Page 97 of Roses Are Dead
He scanned the chaos. Kate, Zoe, Hammer, Harry, Arthur, Gwen, and finally, June, who was trying very hard to hide.
“Kate, Zoe. Outside. Hammer, cover them.”
He breathed hard through his nose between orders.
“I have to stay until John or his parents arrive.”
Bear tipped his head to acknowledge that I’d spoken. “When’s bedtime?”
“Probably an hour ago. John was a little stressed.”
A nod. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He walked back to the cluster of bikes. Zoe swung her leg over the back of Sprout’s bike and Kate stood by Jackson’s. After a quiet word or dozen, she climbed behind her husband while Hammer retrieved keys from Zoe. Their little cavalcade took off leaving Bear behind.
No yelling, no theatrics, just an organized exit despite the haste.
“You’ve got more tattoos than Hammer.” Harry had no filter. And no fear. He put a sticky finger on Bear’s hand, right on top of the warrior rune he had inked on his ring finger.
“Yeah. I suppose I do.”
Gwen took his low rumble as an opportunity to release her death grip from my leg, but she fisted my dress in one hand. “Are you a friend of Auntie Rose?”
“Rose? Am I?”
“Yes, Gwen, he’s my friend. So are all the others who were here.”
I don’t think she believed me because she didn’t let go of my dress. But June did. She launched from my arms to reach for Bear. I almost toppled over trying to catch her and not get tripped up by Gwen.
“Whoa, hey. Which one are you again?”
June slapped a wet hand on his cheek. “Ju-ju.”
“What’s your name?” Gwen stared up at Bear.
“They call me Bear.”
“You look like one.”
“Bear!” June hugged him by wrapping her arms around his neck.
That made his eyes bug out a little. “Is she always like this?”
“Only for people she likes.”
“She likes everybody,” Gwen supplied.
“Can I draw tattoos on you?” Harry asked.
“No.” Bear mouthed a silent “help” at me.
I smiled wickedly.
Arthur tugged his jacket, “Can you draw tattoos on me?” He twisted his arm to show off the blue ink that Hammer and Harry contributed to.
That was something Bear couldn’t ignore. “Who drew that shit on you?”
Three little hands stuck out at the same time. June, who’d stuck one hand back in her mouth, pulled it out and patted Bear’s mouth. “Bad bear.”
