At Home

Chapter Thirty Two

We walk out of the bathroom and find Cindy, Maya, and Ryan sitting in the living room. Cindy is sitting on one end of the couch, with Ryan next to her. Maya is sitting in the recliner, scrolling on her phone. Cindy gives me a knowing smirk and I feel myself blush. AJ walks around me from behind, kisses me on the cheek, then continues to fill the last spot on there couch. Jeopardy is playing on the TV, Cindy's choice I assume, and Ryan is sitting with his head buried in his laptop. Typical.

I look around my living room, feeling my nerves spike. I realize all the seats are filled. I'm not a big entertainer, it's usually just Maya and I. Four seats have always been enough. Kitchen chair? I begin to head to the kitchen to grab a chair when I hear AJ's voice. "Where are you going?" He says. I stop in my tracks and turn to face him. "To get a chair." I say while hiking a thumb over my shoulder. "Why? There's a seat right here." He says while patting his lap. I freeze. Maya looks up from her phone and looks straight at me with an inquisitive look. I swear I hear Ryan let out a chuckle, and it shocks me from my hold. I turn to Cindy, and she looks at me with a little smile but sympathy in her eyes. "Actually, you can have my seat Honey. I'm gonna head to bed. Goodnight everyone!" She gives me another small smile, and I mouth Thank You. Cindy turns and heads towards the spare bedrooms.

I walk over and sit in the seat she was previously sitting in at the opposite end of the couch from AJ. He looks at me with his bottom lip jutted out in a pout. Maya hops up from her chair and grabs the remote. "Finally, we can put on something good." She searches through the various streaming networks I have before finally deciding to put on Jeepers Creepers. "Uhm, My, are you sure you wanna choose THIS movie?" I say. Maya ALWAYS gets nightmares from this movie, and usually ends up coming to my room and getting in bed with me. "Oh yeah" she says before continuing, "I've seen this so many times, it doesn't scare me anymore. Plus, I have a system." I look at her with a raised eyebrow, but just end up shrugging. "Ok, if you say so."

We all get consumed in the movie and watch it in silence. Even Ryan puts away his laptop and watches for a little while. When there is only about 15 minutes left, Ryan stands and announces he is going to bed. We all wave him a small goodnight, and finish the movie. After the movie, AJ says "Car, we should probably get you to bed. If I recall, you said you were exhausted." He looks at me with a mischievous grin. "Oh, yeah I'm beat." I respond, standing up slowly. Maya puts on SpongeBob and I can't help but let out an audible laugh. "Don't judge! If I put on cartoons after a scary movie, it calms me down so I can sleep." Maya says defensively. "Ok My, well, don't stay up too much longer." I say, while bending down to give her a hug. "Yeah, yeah. You two go to bed, I'm just gonna lay on the couch and watch an episode or 2. Then I will be going to sleep myself." She responds. She waves us off and she stands up and moves to the couch. As we are about to exit the living room I hear her say, "And remember, room for Jesus!" AJ and I both laugh quietly as we head to my room. There will be no room left for Jesus after what we do tonight.

AJ and I make it to the bedroom and I give him a look that says It's on. But, it would not be on. My head hits the pillow, and I fall asleep. Before I do, I hear a little chuckle escape from AJ, and feel the bed dip beside me. He slides his arm under my neck and rolls me into to his chest. He gives me a forehead kiss, as always, and I am out.

I don't even know what time it is when AJ gently shakes me awake.
"Car, Gorgeous. Wake up baby. I have good news." I roll with a groan and rub my eyes. I hate being woken up. "Whaaaaatt?" I say with irritation in my voice. "Carter, we got him. They found enough evidence that he kidnapped you. There is no way he will get away with it." AJ says, excitement in his voice. My eyes shoot open, and I sit straight up. "Wait what?" I say, not sure if my ears deceive me. "We got him gorgeous. It's over." Before I even realize what's happening, a tear is running down my face. "We gotta go tell everyone!" I say, jumping out of bed. I'm on auto pilot and head straight to the door of Cindy's bedroom. I knock a couple times before she answers. "What's going on Honey?" Cindy says, concern evident in her voice. I immediately start crying, unable to find the words. AJ walks up behind me, and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder. Cindy looks to AJ, giving him a questioning look. I feel him nod his head, and she lets out her breath. I didn't even realize she had been holding it. "Oh thank god!" Cindy says, before stepping forward and hugging us both. "Go tell Ryan and Maya, I'm gonna go to the kitchen and pour us drinks. Maya made sure to show us the liquor cabinet on her tour." Cindy says with a smirk and I can't help but laugh.

I turn around in AJ's arms and look up into his eyes. "Divide and concur?" I ask. "I'll handle Ryan, you handle Maya?" He responds knowing exactly what I meant. I just nod my head yes and stand on my tippy toes to give him a kiss. I turn to head to the living room, and AJ heads to the spare room Ryan claimed. I make it to the living room, and I don't see Maya. She wasn't in the bathroom. I know that because I have to pass the bathroom to get to the living room and the door was open. I feel panic rising, but tamper it down. She is probably in the kitchen with Cindy already. I head to the kitchen and Cindy is the only one in there. "Cind, have you seen Maya?" I ask. Cindy shakes her head. "Not since last night, why?" My stomach drops. I start shaking, my mind jumping to the worst conclusion. "AJ, Maya is gone!!" I yell. How can this be happening?? Blake is in jail. He's locked away. How is she gone now too? "Uhm, Car. You might wanna come here.." AJ's voice snaps me out of my panic spiral. I rush towards AJ's voice. Standing in the doorway of my second spare bedroom, is Maya and a shirtless Ryan. I swear my jaw hits the floor. We all knew it was gonna happen, but damn that was fast. "Ok, close your mouth Car. It's not like that." Maya quips. "Please, I would love to hear the explanation." AJ says, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "So, maybe the cartoons don't work" Maya mumbles. "She just invited herself in." Ryan says, but there's no irritation in his voice. It's clear he isn't exactly unhappy about that. "You know, this is actually your fault Cuz." Maya sassily says. "And how is that exactly?" AJ responds lazily. "It's your fault Maya's bed was full. She's usually my cuddle buddy when I am scared." Maya says, her voice serious. AJ turns to look at me, and we both burst out into laughter.

Ryan clears his throat to get our attention. "Anyway, why did you come wake us up?" AJ turns back to Ryan before speaking. "It's over. We got him. He's going away for a long time." Maya looks to me, and bursts out of the doorway. She is pulling me into a hug and we just stay like that crying out all the pent up emotions from the last few days. I hear Ryan and AJ talking. I only catch bits and pieces but it sounds like AJ is explaining what they have on Blake. Between sobs I hear "found the gun" ,"DNA at the house" and, "hair in the Mustang." The guys embrace in a bro hug with awkward pat on the back.

"Get in here kids!" we hear Cindy say from the kitchen. We all head towards there voice, and find Cindy with 5 shots of, what appears to be, vodka. I love this woman. I notice a bowl with a light brown-ish liquid in it. I point to it before asking Cindy, "What is that?" Cindy laughs before responding, "Well, that is chicken broth for the best boy there is." We all respond in unison, "Blue." There's a collective smile. Blue comes in after hearing his name, tail wagging at the speed of light. Cindy claps her hands together. "Ok, grab a shot everyone. This is cause for celebration!" We do as we're told, and AJ slides his free hand around my waist. "To seeing that fucker rot in jail!" Cindy says, catching her son by surprise. "MOM!" Ryan lets out, and we all laugh. Cindy is who I want to be when I grow up. "Fuck yeah!" Maya chimes in.

We all clink our shot glasses together and down the hatch the liquid goes. YUP! Definitely vodka. Cindy puts the bowl of broth on the ground for Blue and he slurps it up happily. Cindy pets his back while he drinks, and I notice Ryan and Maya stealing glances at each other. I feel myself smile widely. It's the first time I have truly smiled since this all started. I enjoy the company of, what I have decided are, my favorite humans. And favorite dog of course. The crushing weight and anxiety finally feels like it is not suffocating me. I look up towards AJ and find he is already looking down at me. "You know, I should probably stick around a while you know? For protection." I let out a laugh. "Excuse me, what do you think Blue is for?" I say, playing like I am offended. AJ laughs in response, "He's a good boy, but he couldn't protect you from as toddler." We're both laughing now, because he is completely right. He brings his hand up and caresses my chin, before bending down and giving me a soul stealing kiss. We start to get lost in our own world, as always happens when I kiss Atlas Joseph Whimbley.

Out of nowhere, I hear Maya say "SHIT." AJ and I pull apart and I immediately miss his mouth on mine. We all turn to Maya waiting for her to continue. She looks at me before speaking. "Car, this means we have to go back and deal with Miss Trunchbull at work again soon." We both let out a groan. "Fuck that. How do I get kidnapped again?" Maya and I stare at each other a moment longer, then we both burst out into laughter again.