Chapter 13 Annie #2
But the sweet familiarity that we’re building disappears the second we enter the parking structure.
I tighten my hand around his as we approach the truck.
I’m half worried his tires will be slashed or there will be some kind of letter tucked under the wipers.
My heart rate picks up, and I look around worriedly.
Josh has the same intense look on his face.
As I watch Josh scan the parking structure and then his truck, I realize we are in this together.
And it feels more right than it should. It feels like something I want even when I’m not in danger.
Although, who knows when I’ll ever feel that way again.
When it looks like things are clear and there are no obvious signs of trouble, he releases my hand.
“Hey.” He unlocks the truck and holds open the passenger door for me. I stop between the warm wall of his body and the running board. “Annie?”
I look up at him, and my heart does a little flip in my chest. His eyes are so warm, so honest as he looks at me. It’s as if I can see past the muscles and tattoos right into what’s happening in his soul. He looks the same way I feel.
“Yeah?” I ask. I lift a hand to trace the bristles on his chin.
I graze his thick lower lip with the tip of my thumb.
“You’re so hot,” I whisper, a grin lifting half of my face.
“I’m not trying to objectify you. I mean, I am.
I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.
I wouldn’t want to. I’m also just really, really grateful that you were the only PI to take me seriously. ”
He closes his eyes for a second and parts his lips. “I do care,” he says.
For a moment, we’re just quiet.
I stroke his lip and then drop my hand. With a tired smile, I climb into the truck and fasten my seat belt.
Josh closes the truck door and comes around to his side.
He starts up the truck and rolls down the windows.
I rest my elbow on the door, enjoying the air on my skin as the truck picks up speed.
The sun is setting, and the intense heat is softening, loosening its grip on the day.
I tip my head toward my shoulder and close my eyes, letting the fresh air tease my hair.
If we were really dating, what would we be doing tonight?
Somehow, we feel so close despite the short time we’ve known each other.
We skipped all the fuss of first dates, and we’re already in the relationship zone.
I don’t know where we’re driving, and I don’t ask. I trust Josh. I trust this feeling. I can be completely myself right now. Tired, confused, angry, scared. And hungry. A few minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of a mom-and-pop diner.
“You know me so well,” I mumble, grinning. “Have you been here before? Or do you think the only places I eat are holes-in-the-wall?”
Ahead of us is a small strip mall. The lot looks pretty full, and there are loads of motorcycles parked right out front. Josh nods and points.
“Don’t tell anybody, but this is Tiny’s favorite place.
Leo and his brother Tim brought me here a couple months ago, and we spotted Tiny eating alone.
Good food.” He comes around and opens the door for me.
Totally not necessary, but I’m not going to complain or argue.
I like that he’s making an effort when it’s obvious by the shadows under his eyes that he’s tired too.
He didn’t sign up for a round-the-clock job.
“I’ll bet you miss your other clients right about now,” I say softly, sliding past the running board.
Josh shuts the door and gives me a look. “Tailing cheating spouses and proving insurance fraud is nobody’s idea of a good time.” He curls a hand around my waist. “You are exactly my idea of a good time.”
I give him a look and tuck my head against his shoulder. We head inside the diner, where there is a long line of people waiting for a table. Josh puts in our name, and then we head out to the parking lot to grab a bench and wait.
Before I can say anything, I notice Josh squinting, looking out over the parked cars.
“You okay?” I ask. “Anything wrong?”
He shakes his head then turns to me. “Tomorrow, we need to pay a visit to your dad.”
I look down at my lap and clasp my hands together. “You think we need to? At this point, the police and the campus security office are involved. I mean…”
“Annie.” Josh reaches into my lap and grabs my hands. “Whatever is going on is serious enough that he deserves to know. I’m going to keep you safe, but he should be aware. He could be…” Josh trails off, and the worry is back.
I groan. “We have to figure out why this is happening. Who’s behind all this. There’s no way I want to involve my father if there is a chance he could get hurt.”
“Let’s not take any risks.” He nods, and then a text buzzes his phone, alerting us that our table is ready.
Inside the restaurant, I immediately see the enormous back of Tiny perched on a full-sized chair, sitting at a counter. I poke Josh and nod.
We head over to him, and Josh claps the big man on the back. “Good to see you,” Josh says, then points to me. “We’re grabbing a little dinner. See you later?”
Tiny lifts a chicken drumstick loaded with ranch dressing at us. “You breathe a word about this to Leo…” He sets the chicken down on his plate. “I’ll work out some, but I’m not fucking giving up fried chicken for nobody.”
Josh chuckles, then calls over a waitress who’s standing behind the counter. He slips her a couple of twenty-dollar bills and points to Tiny. “His dinner’s on us.” Then he nods at Tiny before we follow the waiting hostess to our table.
The meal is great. It’s no Pancake Circus, but I go for something a little lighter. Once I’m full, the fatigue hits, and I feel so tired, I could fall asleep. We’re waiting for our check when Tiny heads out, signaling his goodbye with a single wave in our direction.
When the check comes, I move to grab my purse, but Josh stops me. “Let me get this, all right?” he says.
I nod, too tired to argue. I’ll owe him so much when this is over. I may actually have to withdraw from school, not that I’ll be able to get any of my tuition back.
Maybe Dad can spot me a small loan or give me my old job back. The thought of going back to work at the law office makes me sad. I thought I had one last chance to pursue my dream, but if I have to pay Josh back for all the time and expense… I could think of worse ways to have to do that.
Maybe I’m not ready for art school anyway. Maybe it’s too late for someone like me to find her vision.
If all I ever am is a hobbyist, would that really be so bad?
The purpose of art is to make people happy.
And as much as I love my art, I just don’t know if I want a life of galleries and hobnobbing.
Of fancy parties and the pressure to produce work with a vision.
Sometimes, yeah. The idea sounds like a dream.
I would love to travel and have my work displayed all over the world.
But the reality is that so few artists make even a modest living, let alone reach international success.
And my very empty wallet reminds me that life doesn’t accept payment in the form of dreams.
I watch Josh as he pays the bill. The waitress smiles at him and isn’t exactly flirty, but she’s definitely looking him over. She looks at me too, a friendly smile and an expression that makes me feel proud to be with him.
We head back to the truck, and I rest my head against the seat.
I close my eyes and let all thoughts just drift away.
I’m done thinking. All I want is to get home, take a hot shower, and climb into bed.
Beside Josh. Who am I kidding… Just the idea that I’ll be beside Josh again has me opening my eyes and sitting up straighter.
When I look his way, I see him narrowing his eyes and peering into the rearview. His arm muscles are tense, and his lips are thin.
“What is it?” I ask. “Anything wrong?”
I start to turn to look behind us, but his low voice stops me. “Look forward,” he urges. “Don’t look back. We’re being followed.”
The breath catches in my chest, and I grip the armrest between us. “Oh my God. Are you sure?”
He nods once. “A car followed us out of the lot at the diner. They’re a couple car lengths back. I didn’t get a good look at the driver.”
“What should I do?” I ask. “Take a picture? Try to get the plate number?”
He nods. “Yeah. I’m going to find a place to pull over where they’ll have to pass us. You be ready. Got your phone?”
I grab it and unlock it, my hands starting to shake. I swipe to ready the camera and then try not to peek in the side mirrors.
“What kind of car?” I ask.
“White sedan,” he says stiffly. “Two-door.”
My hands start to sweat as Josh turns on his signal and eases over to the curb. He parallel parks quickly, then, with the truck still running, turns to face the street.
“I’m going to try too. On my word, hold up your camera.” He grabs his phone and unlocks it. “Now.”
I do as he says, peeking past him at the street. When a white car does go by, I try to snap a picture, but I just miss it. My heart’s pounding in my chest.
“They sped up,” I say. “I didn’t get it. Are you sure, Josh? They were following us?” I look down at the picture I took, but it’s just a blur. I ended up getting more of Josh’s hand and his phone than the vehicle I was aiming at.
“It’s all right.” He nods. “I think I got it.” He glares as he looks at the picture and zooms in on the image. The car has a small dent on the rear passenger panel. The driver looks like they are wearing a hoodie. “You recognize this?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I can’t see anything. I can’t make out the face or anything.”
He sighs and leans back in his seat. He’s staring down the street, the truck still idling, but the white sedan doesn’t come back around.
“Annie,” he says, turning to me. He looks more closely at the vehicle. “You may not recognize the driver, but do you recognize the vehicle? Is there any way this could be—”
“Who?” I blurt out, wiping my clammy hands on my legs. “Josh, who do you think this is?”
He firms his lips and looks down. “I’m pretty sure the driver was Neveah.”