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I leave his room and go out to the front porch where Maryanne waits for me.
Binoculars around her neck.
A smile on her face.
“See any good birds tonight?” I ask, slightly teasing.
“No,” she says. “Did see some activity across the street though. Looks like someone was snooping around in the bushes. I’ll keep an eye out. In case it’s a serial killer.”
“What did you just say?” I ask. “Serial killer?”
I look back at my house.
“Oh, Piper, I’m kidding around,” Maryanne says. “The only serial killer here is your son…”
“What?” I yell.
“In the morning!” Maryanne says. “When he’s eating breakfast!”
“You mean cereal,” I say.
Great. Now my heart is racing a little.
“Listen, I appreciate the help,” I say. “This is just some work thing. Meeting or whatever. Last second.”
“Piper, it’s fine,” Maryanne says. “You know I will guard your son and this house with my life.”
A set of headlights appear up the street.
There’s no hiding the giant SUV that Cutter drives.
It catches Maryanne’s attention too.
She knows exactly who drives that vehicle.
“Work thing,” she whispers.
“Stop it,” I say.
“You know he set this all up well in advance,” Maryanne confesses. “He was here earlier. Brought me some birdseed and a hummingbird feeder. He told me he needed to steal you for a little while and asked if I could keep an eye on things.”
“He did… what…”
“Looks like someone has a crush on you, Piper,” Maryanne says.
I turn away from her, race down the porch steps and out to the sidewalk, then out into the road.
I run up to the SUV, open the passenger door and step up, but I don’t get inside.
Oh hell no…
“You talked to my neighbor behind my back?” I yell at Cutter. “You made plans without talking to me first? You think that’s smart to do?”
“You look fucking beautiful right now, Piper.”
“What?” I yell. “I look beautiful? What is wrong with you?”
“I made arrangements to take you out for a little bit. Everything is fine. Everyone is safe and happy. Now it’s your turn for the same, sweetie. So are you going to stop being so damn stubborn and get into the seat or are you going to stand there and yell at me all night?”
