“Don’t worry.” Finishing off the last of his beer, he sits back with a shake of his head. “No one but us knows what he said, and Alex sure as shit isn’t gonna tell anyone else. He stood in front of our girls, Andi. He stood in front of Jess and Laine and took their bullets. No matter what kind of asshole attitude he wants to throw at us, we’re not leaving him in the cold now.”
“But he’s rejecting rehab?”
Nodding, his eyes cloud. “We can’t force him into that. We can’t force him to do anything. We can only encourage him to change his mind, we can pay his salary so he doesn’t lose his house, pay his medical insurance so he’s not left in debt up to his eyeballs, and file the paperwork for the pension he’s entitled to.”
I blow out an explosive breath and try to think. There’s so much to do, so little time. “Keep doing that. Keep paying that insurance no matter how many times he quits, because shit’s about to get really expensive for him.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ve got it–”
“Where’s the local vet?”
If my random question surprises him, Oz is good at his job and doesn’t let on. “Over near Lakeside. Same street. Why?”
“That’s the second time I’ve heard that today. What is that place?”
“Lakeside? It’s like a retirement village, but for folks like Riley’s mom that need a little more attention.”
My eyes narrow. “Attention?”
“Like, some of them have diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, cataracts… that sorta stuff. They’re not well enough to live alone, but they’re not a medical emergency either, so they stay in this home, which gives them a sense of community, three hot meals every day, and their meds are administered properly.”
“Riley’s mom is in a home for sick folks?” I glance between Oz and Lindsi. “She can’t be very old; he’s thirty, so she’s, what, fifty? Sixty? Is she dying?”
“She’s not dying,” Oz answers. “She can’t live alone, but she’s got a lot of steam left in her yet.”
“Okay.” I adjust my plans for tomorrow and nod. “Tomorrow I’m gonna head over to the vet, then to see Riley’s mom.”
“What’s wrong with Nacho, Aunt Andi?” Livi looks up with bright eyes. “She’s okay, right?”
“She’s okay, baby. I promise.” Standing from the table, I collect my plate and stack it on top of Ben’s. Turning and squeezing between our chairs, I take them to the kitchen, then come back to get the rest. “I appreciate you guys having me on short notice. I didn’t really ask to come.”
“You’re always welcome.” Oz collects empty glasses and follows me back to the kitchen. “You always have a room here, so don’t sweat it. Turn up whenever you want; the guest room has only ever been used by you. It’s yours now.”
That’s just who I am, isn’t it? I turn up and demand attention. I take over and brand whatever space I’m in; with my attitude, my perfume, my sass, my messy clothes.
When it’s just me and Oz in the kitchen, and Lindsi is busy with her kids in the dining room, I turn back to Oz and wait for his eyes. It takes him a moment to stop, to recognize the quiet, then to meet my gaze. “Is there anything else I need to know? The leg thing was a shitty secret to keep. If I’d known, I might’ve been able to respond better when I saw him.”
“There’s nothing you don’t know,” he murmurs. “Leg. Shot. Hospital. Coming home day after tomorrow. Now tell me your secrets. I see them in your eyes.”
“I’m sleeping at Riley’s tonight.” Before he can argue, I turn and start loading the dishwasher. “I spent the afternoon at his house cleaning and getting it ready for his homecoming. I have a lot to do in the next thirty-six or so hours, so I can’t waste that time sleeping here.”
“I’ll come with you. Sit in the cruiser out front.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s a house in the middle of suburbia. I live in the city with a shitty front door that may as well be made of wet cardboard. If you’re ever gonna worry, do it when I’m there.”
“Oh great,” he scoffs. “Now I’ll worry when you’re home, too.”
Laughing, I load the empty glasses into the dishwasher. “I’m a big girl, and I haven’t had parental supervision since Benny was living with me. Oh, and I’ve gotta get Riley’s cat in to see a vet.”
Oz’s eyes pop wide. “Riley has a cat?”
“Yeah, and she’s been all alone for three weeks. I think her tail is broken, and though she had food and drank out of the toilet, I want to have her checked over. I can’t let Riley come home to a dying cat.”
Suspicious, he watches me through narrowed eyes and dries his hands on a towel. “How could you possibly know his cat has a broken tail? How do you know she drank from the toilet?”
I flash my most convincing smile and slam the dishwasher closed. “Do the wordsbreak and entermean anything to you?”
“Jesus.” He throws his hands up with exasperation. “He didn’t want you around, Andi! He didn’t want you in his hospital room, so what do you think he’s gonna say when he finds out you broke into his house?” Oz presses his thumbs into his eyes and groans. “You’re so much trouble, Andi. I swear, more trouble than you’re worth.”