it back to him.” Adrien could envision the casual shrug Michael was no doubt giving, based on the other man’s tone of voice as he continued. “That way, if he wants to call to let you know exactly when he’s gonna get there tonight, he can.”
Taking two more steps into the huge kitchen that Missy and Benji’s mom never cooked in, Adrien eyed the brick, hardwood and marble Better Homes and Gardens expanse around him. He traced one finger over the black marble counter-top of the island in front of him. A tiny furl of warmth uncoiled in his center at Michael’s words. “He said he was gonna come?”
Snorting, Michael answered. “Oh, I’d call that one a definite yes. He practically threw me out of his car as soon as we got to where I needed. He said something about wanting to rush out and get a costume before he had to meet Dieterman to let the guy into his place. Tell me where you are, brat, and I’ll come get the phone to bring to him.”
Adrien smiled a little as he answered. “Okay, okay… and stop calling me a brat. I’m over at Benji’s folks place. Apparently the ‘rents left her on her own again to go to some society function, so we’re hanging out with her for a bit.”
Michael grunted again and this time the sound was lower. Adrien could tell by the tone that Michael didn’t think much of Missy and Benji’s folks.
“Well, aren’t they just nominees for best parents of the year. Eh, I’ll be there in fifteen, twenty minutes tops, alright?”
Adrien nodded, and then smacked his free hand against his forehead. “Uh, yeah, we just started eating, so waiting for you is no problem. There’s even a pineapple and ham pizza if you want to join us. You and Missy are the only two people I know who actually eat that crap willingly.”
Michael laughed, deep rolling sounds of mirth spilling from the phone. “I cannot believe you still get into such a twist about fruit being on pizza. I gotta hang up— I’m leaving the parking lot. Later.”
Adrien shook his head at the phone. Then, with a little smile, he programmed his number in as speed dial number one. Sure, Devon had him in his contacts before, but this way it would be easier, just hit one button and they’d be talking. Devon could reprogram the number to campus police as a different number. Adrien tossed the phone up, bobbled it, and then caught it to his chest. Okay, he’d probably better just go sit back down and eat. He ambled back into the dining room with a huge grin on his face.
Chapter Eleven
When Devon drove down his block looking for a spot to park, he couldn’t find a spot big enough to park a moped, let alone his Jeep. He ended up parking two streets over and walking back through the thick slush on the edge of the street, as most of the sidewalks weren’t cleared out. As he approached his apartment, he passed an old Buick with faded sky blue paint. The driver’s side door popped open, and Ronald Dieterman unfolded his lanky frame from behind the steering wheel.
“Hey, Sarge… you weren’t kidding when you said it’s freezing out up here.”
Dieterman’s eyes had huge dark circles around them and he was so thin his wrist and collar bones were easily visible where they stuck out of the too small coat he was wearing. He smiled at Devon, a blinding white flash of teeth that only served to increase the very left of center gleam in his eyes.
“Hey, Corporal. So, you’re up here to get help at the VA hospital here? I know they have a good neurology department, but wouldn’t Walter Reed have been closer to you there in Virginia?”
Dieterman nodded. “Yeah, Reed is closer to home. I just couldn’t do this there, though. My mama tries real hard to help, but, Sarge—I can’t stop hearing the explosions, you know? And, you know, after you saved my life that time, I guess I feel safer near you. I just needed to have you nearby to do this.”
Devon’s eyes grew hot. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, Dieterman, I hear you.”
Taking two more steps into the huge kitchen that Missy and Benji’s mom never cooked in, Adrien eyed the brick, hardwood and marble Better Homes and Gardens expanse around him. He traced one finger over the black marble counter-top of the island in front of him. A tiny furl of warmth uncoiled in his center at Michael’s words. “He said he was gonna come?”
Snorting, Michael answered. “Oh, I’d call that one a definite yes. He practically threw me out of his car as soon as we got to where I needed. He said something about wanting to rush out and get a costume before he had to meet Dieterman to let the guy into his place. Tell me where you are, brat, and I’ll come get the phone to bring to him.”
Adrien smiled a little as he answered. “Okay, okay… and stop calling me a brat. I’m over at Benji’s folks place. Apparently the ‘rents left her on her own again to go to some society function, so we’re hanging out with her for a bit.”
Michael grunted again and this time the sound was lower. Adrien could tell by the tone that Michael didn’t think much of Missy and Benji’s folks.
“Well, aren’t they just nominees for best parents of the year. Eh, I’ll be there in fifteen, twenty minutes tops, alright?”
Adrien nodded, and then smacked his free hand against his forehead. “Uh, yeah, we just started eating, so waiting for you is no problem. There’s even a pineapple and ham pizza if you want to join us. You and Missy are the only two people I know who actually eat that crap willingly.”
Michael laughed, deep rolling sounds of mirth spilling from the phone. “I cannot believe you still get into such a twist about fruit being on pizza. I gotta hang up— I’m leaving the parking lot. Later.”
Adrien shook his head at the phone. Then, with a little smile, he programmed his number in as speed dial number one. Sure, Devon had him in his contacts before, but this way it would be easier, just hit one button and they’d be talking. Devon could reprogram the number to campus police as a different number. Adrien tossed the phone up, bobbled it, and then caught it to his chest. Okay, he’d probably better just go sit back down and eat. He ambled back into the dining room with a huge grin on his face.
Chapter Eleven
When Devon drove down his block looking for a spot to park, he couldn’t find a spot big enough to park a moped, let alone his Jeep. He ended up parking two streets over and walking back through the thick slush on the edge of the street, as most of the sidewalks weren’t cleared out. As he approached his apartment, he passed an old Buick with faded sky blue paint. The driver’s side door popped open, and Ronald Dieterman unfolded his lanky frame from behind the steering wheel.
“Hey, Sarge… you weren’t kidding when you said it’s freezing out up here.”
Dieterman’s eyes had huge dark circles around them and he was so thin his wrist and collar bones were easily visible where they stuck out of the too small coat he was wearing. He smiled at Devon, a blinding white flash of teeth that only served to increase the very left of center gleam in his eyes.
“Hey, Corporal. So, you’re up here to get help at the VA hospital here? I know they have a good neurology department, but wouldn’t Walter Reed have been closer to you there in Virginia?”
Dieterman nodded. “Yeah, Reed is closer to home. I just couldn’t do this there, though. My mama tries real hard to help, but, Sarge—I can’t stop hearing the explosions, you know? And, you know, after you saved my life that time, I guess I feel safer near you. I just needed to have you nearby to do this.”
Devon’s eyes grew hot. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, Dieterman, I hear you.”
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