“Should we make a friendly wager?” Charlie bent over stretching.
“You’re not tricking me, sir. I need to see first just how good of a runner you are.” I stretched my back. “Honestly, I’m not positive how far I will make it.”
Charlie winked, then took off across the street to the park. Bond gestured to go after him. The air felt morning crisp. The sun was trying its best to wake up and shine. As I ran to catch up with Charlie, I suddenly felt like every group of bushes or trees with their morning shadows were hiding someone trying to catch me. I had to battle to ignore it and keep running.
Who’s going to bother me with Charlie in front and Bond in back? I’m okay! I’m okay!
I caught up to Charlie, I was sure by design, as he was clearly a good runner. He wasn’t even breathing heavily. I looked over my shoulder to find Bond close behind, running with complete ease. We passed several little ponds and other people out jogging. One of the open areas had a group of people with yoga mats laid out.
Someday I will be able to be out as a normal person. Where will I live?
I’d left my new cellphone back at the penthouse, but if Cota needed to know where I was, he’d call the guys. I should have texted him to let him know we were leaving but decided not to wake him. We finished our loop and were just getting back to the building when a man came off the elevator, a man that looked very similar to Cota and his brothers.
“Bond, Charlie, great to see you guys.” The man shook hands with them. “Poppy will be sorry she missed you.”
“Where is she?” Charlie asked. “What are you doing going out so early?”
“Off to a breakfast meeting but need to get to my office first.” The man glanced at me. “Poppy is at the manor.”
“I was hoping to see that little one of yours,” Charlie moaned. “I guess I’ll have to wait ‘til this Saturday.”
“Oh, you guys are coming. That’s good.” The man continued to glance at me. “Who is this you’re hiding behind you?”
“Sorry, this is your new sister-in-law, Sabrina.” Bond nodded for me to come closer. “We just went for a morning run.”
“Sabrina, I’m Kellan, Cota’s older brother.” Kellan stepped closer to me. “I’ve heard so much about you. Come on in for a hug.”
I had not grown up with all of this physical touching and it was going to take some time to get used to, but I knew if I did not hug him back it would be an insult. I stepped into his hug tentatively then stepped back with a smile.
“I, too, have heard a lot about you. I look forward to meeting your wife, as well,” I said. “Does Cota know you are here?”
“Yeah, I was just up there with him. I’m going to be stealing him from you tomorrow. Will that be okay?”
“Of course, he has spent too much of his time with me already. I know he must work.” I folded my hands together. “Will you be staying in your penthouse? We can move to our new one to get out of your way.”
“I’m only here ‘til Friday night. I think we can manage living together for a day and a half. Besides, you have redecorating to do.” Kellan looked at his watch. “I must run, but I look forward to visiting with you tonight.”
“Have a good meeting.” I waved as he walked away.
“Tiny Dancer, you’re gonna like Poppy. Actually, you’re gonna like the whole family,” Bond said. “Be prepared, by the way. They all call me Bond.”
“Of course they do, it’s your nickname. I don’t know this Bond they reference.” I pushed the elevator code. “Is this a famous person?”
“You don’t know Bond, as in James Bond?” Charlie scoffed. “This will never do. It’s a movie. Several movies.”
“Then we must watch them before this weekend so I will know of this Bond person.” I made a note in my new phone. “Tomorrow, while Cota is away, we can watch them, yes?”
“Sure, we can watch one or two, but won’t Cota be disappointed to miss it with you?” Charlie gestured to exit first when we got to our unit. “I know he was talking about watching movies with you.”
“We have plenty of movies to watch, but I will ask him. I would not want him to be upset.” I looked around for Cota. “Perhaps he has already gone for the day?”
“Gone where?” Cota came out of his room buttoning his shirt. “I’m right here waiting to go to breakfast. Kellan got in this morning and asked me to join him in some meetings.”
“Yes, we just saw him in the lobby. You look very much like him.”
“But better looking, right?” He waggled his eyebrows, laughing. “Anyway, I told him I had plans today with you, so I’d join him in meetings tomorrow.”
“We could have cancelled our plans today. It is just the zoo. I have come this far in life without going to one, I can wait longer.” I poured myself a juice. “Would anyone else like a juice?”