Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,33
look everywhere but in mine. When they land on my mouth, I can’t help myself. I have to kiss her.
It’s a gentle slide of just lips and I can feel the brush of a shaky breath she’s been holding. When I lift my mouth from her, she blinks a few times before rewarding me with a tremulous smile.
“I’d like that. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to let down my guard.”
Something about the way she says that has me on alert. It’s not the first time she’s alluded to being vigilant.
“Annie, are you in any danger?”
Her eyes drop to the middle of my chest.
“Like I said earlier, some fans can get carried away,” she answers immediately. “Sometimes it’s a single incident, and other times they can be persistent. For a while one of them took things a little too far.”
“What you mean; too far?”
She lifts her head as she shrugs. “It starts innocent enough with notes and gifts. Then the notes and gifts become too personal and when they don’t elicit the response expected, it turns to threats.” When she catches my clenched fists on the counter she covers them with her hand and adds, “No one knows I’m here. I haven’t received any gifts or notes, or threats for that matter, since I’ve been here.”
“Jesus, Annie…”
We’re interrupted by Bryce coming down the stairs and walking into the kitchen, empty shopping bags and a shoebox in his hand.
“Fit it all in the dresser?” I ask, as I straighten up and return to pouring myself a cup.
“Yeah. Where should I leave these?”
I point at the laundry room.
“There’s a container hanging on the back of the door you can stuff the bags in, and just toss the empty box in the garage.”
He nods and starts walking past me when suddenly he stops and turns to face Annie.
“I uh…thanks for dessert, it was good.” Then his eyes come to me. “And for everything,” he adds before heading out of the kitchen.
I’m still standing in the same spot when he comes back through a few moments later on his way to the basement.
“I’m gonna get out of your hair,” Annie decides, sliding off the stool. When I open my mouth to protest, she gives her head a little shake. “Go spend some time with your son.”
Despite her telling me it’s not necessary, I walk her out to her car, stealing another kiss before I let her get behind the wheel.
“Let me know when you get home.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Call me anyway,” I insist, standing back as she pulls out of my driveway.
When I get downstairs Daisy is on the couch beside Bryce, her head on his leg.
“Leave some room for me, girl,” I grumble, wedging myself between the dog and an armrest. “Give me the second controller, kid. I feel like beating your ass in Call of Duty.”
Bryce snorts as he hands it over.
Hearing him laugh out loud as he wipes the floor with me for the second time has the knot of tension I’ve felt since picking him up in Denver slowly unravel. Getting my ass handed to me twice is enough and I call it a night.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll take Daisy for a walk.”
“Dee…”
“Fine I’ll take Dee for a walk. You can take her in the morning.”
“By myself?”
“Yeah, why? You afraid you’re gonna get lost?” I tease him and I grin when he rolls his eyes.
“As if,” he mutters, starting up the stairs.
By the time I get back, lock the doors, and head upstairs, the house is quiet. When I crack Bryce’s door and peek in he’s already asleep, his gangly body starfished in the middle of the bed.
It’s not until I get into my own bed I grab my phone off the nightstand and look at the message Annie sent me again.
Annie: Safe and sound. Thank you for letting me be me.
Then I open up the browser and google Annabel Fiore.
12
Annie
“Are you using that one?”
The new neighbor from across the way points at the empty washer I left my basket in front of. I rush to my feet and pull it out of the way.
“Nope. Sorry.”
“No problem.”
The small Laundromat at the park only holds two washers and two dryers. One of each had already been occupied when I got here. The woman who’d been here at the time left, mumbling she had to feed her kids lunch but would be back.
I go back to folding Edward’s laundry while waiting for my own load to