Page 27
“I think you’ve just been adopted.” Zarek smiled.
“Which one of us are you talking to?” I asked.
“Both of you. Let’s get you into the house.” Zarek snapped his fingers and Slayer stepped back from the truck and went to his master’s side.
“What kind of dog is he?”
“He’s a Bouvier des Flandres. Very territorial of his house and his people.” Zarek helped me step down from the truck.
“Why was he nice to me?”
“He’s got good instincts.”
“Seriously.”
“I told him you were a friend, and what’s more, you smelled like me.”
He leaned into the back seat of the cab and pulled out the overnight bags. I glanced to the bed of the truck that had more of my things that he had packed the day before yesterday from my house. He saw me looking.
“Is there anything in there that you need tonight, or can it wait for tomorrow to be unloaded?” he asked.
“Tomorrow is fine.”
“Let’s get you inside.”
Instead of waiting for him to assist me, I grabbed my bag of candy and jumped out of the truck, landing wrong on my bad foot, and gasped in pain.
“Dammit, Chloe, can’t you just wait for a second and let someone help you?”
“It’s not that bad,” I said as I gingerly stepped forward. Zarek put his arm around me and guided me toward the door that led into the house. The first thing that struck me was the bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter. I looked at Zarek in confusion.
“They’re for you.”
“You got me flowers for invading your space? Are you out of your mind?” I moved forward towards them, and he continued to support me, so I didn’t put additional weight onto my foot.
“They’re beautiful. How did you arrange these? Seriously, you’re crazy.” The man got me flowers when I was nothing but deranged burden from his past.
“Luke was dog-sitting for me. I told him to pick up a bouquet of daffodils for you. I pray to God the guest bedroom has clean sheets. He said he would take care of things.”
I touched the flower petals. Zarek was doing things that made me feel. It was exactly what I wanted to avoid. The candy, the flowers, the dog…the man. I whirled on him, flinching when my foot hurt.
“Stop it!”
“Huh?”
“Just back off.”
“Whoa, Chloe, what’s wrong?”
“I need space. I know you want to fix me, just like Trenda and Zoe want. But it’s too much, too soon. Take your damn flowers, candy, and dog and go to hell!” Here I was yelling, and I wanted to cry. So much for an escape.
“Honey, calm down. What can I do for you? Food? Rest? Bathroom? Batting cage?”
“Don’t try to play me, dammit.”
“I’m not, I swear.” But he was. He was watching me intently. It was clear that he planned to counter every one of my complaints or arguments. Or he was going to try to placate me. I needed away from him before I just started crying and let him comfort me again.
“Show me where the guest bedroom is.”
