Revealing Annie - Freya Barker Page 0,88
their constant bickering is more of a love language to them. It makes me happy to think of them together. Especially since I’m here to break the news I won’t be coming back, not even after the new trailer is delivered.
I also intend to give them my new phone number, the one to the new phone I bought yesterday after it became clear the gossip rags weren’t ready to let me off the hook just yet.
“I’m moving in with Kyle.”
“Good for you,” Hattie is the first to respond. “If I could get my hands on a hunk like that I wouldn’t think twice either.”
I snicker when I witness the dirty look Edward throws her.
“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass,” he grumbles.
“Oh, keep your socks on. I’m here, ain’t I?” she fires back.
“He good to you?”
Edward’s question surprises me.
“The best,” I respond honestly.
“You don’t think it’s fast?”
“Normally I’d probably agree, but given the circumstances it makes sense.”
I proceed to tell them about the events of the past few days and I notice Edward’s nostrils flaring.
“Shoulda called,” he finally complains.
“Instead of calling and worrying you, I thought I’d come tell you in person so you could see for yourself I’m fine.”
He harrumphs and grabs another butter tart off the tray.
“Last one,” Hattie decrees, earning her a glare she completely ignores. “And the boy? How is he?”
“He’ll be laid up for a bit but he’s home, and he’s young and healthy, so he should bounce back.”
“What about that one,” Edward asks, lifting his chin at the trailer across the street. The one where Parsons lives, but his truck is not in the driveway.
Guilt rushes over me. I’ve hardly even thought of the man in the past few days, assuming police would’ve let him go, but now that I’m looking at his trailer, I realize I owe him an apology. After what Ted told me in that van, the only thing Will Parsons ever did was have an interest in me. I’m the one who pointed him out to the police.
“He was as much a victim as I was,” I confess as I turn back to Edward, not liking the idea I’d been so wrong about the man.
“Speak of the devil,” Hattie announces, looking over my shoulder where I hear the crunch of wheels on the gravel.
“That him?” I ask, getting to my feet.
“Looks like.”
“Right. I’d better have a word before I get myself home.”
I walk around the small table and give Hattie a hug. Then I move on to Edward, who eyes me warily as I bend down to kiss his cheek.
“In a few weeks, when Bryce feels a little better, we’ll have to have you over for a cookout.”
“I like cream puffs,” Hattie calls after me.
“So noted,” I toss back, as I make my way down the path.
Will Parsons stands next to his truck, watching me approach with an unreadable expression on his face.
“I’m sorry,” I start when I’m still ten feet away. I watch his body give a little jerk and his face register surprise. I’m not sure what he was expecting but an apology wasn’t it.
I stop a few feet away. He smooths out his expression, leans against his truck, and crosses his arms over his chest, making himself look relaxed but still guarded. I take a deep breath in.
“I moved here to escape a stalker,” I explain. “And it was quiet for the better part of a year when things started happening again.” He raises an eyebrow, and I swallow before forging on. “Around the time you came up to me in the Laundromat.” The eyebrow drops again, but he stays quiet. Dammit, he’s not making this easy. “Started paying me attention, and I was suspicious. I was also wrong, and I’m so sorry.”
He then unfolds his arms and stands up straight, even at this distance making me feel like he’s towering over me.
“I see. Gonna make a man think twice before he decides to show a pretty woman interest. And just to say; you’re even prettier without the glasses, shows the color of your eyes.” I feel an embarrassed blush warm my cheeks and look down at the toes of his work boots. He was just being nice and I repaid him by accusing him. His deep chuckle draws my attention to his smiling face. “Hand to heart, Annie, all I was interested in was gettin’ to know you better.”
“I know that now,” I answer meekly, feeling about a foot tall, if that.
“Right. Then you