Chapter Nine #2
Rory is lifted up in Kreed’s arms and placed on the barstool next to me.
She accepts the cup of chocolate milk from Laurie and grabs a straw from the glass that’s set in front of her.
Laurie hands me a bottle of water and I’m given a straw by Rory to use.
I accept it from her small hand and place it in the bottle once I have it opened.
Bryce takes a seat on my other side and accepts the juice from Laurie.
He chooses not to accept a straw from his sister until she starts pouting and he gives in.
I smile at their interaction because Bryce cares all about keeping his siblings happy even if it means doing something he doesn’t want to do.
“Alright, Pixie. I’m gonna head out. Roger should be here soon. They know to let him in and I told him you’d be in the common room. Cali, you gonna keep her company until he gets here?” Kreed asks, his voice full of worry as he steps up close to me.
“I’ll be here. Bryce has practice later, but until then I’ve got nothing but time. The kids wanted to see Annistyn so they won’t be leaving her side anytime soon,” she answers as Kreed bends down to press a kiss on the top of my head.
“I’ll have my phone on me at all times today.
You need me, don’t hesitate to call. Even if you just need to hear my voice.
You’ve been given a ton of information over the last week.
And I’ll try to get you into the physical therapy center here in town.
Doc doesn’t want your muscles to get even weaker than they already are,” he says once he pulls back.
“Okay,” I respond before Dakota grabs my attention by lifting her arms up in front of me. Kreed lifts her into my arms and I get her comfortable on my lap while Kylan takes a seat on the other side of Rory.
Dakota nestles into my body and I savor the feeling of her body weight against me.
She’s so small and precious and I love holding her.
She’s the first of Cali’s kids who came up to me and I saw someone put their blind trust in me without hesitation.
This sweet, innocent little girl entrusted me with her safety and needs in the blink of an eye.
It’s the first time I honestly thought about having kids of my own.
Before, it was never something I thought about because I was always locked away on the farm or in some cage once I was sold.
Kreed heads upstairs to change into something older for work. He isn’t up there for long before coming back down and placing another kiss on the top of my head and leaving. I listen to his bike when he starts the engine and revs it a few times before he pulls away.
“I have to warn you about something,” Cali says once the kids are all settled with drinks and snacks.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask, immediately reverting back to my old way of thinking.
“Not at all. You just got out of the hospital, Annistyn. I just found out there are at least two more clubs that will be showing up today or tomorrow,” Cali says as she waits for my reaction.
“These are clubs I’ve been around most of my life and everyone is so nice.
The guys all look rough and tough, but they’re teddy bears.
You’ll really like Tank. He’s the biggest of them all but truly understands us and will listen to you talk for hours without making you feel as if you’re burdening him.
He also gives the best advice ever. You’ll meet Caleb’s parents, his grandpa and grandma, and Tank is actually his uncle.
I’m not sure if the kids will be coming with them, but I know the parents will all be here.
It’s been a long time since all the clubs were together in one location. ”
“Oh. Um, well, I can hide in my room if I have to,” I tell her as I’m filled with anxiety at the thought of so many new people showing up in front of me. Especially a bunch of guys I’ve never met before.
“No hiding out, Annistyn. Sam, Caleb’s mom, won’t allow it.
Skylar and Bailey won’t either. You’ll love the women.
Especially Darcy if she shows up. The woman is a walking disaster and always gets in trouble somehow.
She’s a klutz and we all love her to death.
Maybe not Wood because he seems to always be her target for some reason,” Cali says with a smile on her face as Luca walks back in the common room with a plate of food for me.
The portions are smaller than what he’d give anyone else but slightly bigger than what I’d give myself. He sets two more plates down in front of Rory and Bryce. Kylan and Dakota aren’t quite ready for subs and chips yet. Luca returns with mashed potatoes and cut up hot dogs for them.
“I haven’t met everyone from the clubs, but those I’ve met are really good people, Annistyn.
You’ll like them. Kreed won’t leave your side if you’re not comfortable,” Luca adds in his opinion as he takes a seat next to Bryce.
“None of us will ever put you in a situation you won’t be comfortable in. ”
Before I can respond, the door of the clubhouse opens and we all turn to see Roger making his way inside.
He heads straight for me and watches as I take a bite of the sub Luca made me.
While I eat, Cali shares stories of everyone from when she was growing up.
She really spent a lot of time with the parents and other clubs.
When Roger sees me ready to push my plate away, he gently nudges me so I take a few more bites.
One of the hardest parts about eating is not knowing when I’m full.
Part of me feels as if I’ll eat too much and get sick because I’m not used to having a lot of food in my stomach.
So, the bites I take aren’t huge, but it’s enough to satisfy Roger, Cali, and Luca.
They all tell me how good I did and allow me to be done eating.
It won’t be long before I’ll have a snack of my choosing.
Cali already went shopping for Kreed and grabbed a ton of things I’ve been wanting to try.
They’re up in the room I have so no one else takes them from me.
Kreed even made sure I had one of those mini refrigerators for things that need to be kept cold. He spoils me too much.
When I’m done eating, Roger and I head out back to sit in the sun for a little while.
Cali and the kids hang out inside so I can have some time with my cousin.
Yes, she knows the situation between the two of us.
Reckless and Luca do too. No one else does though.
They just think he’s a man I met who helps me with photography and that’s what we spend our time talking about.
I’m not ready for anyone else to know my personal business and Kreed promised that was okay.
I enjoy talking to Roger and getting to know him.
The conversation is mostly one-sided because I don’t share a lot of my own details, but he’s okay with that.
He knows I’ll talk when I’m ready and is willing to wait for me to trust him enough to open up about the more personal details of my life.