Page 19 of Trust Me
As I approach her small house, I see her gathering groceries from the back of her little Jeep. I decide to pull in and give her a hand, especially when I see Brooklyn running from the front yard, up the stairs, and back again. I stop the truck and jump out. Avery notices me pulling in and stands there with a beautiful little smile on her face. I decide that she has the bags already in her hands, so I head for the three-year-old running amuck in the front yard. Brooklyn notices me and heads in my direction, arms out, legs pumping as fast as they’ll carry her petite three-foot body.
I scoop her up, and she throws her little arms around my neck. It’s actually a pretty amazing feeling. “Maddox,” she yells, giving me a kiss on my cheek. “You’re itchy.” She giggles as she rubs her hands over my dark five o’clock shadow.
I walk toward the house, meeting Avery on the sidewalk in front of the stairs, and grab the bag that looks like the heaviest from her grip. 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 anothergiggle.
“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 means she is 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 television, finding a cartoon channel alreadyon 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 toward 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, dumbass?” 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 wordheck.
“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 toward 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 toward the house. At the last minute, she changes her course and heads toward 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 overprotective brother can. I back out of her drive and roll up my window, heading back toward 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.
Chapter 13
