, “Kara? Food?”

“I don't know, pizza?”

“Okay.”

“I can take Josh tonight though, it's not your problem.”

He sighed, “Your little brother is not a problem for me, Kara. I'll take him, I want you to rest.”

All of a sudden, she was no longer in control of herself, he was good at being a subtle dictator.
“It feels better.” She tried to move away from him.
He stopped her though, “You look ill, just sleep and relax.” Standing, he put her ankle back on the ice.

She grumbled, “Maybe some chicken wings too.”
He smirked, “Anything else?”
“Pop?” Her mouth watered, she hadn't ate in three days, the noodles in the box had been a refreshing awakening to the world of food.

“Tomorrow we can go shopping.”

“You don't need to buy us food.”
He sighed, “Yeah, no. I do.”

She let out a deep breath, nodding. She wasn't going to win against him and she needed to accept what he would give her, while he was there that time.

“Josh is downstairs watching television. I'll be back in a bit. Stay off your foot and keep it elevated.” He adjusted the ice and compressed her ankle under his palms.

She sunk into the bed, “Yeah.”

He walked out of her room, “I'll be back in a bit.”

Biting her lips, she watched him leave, thinking. Her life had gotten better in the last few hours and truthfully, it was because of him.

#

She navigated the stairs with a pathetic limp. The savour of the pizza and chicken wings enough motivation to get her moving faster.

Josh was eating pizza at the table and greeted her, once she entered the tiny kitchen.

James put a plate to the countertop for her “I was just going to come get you.”

“I could smell it.” She told him, grabbing out three slices of pizza and six chicken wings.

“Do you want some soda?” He asked.

Kara nodded, “Thanks.” She heard him grab a glass and pour her a drink as she sat across from her brother.

Josh chewed, “This is so good!”

Kara picked off a pineapple and put it in her mouth. Her stomach in knots as it tried to protest the food.

James walked over, placing her drink in front of her before sitting to join them in the eating.

She glanced at him, eating a piece of ham from the pizza toppings as her eyes lingered on his stubbled cheeks.

“You're picking.”
“I pick.” Her eyes snapped to his.

“I know.” He took a bite of his food.

It took her a moment to get her bearings back, before she started to eat again.

We really need to talk.

Josh finished his pizza, “Can you guys get married now?”

Kara stopped and stared at him, “Huh?”

James raised an eyebrow and looked to Kara.

“Josh!” She snapped in a hushed voice, accompanied with a glare of warning.

Josh shrugged, pouting, “I was just asking. Then we could live with James.”

James smiled, “You want to live with me?”

Kara ate more, trying to ignore the conversation as her stomach muscles tightened.

Josh nodded, “Yes!”

James chuckled and looked to Kara, “Your brother wants to live with me.”

Kara swallowed what was in her mouth, not answering him.

He turned back to Josh, “But what if your sister says no?”

Josh made a face, “Why would she do that? She's not that crazy!”

James laughed and leaned into him, “I don't think she's is very fond of me anymore.”

“Kara loves you!” Josh blurted out.

“Oh god, Josh!” Kara leaned across the table, whacking him on the side of his head. She slumped back into her chair and snapped her eyes to James, “He's full of shit.”

“I am not.” Josh whined, rubbing his head.

James smiled, “Don't worry, Josh I believe you.” His eyes darted to Kara and she looked to her food, not wanting to hear anything more about the topic.

#

Sitting at home had seemed lonely and on top of it, her stomach was cramping with warning instinct. It meant something might have been coming and she didn't want to be alone because of it. So she convinced James to let her go to Josh's soccer game with him and he agreed easier than she figured he would have. Maybe because she had been walking better on the ankle or maybe her little bit about being nervous solo, had done it.

Sitting on the rickety bleachers next him, they were the only two of six that had showed up to watch the kids play.

“Go!” Kara called to her brother as he got the ball, “Go, Joshy! Go!” It was short lived as another boy intercepted her brother's dribbling. She sighed, “Darn.”

“He'll get it.” James assured her.

Kara looked to him as she pulled her sweater over her hands, “I hope so. He tries so hard.”

“Yes. I can see that.” He smiled, starting to warm up and the more time that passed, the more she was too.

It was like gravity around him and she felt she was free falling half the time because of it.

Her stomach cramped again and she sighed, “You said earlier we'd talk.”

He looked out to the game, “Yes, I did.”

“What did that mean?”

“Was it not self explanatory enough?”

She blushed and looked to her cool hands, “No, I guess it was... why are you here?”

He glanced at her, “Do you want the truth?”

Her eyes snapped to his, “Yeah.”

“I kept thinking about you. I wanted to check on you.”

She had to look away from him, “So, you came all the way here to do that?”

“Yes.” He looked back out to the game.

Kara took in a sharp breath, But you left.

“I'm sorry about a year ago. I just – I just wasn't ready.”

“Ready for what?” She squeaked at him.

He looked to her and his eyes fell on her lap, her quivering fingers included. His hand lifted and rested to her thigh as he leaned into her, his mouth pressing to her cheek. He kissed her numb skin and drew back, “For us.”

She moved her eyes up to him again, at a loss for words.

His hand on her thigh tensed and it silenced her progression of the conversation. She reached for his fingers and wrapped her tiny ones in between his.

It was then that she felt normal.

Very normal.

Hormonal normal.

Girl normal.

He often made her feel normal and she liked that.

The few parents around them cheered as Josh's team scored. Kara snapped away from her normal moment with him, to her brother.

She smiled and watched the little boys jump in excitement, “They don't score often.”
James shared her amusement, “Perhaps someone should teach them how to rectify it.”

Kara laughed, “Yeah, I don't think that would help.”

James chuckled and then the cheering faded as the game commenced again, “You know,” He started, “If he really likes football, he can go to schools in the UK and if he's good enough, one day he could get on a team.”

Kara laughed, “Uh, that would be nice but it's completely unrealistic.”

He looked to her, “Why's that?”

She stared at him, her amusement fading, “Well, we live here and that sounds expensive.”

“Yes.” He nodded, “It is but you could live there.”

Kara made a face, “I don't understand.”

“Hmm.” His eyes returned to the game in front of them, “Think that through then.”

Kara wrinkled her nose as her phone beeped in her pocket. James looked to be wrapped up in the game again, so she pulled the cell from her pocket quick.

Her discrete eyes read the text and it made her gut turn.

Kyle

I got a week's worth. If you want it, come and get it.

#

She fought with the front door’s lock. It had started to give her issues in the past few months, sticking and not opening, apart of it may have been the un-square frame it sat in.

“I was good right!” Josh looked between his sister and James.

“I’d say so.” James patted his shoulder.

Josh beamed with pride, “Kara, one day I'll be a professional soccer player!”

“Uh-huh.” Kara slammed her palm to the key and jammed it into the lock.

Josh jigged from foot to foot, “I want to play in one of those big stadiums!”

James smiled, “Now, wouldn't that be fun.”

“Oh yeah!” Josh jumped.

She finally got it and swung it open, “Piece of crap.” She grumbled to herself and stepped inside.

James let Josh go in the door next as Kara tried to get the key free.

“God dammit!” She swore.

James pushed her hands off and wiggled the key free, holding it out for her, “There you are.”

Kara whipped it up in her hand, giving James a look of frustration – mostly directed towards her anger with the door, “Time for bed, Josh!”

The boy sighed, “Seriously?”

“I need to go out and it's past nine. Bed!” She walked towards the kitchen, limping but doing a lot better than before.

James followed her, “You're going to that bar?”

“I'm not sure.” She shrugged, “I just need to go out quick.”

James creased his brow as Josh turned to him.

The boy smiled, “Night, James.”

“Night, kid.” He put his hand to Josh's head and messed up his hair, “You did good tonight.”

Josh smiled with pride, “Well tomorrow, can we practice again?”

James nodded to him and Josh ran up the stairs, calling goodnight to them.

She walked towards the kitchen and out the back door.

James followed her, “So, you're going hunting?”

“Yeah, sure.” She pulled a small knife from behind a few pieces of rotting wood under the deck and tucked them behind her belt in her jeans. She fixed her jacket over it and walked back towards the door.

“Gotta do my duty to society.” That was a load of sarcasm.

“Well, I'll come.” He followed her like a lost puppy, with a hint of needy and protective.

Kara turned to him once she shut the backdoor and slipped a piece of two-by-four in place to secure it in it's frame. She pressed the deadbolt in and locked the bottom of the door. “If you have to.” walking towards the front of the house, he trailed behind.

“If your ankle is too sore though, maybe you should take a break for tonight.”

Kara rolled her eyes, “It's a lot better now.”

James shut the door, “Got the key?”

She held it out for him.

He took it and locked the broken bolt, slipping the key back into her palm. They walked across the front lawn next to each other.

“Where are we going?” James asked.

Kara looked straight in front of her and picked up her pace, “Just a normal demon crawl. I have some unfinished business there. Car keys?”

James smirked, “Now you want to drive it?”

“I know where to go.” She reached into his left jacket pocket and retrieved the keys, “Least you could do is not have the same habits, Jim. Then I wouldn't be able to figure you out so fast.” She walked across the street and beeped the car open.

He sighed and caught up to her.

“Oh Audi, how nice you are.” She patted the car on approach, “All because James has a Visa.”

He moved around the car to the passenger side, “Yeah, I do. Rental, Kara, remember. So be careful.”

She smiled and opened the driver's side door, “I'm always careful.” She slid into the leather seat. Looking around at it's perfect confines, “This is really nice.”

“Nice and expensive.” James pointed out to her.

She rolled her eyes, “You act like a grandpa.”

“Oh, really? Well, trust me I can fuck better than one.”

“What did you just say?” Kara stared at him, blinking.

He winced and looked away out the passenger side window, “My bad.”

She started the car, thinking over what he'd said, “Did you actually say that?”

He smirked, “No.”

She put her foot to the gas, the car jolting forward.

James gripped the door, “Come on!”

“What was that about not being a grandpa?”

“I said I fuck better than one!” He reminded her.

She smiled, “Uh-huh.”

“I'd be willing to prove it to you.”

She swallowed, glancing at him before he reached over and grabbed the steering wheel.

“Straight line, please.”

 She pushed him off, focusing on her driving and coming back into the now, versus the other universe he could transport her to.

** NOTE ** Happy Halloween! one more chapter will be released, which makes this the biggest pre-read available online for Beloved :) If you want more info on this book and the series can check out www.bellajohnson.com or join me on facebook! xx