Run To You

Chapter 15

Kirstie bounces the baby gently. Emma falls asleep, and Kirstie walks to me. I place my hands on her waist, and nuzzle my beard in the crook of her neck.
"Why me?" she asks me.
"What do you mean 'Why me?'"
"You could have any girl you please, and you pick me."
"Well, I love the way you run your hands through your hair. I love the way you arch your back to pop it. I love the way your eyelashes touch your cheeks. I love the way you care about everyone. I love your crooked smile. I love the way you raise the corner of your lip when you sing. I love the way you dance when you bake. I love the way you talk to fans. I love you," I say.
"Avi!" she wraps her arms around my neck. I place my hands on her waist. "I love the way you laugh. I love your morning voice. I love how you never do anything half hearted. I love that you're not quick to judge. I love the way you sing. I love that you would give any fan a hug. I love the way you move your hips. I love you," she kisses me.
"How do you feel about the chair girl?"
"Well, I've always wanted to be the chair girl, but when you do it, I won't be jealous."
"I love that, but why not?" I cock my head to the side.
"Because I've done better things with you than a measly moving of the hips next to me."
"Yeah, I'll be right back," I stand up and grab a foldable chair. I set it up in the center of the room, and take Kirstie's hand. "Let's get it on, baby," in my lowest voice. I sing my part, and do what I would normally do. She giggles the entire time, and at the very end, I turn around and sit on her lap. I tip my head back and kick my feet up. She laughs, and begins to kiss my neck. "So when will Emma get picked up?"
"Oh, in a few minutes!" she ran around frantic to put everything up. She grabbed Emma and cradled her in her arms. Kirstie sat next to me and looked down at her little face. I kiss her cheek. A knock comes at the door, and I go and get it. Kirstie packed her up in her carseat, and hand over the diaper bag. They thank us and pay, and we wave as the car goes by. I sit on the couch, and put on my new obsession, "Malcolm in the Middle" from Netflix. I'm only on season 2, but I love it. Kirstie walks out and laughs at the scene playing. She sits in the wingback armchair all curled up. I think she looks perfect sitting there. We binge watch Netflix until a knock comes at the door.
"Kirstie!" her mother runs in. "Avi!"
"What?" I grab her elbow and guide her to the couch.
"Your sister, she ran away. With some boy who does drugs and I said she couldn't be with him, and she ran away."
"Where would they go?"
"That's the thing, he's sixteen," she explains, and I ball up my fists.
"She took her phone?"
"Yeah, but she won't answer to me."
"But she might answer to me," I suggest.
"Call her."
I dial her number, and she picks up. "Avi?"
"Where are you?"
"Avi!" she sobs, "you've got to help me."
"Where are you at?"
"Some 7/11."
"You need to act like you are being kidnapped. Scream and cry for help. If he grabs you, use what I taught you, okay. Do not let him get in that car. Find out exactly where you are."
"Okay. Tell my mom I couldn't get on the phone because I was scared he would hurt me."
"Okay darling, just do what I said. Goodbye," I hang up. I fill her family in, and they both cry. I wrap my hands around Kirstie's shoulders, and she nuzzles into my chest. Her mother goes and lays down in Kirstie's bedroom.
"I wish that when I was right here, everything that you fixed when you hold me stayed fixed," she broke our silence.
"Me too. I want everything to be perfect for you."
My phone rang. "I'm in Northern California," her sister rattled off an address. I copy it down and grab Kirstie's hand. We leave a note for her mother and go to get her sister.