Page 115 of Wandering in Darkness
Grayson’s expression tells me that he’s really not finding it all that funny, so I reach over and squeeze his hand. He lifts his hand, and at first, I’m afraid he’s so mad at me that he’s pulling away, but when he pulls my hand up with it, I realize he’s lifting my fingers to his lips.
“Do not ever act that reckless again, you hear me?”
“I do.”
“Antonio, you said you’re sure Audrey sent the information out?” Felix asks.
“She did. I watched her. She also transferred money out of his account. She claimed it was so he couldn’t use it to move more product, but I’m pretty sure she just wanted to steal his money. As long as someone we sent it to cares, the information should be out and in another’s hands. We should be able to stay out of it now,” he says. “Let’s head home. Hopefully the proof is enough to get Allen arrested.”
TWENTY-ONE
CAL
When we reach my apartment, I hesitate as I look over at Grayson. I guess I never asked if he was getting out with me; I just assumed. And if he doesn’t… if he just goes back for his car and decides to drive home, I’m not sure I can be here by myself.
“Thanks for everything, guys,” Grayson says. “We really couldn’t have done this without all of you. There’s so much relief in knowing that others will be made aware of what Allen has done.”
“Anytime,” Lane replies.
Felix’s head pops around Lane’s body. “You guys hear that, right? Not me, him.He’sdeclaring he’d be happy to run off into danger at any time,” Felix says. After spending the entire three-hour car ride trying to woo the dog, he’s finally gotten it to lie with its head on his lap. He’s over there in bliss, petting his pig and both dogs.
“I’m up for anything but getting in a vehicle with Antonio,” Lane says with a shudder, even though Antonio drove us hereand is currently staring at him with a slack jaw. I swear Grayson shudders too. The memory of Antonio driving us is hanging in there quite strongly.
“I drove your ass here!” Antonio cries.
“It’s different,” Lane whispers.
“I think you mean that you’ll never get in a car with Tonio, right?” I tease.
“You shush it, Tonio’s been laid to rest. He only peeks out on certain nights,” Antonio says, making us laugh.
“I really can’t thank you guys enough,” I say. “But then I remember all the shit you dragged me into,Felix,and that if you’d stayed in the car,Felix,we’d have been so much safer, and then I decide that I’m not quite sure we’re even.”
Felix just laughs while I get out of the vehicle, and the relief I feel when Grayson and Traveler follow me is ridiculous. “We’ll pick you two lovebirds up tomorrow to get your car back, Grayson.” We could have gotten his car tonight, but they hit my place first, probably able to tell that I really just wanted to get home to decompress.
“Okay, thank you,” Grayson says.
I head toward the apartment as Grayson trails after me. “It’s not much… and like… I didn’t have time to prepare it for someone coming, you know? I didn’t plan on having company.”
“I’m sure it’s fine. You’ve already been in my house.”
“That’s true… and Felix stole a bunch of your stuff,” I say.
“I was wondering where my stuff went… did he take my cookies too?”
I grin as I unlock the front door. “He definitely took your cookies. But it was a good thing because that cookie is what got the pig to save us.”
“The pig… saved you… because of a cookie Felix stole from my house?” Grayson asks, oddly skeptical.
I start laughing as I shake my head. Honestly, little makes sense when it comes to events with Felix. “Don’t look at me like that. You’ve been around Felix long enough to know this makes perfect sense. I mean… you really only have to be around him like five minutes tops to understand this.”
“I would like to say you’re exaggerating, but… no, you’re very much right.”
“Of course I’m right!” I say as I watch him look around the small living room/kitchen space.
“I think you owe me a pack of cookies… or maybe something even better,” he murmurs as he reaches around me to slide the door shut, pinning me against the closed door.
“Oh, I do?” I ask. “I think you owe me more than just cookies. After torturing me for months with the whole, ‘We can’t date because I can’t commit to it right now,’ before you did the whole, ‘But if you climb up this mountain, I might kiss you,’ and all of the shit that came after it… you’re going to owe me for the rest of your life.”
