Chapter Eight
"Annie?" I hear Gregg say as he walks past my office.
I look up from my desk and take my glasses off.
"Hi." I say. He's looking at me worried.
"Working late?" He asks with a smile and comes in.
"I just need to finish this." I say and run my hands over the manuscript.
"You can read manuscripts at home. You have before." He says.
"When you get to a good spot it's hard to stop reading." I say and smile at him.
I get a sympathy smile in return. It looks like Gregg wants to say something.
"What?" I ask.
"I know this probably isn't my business but you've been working late ever since you came back."
"Well, I need to make up for lost time, it's my first week back." I say.
"Did you ever consider that you are staying here to hide from your problems?" He asks gently.
"I'm not hiding from anything." I say. I think I'm telling the truth. Finnick and I are better.
Finnick hasn't been very forthcoming of his idea for a date. I keep thinking it's just going to be dinner and a movie. There's nothing wrong with that, but since he is planning a week in advance I would think it would be something more dazzling.
"It's okay if you are Annie but, you shouldn't hide from your husband."
"I'm not hiding from Finnick." I say a bit too harsh. I've known Gregg for years and he's known Finnick as well. Finnick always goes to the work parties. Finnick and I have been to Gregg's house. We've me his wife and his two kids. We know him. "I just like having a distraction." I say.
He nods.
"Are you going to be coming to the pre thanksgiving party this year?" He asks probably trying to change to subject. Gregg always has a party at his house. Finnick and I usually go but not this year. We're going to be spending more time by ourselves. We might go see Finnick's Mom. Ever since we got married we have gone to her house for thanksgiving dinner.
Gregg usually has his party a few weeks before Thanksgiving and it's two weeks away.
"Finnick and I are going to see his Mom." I say.
Gregg nods.
"Shame. You won't get to meet Christina's boyfriend." He says with a teasing smile.
"I didn't know she had a boyfriend." I say.
Christina isn't that fond of me. I still haven't figure out as to why. Neither Gregg or Conner really wanted to hire her. She just got out of college and didn't have much experience. It's not that hard to answer phones and take messages though. There weren't many applicants so I pushed for her. I don't think she knows this but still, I want to know why she doesn't like me.
I have pleasant talk with most of the employees here. Some I've even spent time outside work with but, Christina doesn't want anything to do with me.
"It's new." Gregg explains. "He first came to the office when you were on medical leave. He seems like a good person and a little odd. But Christina seems to like him even though he is much older."
"How old?" I ask.
"Older than myself." He says. Gregg is in his mid thirties. Which mean this man could be forty.
"That's interesting." I say. I didn't think Christina was the gold digging type. Maybe she really does love him though. She's younger than me, I couldn't see myself dating anyone almost ten years my senior.
"I thought so as well but, you can't exactly choose who you love."
I nod.
"Well that is a shame I won't be seeing you Annie but you'll be in my thoughts."
"You as well Gregg." I say and he leaves.
I hear my phone go off.
"Hello?" I ask.
"Are you working late again?" Finnick asks. I can hear disappointment in his voice.
"I'm leaving the office now." I tell him.
"Good." I'll see you twenty then?" He asks.
"You will." I say.
"Goodbye Annie."
"Bye Finnick." I say and hang up.
"Annie." Christina says through the phone.
I pick it up.
"Yes?" I ask.
"You have a visitor." She says unamused.
"Who?" I ask.
"They want it to be a surprise." She says.
"I'll be right out." I say. It's probably Finnick. I can't think of who else it would be.
When I make it to the reception desk I see a man. One I'm not familiar with.
"Have we met?" I ask. He looks vaguely familiar.
"No, Mrs. Odair we haven't." He says. He looks familiar though. Something about his face or voice seems… familiar.
"How may I help you then?" I ask.
"I have a delivery for you." He says and holds out a clipboard.
"Oh." I say and walk towards him. "The receptionist can sign for packages." I say.
"I was under strict orders to give this to you and only you." He says.
"I see." I say. I wonder what it is.
"Very well." I say after I sign. I must say when he pulls out flowers I'm a little disappointed. I thought it would be something more expensive.
"Thanks." I say.
"No problem." He says. It sounds like he has an accent now.
"You sure we've never met?" I ask.
"I must have a familiar face." He says.
"Right." I say and take the flowers. They're white and pink roses. They must have cost a lot, roses are expensive.
I head to my office and look for a card. I don't see one, I wonder who sent them. It was probably Finnick. Who else would send me flowers?
I walk into my house carrying the flowers. I see Finnick reading on the couch.
"Who gave you those?" He asks.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny Finnick." I say and set them down.
"Why is that funny?" He asks.
"Didn't you give them to me?" I ask.
"No. You're not that fond of flowers. You say they're a waste of money." He says.
"Unless they're like the dollar ones." I say.
"I know." He says. "Who gave them to you?" He asks.
"They were delivered."
Finnick shrugs.
"Maybe they sent it to the wrong person."
"The delivery man wanted me to sign specifically."
Finnick shrugs.
"Does it matter who sent them they're pretty." Finnick says and kisses my forehead.
"I guess." I whisper.
I gasp awake. I'm feel sweaty.
I feel someone next to me and whimper in fear.
"Ann, it's me." Finnick says and kisses my forehead.
I look around and see I'm in the living room. I must feel asleep in front of the television.
I turn towards Finnick and see he is looking at me worried. "Sorry I woke you, I was tracing the bird." He says and runs his fingers over my tattoo.
I nod.
"It's okay." I say.
"You looked like you were having a nightmare." He smooths my hair. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I whisper but my hands are shaking.
Finnick kisses my cheek.
"I just… I just had a bad dream. A bad memory." I say. Finnick nods.
"What kind of memory?" He asks.
"Finnick those flowers." I say and motion towards the kitchen.
"Yeah." He says confused.
"If you didn't send them, who do you think did?" I ask.
He's about to say something but I just keep talking.
"The delivery man looked familiar Finnick."
"Familiar how?" Finnick asks concerned.
"Someone who worked for your Dad." I say softly.
"Annie we haven't heard from that psycho in years. It could've been from anyone."
"The delivery man was in my nightmare. He was in that house when your Dad took me." I say. I wouldn't forget any of those faces. It was only for men and Finnick's Dad but I'll never forget them. Most of them got sent to prison. I don't know for how long either. Come to think of it I don't remember how long Finnick's Father is supposed to be locked up. I think they are legally obligated to tell me when he gets out.
"Annie everything is okay." He whispers.
I nod a little unsure.
"I just I know I know that man from somewhere." I whisper.
Finnick kisses my cheek.
"I want to get rid of them. The flowers" I say softly.
Finnick nods. Those flowers were obviously expensive but something about them felt invading. They felt evil.
"Okay I've been waiting all week for this." I say. Finnick is about to take me on the mystery date.
"I know. I just hope I don't let you down." Finnick says.
"You won't even if we're just going out to dinner." I say.
"Well it's not dinner and a movie." He smiles.
"Then what is it?" I ask with a smile.
"Well first of all you're going to need these." Finnick says and hands me ice skates.
"We're going ice skating?" I ask with a smile.
He nods.
"But, not just anywhere." Finnick smiles.
I raise my eyebrows. I think I know where he means.
"We're going into the city so you can ice skate in Central Park."
I look at him with awe. Ever since we moved here I wanted to go ice skating there. Although we don't live in the city because it is less expensive but, it's only a thirty minute drive. After all, the zoo Finnick works at is in the city.
"You remembered." I whisper.
"Of course I did. It's one of those cheesy romance things you want to do." He says.
"You remembered." I whisper again and kiss him.
He smiles.
"It should be fun." I say with a big smile.
"It should." Finnick says.
Finnick drives. Finnick has gotten immensely better at parallel parking since college.
The last time I went ice skating I was probably nineteen and it was at the skating center on college campus.
I almost fall a couple times but Finnick makes sure to steady me. We hold hands as we skate around the park. I'm getting those first date jitters either that or my hand is very cold.
"It's pretty." I whisper looking at the park and skyline. It looks perfect.
"Coming from the person who hates snow and winter in general." Finnick teases.
"That doesn't mean it can't look pretty." I say and he smiles.
"You look pretty." He says and kisses my cheek.
I lean against him.
"I love you." I whisper.
"I love you too."
After awhile we both get cold and decide to get something to eat. We just go to a burger place. They have really good chili cheese fries.
"So, I do okay?" Finnick asks and takes a fry.
I nod.
"Better than okay."
"Excellent." Finnick says and kisses me.
"I don't want to sound like the cliche married couple but we should go out more often."
"We go out all the time Annie." Finnick says. "Or did you mean come to the city more?" He asks.
I shrug.
"Tonight just feels different."
"It's because we haven't really had much fun recently." He says.
"Can you blame us?" I ask.
"No. But it's nice to go out with you Annie, it feels a little like before."
"Like before." I whisper and kiss his cheek.
Finnick drives us home. When we get through the door I kiss him.
"I love you." I whisper.
"I love you." Finnick smiles and runs his fingers through my hair.
I kiss him again, softly at first, but then it becomes more passionate.
I haven't kissed Finnick like that in awhile. Finnick and I continue to kiss. When I break away my breathing is uneven.
"Let's go somewhere else." I whisper.
We head to the bedroom kissing on the way.
"I love you." He whispers and kisses my cheek.
"I love you too." I whisper and cradle his face.
We start moving together slowly. It's like I can feel all of Finnick coursing though me. I haven't felt this way towards Finnick since we lost Olivia.
I pull him closer.
"I love you." I whimper.
Finnick kisses me as a response. Finnick and I could've been doing this for a few minutes or a few hours. I lost track of all time and awareness while being with him.
When it's over I cuddle up towards Finnick and lean on his chest. His heart is beating quickly. I kiss his chest right where his heart would be.
Finnick smiles and kisses the top of my head. He keeps running his hand up and down my bare back.
"I love you." I whisper.
"I love you too." He says and kisses the top of my head. "I'll always love you."
"I'll always love you too." I whisper.
I hold onto Finnick like a teddy bear. I've never felt so close to him before. Finnick and I are going to be alright. I'm sure of it.