Page 14 of Back To You

“She’s happy to see you,” I say to Annie, not being able to look away from her.

It wasn’t even a question that Annie would be staying with me.

The second the cop said that she would need a place to stay, I was already planning on bringing her here. My one and only priority was making sure she was safe.

And it took a lot less convincing than I thought it would, but I don’t want to think too much about it.

As we sit here with Rosie, in this comfortable silence, a smile on Annie’s face, I can’t help but think that this month we have together may be my chance to finally figure out what the hell went wrong between us.

It might be my only chance to get her back.

“Of course she’s happy to see me,” Annie replies, “she likes me more than you.”

I let out a laugh because I can’t even deny it, but I watch as Annie’s lips lose their shape, and I wish I couldthink of something to say that would bring her smile back. The weight of tonight is no doubt heavy on her shoulders, on top of everything else she is constantly dealing with.

Annie is so tough and doesn’t let a lot get to her these days, and while I know the burglary probably freaked her out, she’s going to be more angry than anything else. Having to deal with the aftermath is just one more stressor for her, and she is already preparing for such an important year for vet school with her rotations.

I knew taking the stress of finding a place to stay that wouldn’t make her feel guilty or like she’s a burden was one thing I could do to help her, even if she thinks spending more time with me than she has to is the equivalent to eating glass.

The things I would do to show her that she doesn’t have to deal with everything alone are unmatched. I just wish she could see it.

“I know you’re going to be mad at me for asking,” I start, the both of us still knelt beside a very content Rosie, “but are you okay?”

Annie thinks about her answer for a moment, and I use this time to study her. I watch as her shoulders slump and her eyes briefly shut. She takes a deep inhale before letting it out, and this feels like one of those rare occurrences when Annie lets me see the part of her that she tries to hide.

The part of her she shields.

The part that is tired of shouldering every single shitty thing that has come her way.

The part that refuses to ask for or even accept help.

Her eyes open, but she doesn’t look at me. “I’m fine,” she finally says, giving Rosie a final pat before standing up.

I didn’t have a chance to turn all my lights on in the apartment, so Annie’s face is only slightly illuminated as she stands above me. I’m on my knees in front of her, still bent down from petting Rosie, and when she looks down at me, time stands still.

Her brown eyes are locked with mine, loaded silence stretching between us. Her arms are at her sides, but I can see her fists slightly clenched.

I don’t say anything, just keep my eyes on her. I don’t want to scare away this moment. We’re still in our clothes from the courthouse wedding, the straps of her red jumpsuit falling over her shoulders contrasting with the long brown waves around her face and down her back.

She tucks some hair behind her ear. “You look good on your knees for me, bartender.” Her lips are in a pout as she bends down, bringing her face closer to mine. I’m a good foot taller than her, being just above six feet tall, so there isn’t too much distance between me on my knees and her standing, but I watch her intently, waiting to see what she’s about to do.

I ball my fists, resisting the urge to touch her. It would take the slightest movement from either of us to close the space between her lips and mine. Her jasmine and rose scent makes me dizzy, and I wonder if her lips still taste like cherries.

Her eyes flick down to my mouth, and I don’t know if my dreams are coming true or if she finally killed me and this is my heaven. Her eyes find mine again as she says, “If you ever pull the shit you did tonight again,” that familiar edge back in her voice, “I’ll bury you in your own backyard.”

She straightens back up to her full height, stepping around me and grabbing her bag off the counter.

I’m still on my knees, my eyes glued to where she was standing just a second ago, as she walks straight into the guest bedroom and slams the door behind her.

***

Annie was gone when I woke up this morning, which wasn’t a surprise. I actually would have been more surprised if shewashere.

The key I left for her on the kitchen counter is gone, and I’m sure she had Mia or Drew pick her up to get her other stuff and her car from her apartment.

She’ll spend the majority of the day finding other things to do, so she doesn’t have to be here.

This is what I get for the shit I pulled last night.

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