Page 27 of Crave

What the hell is that?

A small buzzing sound is slowly getting louder.

“I have to go.” I don’t wait for his protest, but hang up on my brother, the big, bad mafia boss.

He’ll always be just ‘Miki’ to me.

Where is that noise coming from?

Stepping inside the open sliding glass door into the kitchen, it seems to get quieter.

Outside on the deck, I work my way around the thick log walls before I see it.

A drone is hovering just over the main entryway beneath the awning.

It has a wicker basket hanging under it.

I’m not sure if I should get any closer.

“It’s okay. Take it off the hook.” Alexei’s voice comes through the small speaker.

“What is this?” I find myself asking the flying machine.

“You told me to not come up and visit, or bug you, under any circumferences. No, that’s not right.” There’s muffled arguing, but it sounds like it’s all with himself.

“Circumstances.” I correct him, and move closer until the downdraft of the tiny propellers whip my loose strands of hair.

When I pluck the container from the hook, the drone jerks up, nearly hitting the roof.

“Shit,” he grunts.

Ducking, I back away from the wild antics as he stabilizes it.

“Alexei, where did you get a drone?” I yell from a safe distance.

“This is Enzo’s. I might need to get one, this is fun.” His cackle makes it static.

I can’t imagine him with a drone unsupervised.

Lifting up the edge of the basket, the first thing I see is a red rubber ball over wrapped packages.

It’s so squishy, I’m surprised when a slit opens when I squeeze it.

Seriously? It’s a clown nose.

Feeling goofy, I slide it on and peer inside to see what else he sent.

How does he always know when I need a pick me up the most?

I wave at the leaving drone, then carry it into the kitchen.

The next parcel has a package of chocolate covered strawberries. Today, after what Mikhail told me, I’m grateful for the sweet treat.

I’ll just walk extra tonight to make up for the extra calories.

There’s a small box that has a note on top. Never one to read first, I discover a pair of sunglasses with a tiny flamingo printed on them.

I told you I had a flamingo, now you do too.

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