Trust Me .(27)

I walk towards the house, meeting Avery on the sidewalk in front of the stairs, and grab the bag that looks like the heaviest from her grips. She smiles again as we walk side-by-side up the stairs.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was just heading home and noticed this little cutie running around the front yard,” I say as I tickle Brooklyn’s side resulting in another giggle.

“Yeah, she was not being a good girl and listening to her mom at that moment,” she responds as she gives her daughter a pointed look that meant she was serious.

“Bean, you can’t run around the front yard while your mom is distracted. You’re gonna get hurt or run into the road.” I give Brooklyn one of my stern bad-cop looks, but as those beautiful little blue eyes gaze at me, I realize I’m a goner when it comes to her face. No amount of military or police training can help me.

Brooklyn lays her head on my shoulder and whispers, “I’m sowy. I won’t do it again.”

“Okay, I’m glad. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you,” I reply quietly, mostly saying it to myself. Before I set her down at the front door, I give her a kiss on her forehead. I look over at Avery and give her a trademarked smile. “I’m pretty sure I would give her anything after that look she just gave me,” I say to her resulting in a laugh.

Brooklyn goes tearing through the house, gathering up all the toys she can get her hands on before dropping them on the floor in front of the TV. Avery heads into the kitchen so I stop and turn on the TV finding a cartoon channel already on and ready to go.

“Thank you for your help,” she says as she sets all the bags down on the table. I bring in the bag I am carrying and set it next to the rest.

“No problem. I was just passing by and thought I’d offer some help.”

A horn honks from the street and we both glance towards the front door. We walk onto the porch and see Jake idling along the edge of the street, window rolled down.

“What the hell are you doing at my sister’s house, dumb ass?” he shouts from the side of the street, facing the wrong way.

“Mommy, Uncle Jake said a bad word,” Brooklyn says with a playful grin on her face as she steps onto the porch between Avery and me.

“Nice, Jake. Thanks for teaching my daughter your filthy language.” Avery picks up Brooklyn and we all proceed to the edge of the street to talk to Jake.

“Seriously, what the heck are you doing here?” he asks giving me a pointed look, emphasizing the word heck.

“Just helping her carry in groceries and keep Bean from playing in the street.”

At the mention of his niece, Jake softens. “Come on, those miles aren’t gonna run themselves.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.”

“Bye sis. Bye Bean. See you soon. Uncle Jake loves you,” he says as he gives her a little kiss on her forehead through his open window.

“I wove you,” she replies in her little voice.

“Who’s your favorite uncle?”

“You,” she giggles.

I back away from his truck and start to head towards my own truck sitting in the driveway. Jake doesn’t move from the street, though. He sits there watching as if he’s waiting for me to climb in and back away from his sister’s house first. Avery leans in and kisses Jake’s cheek before turning and walking back towards the house. At the last minute, she changes her course and heads towards my truck. I’m already sliding inside so I start it up quickly and roll my window down.

“Thanks for your help, again,” she says as she approaches my window.

“No problem.”

Jake honks the horn one last time and I throw it in reverse. She backs away and gives me a friendly wave.

“See you Friday,” I say just loud enough for her to hear, but not so loud that her over-protective brother can hear. I back out of her drive and roll up my window heading back towards my house. A small smile plays on my lips as I think of spending time with Avery Friday night. No Jake. No Brooklyn. Just her and me. Alone. I can’t fucking wait.





It’s Friday night. Date night! Date night with Maddox! I’m flying around my bedroom rejecting shirt after shirt, every pair of pants and all of the skirts that I have in my closet. What am I supposed to wear tonight? I want to look good without being overdone. Maddox said casual, but does he mean jeans and sweatshirt casual or slacks and a nice shirt casual?

Just as my frustration level is starting to reach eruption level, my front door swings open and my best friend races into my room with her arms loaded down with clothes.

“You’re late!”

“I’m late?” she asks, voice laced with sarcasm. “You’re the one who is supposed to be ready in like fifteen minutes!”