Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
GRACIE
"Will you please go to work?" I beg Ang, who's vying to take over the stubborn and overbearing title from my brother.
"I already told you. I think I should stay home. I have a bad feeling something big is going to happen."
Yeah, I'm going to strangle him if he doesn't step away.
It's been two days since the flowers were left on our doorstep, and in that time, Ang hasn't left my side.
Even with new security system installed.
The kids stayed home from school for two days as well.
But I put my foot down on that this morning.
Now if I could just do the same about him leaving for work.
"You keep saying that, but so far nothing has happened. I understand we need to be cautious, but you're starting to smother us."
There, I said it. It might not make Ang happy, but it's the truth.
"Us?" He looks around like he expects a dozen other people to pop out of the woodwork.
Spoiler alert: no one does.
"Yes." I roll my eyes. "Everly and me. We need to get back into a routine, and we can't do that if you're hovering around all the time."
I try to explain things the nicest way I can, but it's easy to see I've hurt Ang's feelings.
"I just don't want anything to happen to any of you."
Walking around to the other side of the bed, I take his hand. "I get that. Trust me, I do. But you had this amazing security system installed for a reason. Let it do its job. I promise not to leave the house with Everly, and Nolen is at the school watching over the girls. We are fine. I promise."
Ang looks like he wants to argue, so I'm surprised when he agrees. "Okay."
"Seriously?" I need to make sure he's not punking me.
"Yes, seriously. I have to check in with my crew anyway. Otherwise I'm going to look like a horrible boss."
I doubt that's true. I don't know a single thing about his business, but he seems like a fair person. I can't really comment on him being a boss. I wasn't even a nanny that long before we started sleeping together.
And that right there sounds awful.
"Yes!" I practically shoo him away. "Go check in with your crew. Spend some time away from me and Everly. They always say separation makes the heart grow fonder. Let's test out that theory and give you time to miss me. Us."
I know I've won him over when his lips turn up into a smile.
"Has anyone ever told you you're crazy?"
"All the time." I push him out the bedroom door as we continue to talk. "I just hope in your case you mean the good kind of crazy."
Ang digs his heels in and turns around to give me a kiss that leaves me speechless. Damn the man for not playing fair. A minute ago, I wanted him to leave. Now my body is begging him to stay.
"Definitely the good kind of crazy."
It takes me a moment to remember what we were talking about before he kissed me. I smile when it dawns on me that he's complimenting me. It's a nice change considering Jeremy never did. Everything with that man was criticism. I don't even know what possessed me to stay with him for so long.
"Good to know." I push him one more time. "Now go to work." I laugh when he shakes his head, but since he does as I ask, I don't say anything more.
Instead, I go about my morning routine and get a snack ready for Everly while she watches her favorite TV show.
I know what you're thinking, a snack even though she just had breakfast?
Well, let me tell you, this girl can eat. And I don't just mean picking on something here and there. I mean full-blown eats multiple meals a day. Which is why her second breakfast of the day is usually fruit. More specifically today, strawberries.
I finish getting them cut up and on a plate when there's a knock on the door.
I roll my eyes. It would be just like my brother or one of his friends to come check up on us.
Heck, Ang probably called after I kicked him out and hinted we were alone at home, triggering a landslide of overbearing brutes in action. Typical.
"Coming!" I holler when whoever is on the other side of the door bangs again.
I'm just about to unlock it when I remember that I need to check the peephole first. If I don't, it’ll be the first thing I hear about when I open the door. There are a lot of things I can handle, but a lecture this early in the day isn't one of them.
I rise up on my tippy-toes and check to see which one of the guys Owen sent over. And thank my lucky stars for peepholes. Because it's not Owen or any of his friends on the other side.
"Open the fuck up, Grace. I know you're in there. You never stopped sharing your location with your old boss," Jeremy screams from his spot on the porch.
Idiot! Owen was always yelling at me not to share my location with anyone but I never listened. Always thought I knew better.
So stupid!
I smack the silent alarm on the security panel before rushing into the living room and scooping Everly up with a squeak.
"Time for hide-and-seek," I tell her as I race up the stairs and straight into the master bedroom.
Locking the bedroom door, I place Everly on the bed and look around at my options. "How about you hide in the bathroom while I count?" I say in hopes that this is the one time she won't argue with me.
No such luck.
She pounds her little fist on the bed and scowls. "Everly count."
With no time to argue, I readily agree.
"You can count in the bathroom and I'll hide out here. Go count to twenty," I tell her knowing she usually messes up around twelve and will restart at least once, if not twice. Hopefully that’ll give whoever is closest time to get here and deal with Jeremy.
Hopefully.