wrenches the passenger side door open, my crutches in hand.
“I never go with a losing team and I know it seems stupid but it’s all in good fun. I’m only going to leave it up for a few more months, make him suffer.”
“Well at least I’ll always be able to see the door.”
“True story.” She holds my crutches out to me and moves to get the bags, but stops, seeming to contemplate her telekinetic ability to move the bags into the house without touching them. Tilting her head she chews on her lip, meeting my eyes.
“Let’s let Andrew get your bags and be all manly about it.He might grunt and scratch his um stuff but ignore him. He acts like an animal. I don’t let him around many people.”
Jenny reaches in and honks the horn and we wait. She looks at me, rolls her eyes and honks again. A few minutes later a very tall and very fit man emerges from the house smiling. He looks like the football player type and bears a striking resemblance to Peyton Manning.
“This better be Hadley.” He winks at me and turns his attention to Jenny.
“No, I kidnapped this girl from a few states over.” Jenny smacks him on the arm and looks over at me. “Like I said, don’t mind Andrew, sometimes he acts his shoe size and not his age.”
I hold out my hand to shake his, only he doesn’t go for the hand and envelopes me ina huge bear hug. As I hang their dangling from his massive gripI wonder if this man knows about personal space. Struggling out of his grip, I glance at him again.
“Has anyone told you that you look a lot like Peyton Manning?”
Jenny starts laughing so hard she’s bending over, bracing her hands on her knees.
“What?”
Andrew puts his arm around my shoulders as we stare at Jenny. “It’s like this,” he starts off, “I’m not a big Bronco’s fan and he’s playing for the Bronco’s, so we don’t mention Manning in the house until he’s with a different team.”
Jenny composes herself, smiling ruefully at Andrew and like moths to flame he gravitates to her, planting a kiss on her lips. I shield my eyes because they may as well be having sex in broad daylight.
I overhear Jenny’s quiet voice. “Can you help Hadley with her stuff? She needs to eat, lay down and take her pain pills in that order.”
Andrew steps back and gives her a mock salute. “Yes ma’am,” he says bursting into laughter as he grabs my bags and barrels into the house.
Blearily I follow them inside not bothering to talk. What I see of their house is really nicely decorated with beige walls and sayings all over the place. Jenny shows me my roomas Andrew sets my stuff down.
“Don’t be afraid to let Jenny or me know if you need anything. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen as well. This is your home now and we want you to be as comfortable as possible here.”
I nod even though I don’t know what to say. I want to ask about Avery and get this proximity thing in check. Avoidance is the key.
“Avery is at school then headed to his job afterwards so you won’t meet him until at least tomorrow. Don’t be surprised if you hear him coming in late. . Don’t attack him or anything. He comes and goes at random hours because of his work and, school and it’s more of a roommate situation rather than parental type.” He stops, noticing my mangled expression.
“Too much information for now?”
I simply shrug and nod. It’s way too much information. Nice information but way too much for right now. All I want is a bed. Stopping at the door he awkwardly he clears his throat, “I’m sorry about your loss.”
Yeah, me too buddy.
Nodding, I grimace as he shuts the door behind him. Looking around but not really seeing I find the bed. Fumbling around my purse I pull out my phone charger and plug my phone in. Grabbing the bottled water from my purse, I set it on the nightstand. I line the pill bottles on the nightstand so they’re well within reach. Looking over at the bottles I check for the ones I
Stefan Zweig, Anthea Bell