Page 72 of From Nowhere

I send him shocked-faced emojis.

Maren: I’m off to work. CU 2night

After a full day at the base and a quick burrito for dinner, I pack up Bandit and his supplies and head to Ozzy’s. Entering through the front door is a nice change.

Before it even opens, Lola’s squeals sound in the distance, along with the thumping of feet nearing the door. “He’s here!” She throws open the door.

I can’t help but laugh.

“You must be Ozzy’s coworker.” A woman with short graying hair and pursed lips inspects me with beady eyes.

Coworkeris a stretch.

“Hi. Yes. I’m Maren.” I hand Bandit to Lola and set the bag of supplies on the entry floor before offering her my hand.

She stares at it and returns a forced smile instead. “I’m Tia. Brynn’s mother.”

Okay. She’s going the don’t-forget-my-daughter route instead of opting forLola’s grandma.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Tia.” Where’s Ozzy? Why am I being ambushed alone?

“Bandit’s going to sleep with me,” Lola says, kissing his head.

Tia gives her granddaughter a more genuine smile, but the second her gaze returns to me, it morphs into an untrusting scowl. Now I know why Ozzy insists we sneak around.

“Hey! Sorry, I wanted to grab a quick shower,” Ozzy says, reaching the top of the stairs in a white T-shirt and black jeans, with wet hair.

Pure torture.

“I’m a few minutes early,” I say.

He eyes Tia. “This is Maren. She’s—”

“We already made introductions.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

Ozzy gives her a stiff smile. “Great. Well ...” His face softens as he focuses on me again. “Let’s take Bandit’s stuff downstairs, and you can give Lola any specific instructions.”

I grab the bag again. “Sounds good.” When I pass Tia, her glare bores into the side of my head, but I keep a friendly grin.

“Sorry,” Ozzy says as soon as we reach the bottom of the stairs. “I hope Tia wasn’t too intense with you.”

“I peed my pants a little, but it’s fine.”

He cringes, but I laugh and hand him the bag. “You can set up the litter box wherever you want, just as long as Bandit can always get to it.”

“Hear that, Lola? You have to ensure that Bandit can always get to his litter box.”

“I heard,” she mumbles, toting Bandit into her bedroom.

Ozzy shakes his head at her and tucks his hands into his back pockets. “About last night ...,” he says, lowering his voice.

“Please don’t apologize any more. I regret nothing.”

He gives me a sexy smile. “I used to be better than this.”

I laugh, eating up his rare vulnerability. “What do you mean?”

Ozzy glances into Lola’s room before focusing on me. “I had game. Good game. Great game, really.”

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