TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter THIRTY FIVE

River O'riley

... THE NEW DAWN ...
... later in the day ...

"River, I'm nervous.. What if your friends don't like me?" Frankie tugs at the back of my shirt as I press the intercom button on the gate to the Walker apartment building.. After Cherry had agreed to babysit Lovey for the day, I'd realised this is probably going to be the last of the time I get to spend with the Triad Princess before I have to say goodbye to her.. Maybe forever.. "I don't think I should be here.."

"Ye' don'ae needa be shy, Wallflower.. They're not gonna bite ya.. They're good people, I promise.." I grin down at her as the gate unlocks with a buzz.. Bouncing Lovey in one arm, Frankie steps beneath the other as I hold the gate open for her..

She moves to take the diaper bag from my shoulder, relieving the weight that had been digging into my muscle.. "Does your back hurt a lot today? Maybe you should be resting--"

"I'm grand t'anks, Frankie-- I'll rest when I'm dead.." She is so lovely to worry about me the way she does, but this time I know she only does it as a distraction.. She is never at ease whenever we leave the apartment and she never lets me out of her sight.. It's almost like she thinks I'll disappear if she can't see me.. "What has ye' so unsettled, my sweetling?"

She chews on her fingertips.. "I'm nervous to talk.. To say the wrong thing."

I smile, trying to ease her copious amounts of anxious energy, seeing that she is so worried she can barely stand still.. "There is no wrong thing to say, sweetheart.. Just be ye'self.. Ye' perfect, just the way ye' are."

"Don't tell them where I am from.. Please?" She pulls her pink hair forward to cover the tattoo on her neck as she pouts at me, giving me darling doe-eyes I couldn't resist even if I wanted to..

How could I betray her secrets?
How could I deny anything she asked of me?

I nod, agreeing against my better judgement.. "Alrite'.. I won't say a word 'bout it."

She smiles, following me up the pathway to climb the stairs.. "I hope they will like me."

I chuckle.. "I know they will, baby, what's not to like?"

When Cherry opens the door she squeals with joy to see my daughter.. "My Loooooooovey!"

Totally ignoring me, Aisling steps out of the way as I walk past her and her hands are on the baby before I've even crossed the threshold..

"Err, good to see you too, Ash!" I sneer in mock offence..

She waves a hand towards the living room, implying I go away and leave her be.. "Yeah yeah, ya' cute-hoor, get'in'ere.." When she looks up to see Frankie hiding behind me she gives me a strange, disapproving look.. "Oh, sorry-- I didn't see you there! River, don't be rude, who's your friend?"

Lilly bows her head quietly and I step aside to introduce the two.. "Cherry, this is-- Lovey's Nanny, Lilly.." I feel less guilty introducing the two of them on the basis of nicknames, the half lie is a little easier on my conscience to accept..

"Nice to meet you, Lilly.. Would ye' like a cup'o tea?" Cherry smiles..

Lilly nods looking up at me for approval and I place a supportive hand at the small of her back, gently pushing her forward.. "Oh, yes, I would.. Thank you."

Cherry motions for Lilly to follow her into the kitchen and I smile as Lilly takes one last worried look over her shoulder at me before they disappear together..

I cross to sit on the sofa where the Wolf ignores me, his focus fixated on the baseball game that plays on the enormous flatscreen.. No doubt pissed with me for cutting into his day off..