Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,18

there. We’d have to drop Edward’s car off first.”

This is not news to me, since I talked to Brick this morning after he called her. I was already going to offer driving her, but this works better. It gives me some leverage.

“I can, on one condition.”

“Wait, but I already got you butter tarts.”

“And they’re very good,” I tell her, popping the rest of the half-eaten one in my mouth. “But there’s something I want more.”

“What?” She tries to sound annoyed, but the corner of her mouth is twitching.

I lean close, my mouth by her ear.

“Have dinner with me Wednesday night.”

7

Annie

“My car is more comfortable.”

I glance over at Edward, who’s been complaining since I picked him up from the hospital. Yesterday’s relatively good mood has been replaced by the more familiar grumpy old man.

“Like I explained, I came straight from work. Once I drop you off and take Blossom for a quick walk, I have to hustle to get to the shelter on time.”

His response is an unhappy grunt.

I have a sneaky suspicion his mood has more to do with fatigue and perhaps a bit of vulnerability than actual displeasure, so I let it slide. Can’t be easy to find out you’ve been walking around like a ticking time bomb without knowing it.

By the time we get home, he’s looking a little gray, and he leans heavily on my arm when I walk him to his front door.

“Want to catch your breath here while I go get Blossom from your neighbor’s?” I ask, stopping at the chair outside his door.

“Fine.” He tries for disgruntled, but I can hear he’s out of breath.

He sinks down wearily and leans back in the chair, closing his eyes.

“Won’t be a minute. I’m sure Blossom will want to say hello first,” I tell him, giving his shoulder a squeeze before jogging over to Mrs. Sokoloff’s place.

She’s already waiting by the door, a basket hanging off one hand and the dog’s leash in the other.

“He looks like crap,” she announces, having clearly observed our slow progress from the car.

“You know how it is; you can feel like a million bucks lying in bed, but two minutes on your feet wears you out.” I point at the basket. “What’s that?”

“He likes my meat pie,” she says, daring me with her eyes to say anything. “And before you tell me it’s not good for him, I made it with ground turkey and hid a bunch of vegetables in there. He won’t know the difference.”

I try to hide my smile under her sharp scrutiny. These two are made for each other, both bristly as all get out on the surface, hiding good people inside.

“I’m sure he’ll love it,” I assure her, taking Blossom’s leash from her. “Come on, girl. He’ll want to see you before I take you for a walk.”

Edward is still sitting with his eyes closed, but his color is a little better when we walk up. Blossom waddles up to him, her back end swaying from side to side with excitement. When she reaches him, she shoves her snout against his leg and Edward’s hand immediately reaches down to scratch her head.

“Still here, old girl. Still here,” he mumbles.

“Barely,” Mrs. S. scoffs behind me, making no effort to hush her voice.

“Come to finish me off?” he snaps, his eyes now opened to slits.

“Much more fun to see you suffer slowly,” the old woman fires back, pushing past me and into the house.

I might’ve reconsidered leaving these two alone if not for the faint smile on Edward’s face. He’s enjoying this.

“I’m just gonna take her for a quick pee and then I’m off. Mrs. S. has my number if you need me.”

His eyes are closed again as he shoos me away with his hands.

It’s getting close to the end of my shift when Sumo calls.

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been waiting for it and was starting to wonder if he’d had second thoughts.

He ended up driving me up the mountain to get my car. I’m not sure what I’d been expecting, but I was surprised at how well-tended the club grounds looked. Sure, we had to pass through a chain-link fence, which was a little strange, but the buildings looked well kept, and I certainly wasn’t expecting window boxes and barrels with annuals. Not at all what I’d have thought an MC compound would look like.

What was even more surprising were the kids. A bunch of them were eating at one of the picnic tables,