“Is that Kitty with you?” one asked.
“No. Here, come in the light, Nick. This is my friend, Nick. The youngest there is Ophelia, and the other is Olivia.”
“Oh, wow. You guys really look a lot alike.” It was true. Two almost-twins of Annie at younger ages looked back at me. “I loved the dance.”
“He’s cute, Annie,” Ophelia said.
“Yeah, he’s alright,” Annie said, turning to me as I blushed. “Who made the pies today?”
They launched into how their stepmom used store-bought crust. “You should have been here, Annie. You do it the best.”
“I know, kiddo. I wanted to be. Hopefully soon.”
“Christmas?” Olivia asked.
“We’ll see. Where’s your brother? And where’s Gracie? And Dad for that matter?” Annie asked.
The phone got passed around, and Annie made introductions. Her dad said he remembered my face from the wedding and said to be good to his little girl.
“Dad,” Annie whined. “Nick’s a friend.”
“Oh, my bad, my bad,” he said mischievously.
“Well, hey, my phone battery’s about to go, but I’m glad I got to see y’all. Miss you.”
“We miss you too, Annie. Hope we can see you soon. Love you.”
As Annie ended the call, her smile faded. She pretended to be highly interested in the garden wall next to us. I put my arm around her. “Your family’s great, Annie.”
She nodded and sniffed.
“Come here, baby.” I tucked her close to me, kissing her temple. “It’s okay to miss them.”
Her tears began in earnest then. “I miss them and I miss my mom. Seeing my house and knowing she’s not there . . . it’s just really hard.”
“I bet.” I felt like we were being watched, and looked up to find Greg waiting at the sliding glass doors, marble eyes blazing. I could even see his whining mouth going full-steam. “Stay here. Hang on.”
I let Greg onto the patio, who peed, then made a beeline for Annie.
“Your buddy came to check on you,” I cooed as Greg put his paws on Annie’s knee.
“Oh, Greg,” Annie laughed, wiping her nose. “You always know.”
“He’s psychic about the blonde lady’s needs.” I pulled Annie’s underwear out of my pocket. “Best I can do for a tissue.”
Annie chuckled. “What a gentleman you are.” She handed the panties back after she’d used them as a makeshift tissue and folded them neatly. Then she grabbed my chin and with a quick glance in my eyes, she kissed me. All of our friends were inside, and yet, here she was, kissing me anyway. I moaned into her mouth, my stomach tingling from the rush of doing something we shouldn’t.
“You trying to get us caught?” I asked.
She grinned. “Just trying to kiss the guy who said he’s thankful for me.”
I looked around, trying to find a spot to hide us from view. “Come here.”
I took her hand and dragged her next to this tacky fountain thing along the wall of the house. I pressed her against the house, the warm brick gritting against my fingertips. My hands grazed Annie’s sides as I got lost in kissing her, in tracing her curves. She, and all her glowing skin and beautiful eyes and wild spirit, for the moment, was mine. And I wanted to hold onto that moment for as long as I could.
My angel.
When we came up for air, she peered up at me. “I’m thankful for you too, Nick.”
