Chapter 38 After another 30 minutes of trying to focus on reading I can't. All I feel is Alarick's emotions. He is so angry and irritated I can't concentrate. I look at the clock hanging on the wall and see that it is 1:00. I huff in annoyance and he looks up towards me and raises his brow questioningly. "I can't focus when your emotions are heightened like this. I have been reading the same page for the past 20 minutes." I said to him. He huffs in response. "I am sure that you have other things that you need to do. I have to leave here soon anyway to pick up the children." I say trying to convince him I need to leave. His face turns to one of confusion. "Pick up the children?" He asks me. "Good going Sherlock." Fen grumbles in my head. "Yes. I met two children yesterday outside of the elementary school. They were waiting for their Aunt to pick them up. Her and her husband are struggling with adjusting to having the children, so I told her not to worry about getting the children from school. I would do it and drop them off for her." I explained to him. His face turns from confusion to shock. "You volunteered to do that?" He asked me with confusion. "Yes?" I answered him questioningly. "I just didn't expect you to do that. It is different." Alarick says. Then I feel his mood go from confusion to happy and excited. "That's perfect! I will join you." He says getting up from his seat. "Oh no he wont. Stop it now." Fen says. "You really don't have to. You must have other work to do. Like investigating the shadow." I say trying to get him to change his mind, but he doesn't. "Garret is looking into the shadow. I have work to do, but like you, I couldn't focus. This will be a good distraction for me. And we can look around for a spot to have the daycare." He says, making me sigh. I fake a smile and answer him. "Alright. I am going to grab something to eat beforehand." I said, I turned around to leave when he started talking. "We can grab something to eat while we wait for the kids. There is a small restaurant in the square most people don't know about." He says as he goes to follow me. Fen starts bi*ching at me. "Who the hell said anything about us getting lunch together? I certainly did not and I know you didn't either." She complains. Alarick starts leading the way out of the castle, I follow listening to Fen b*tch and grumble in my head. After we reach the square he starts talking. "Most people who don't work around here don't know about this place." He says as he leads me to a building next to the hospital. It is small and blends in. I wouldn't have noticed it. We walk in and there is only one older couple sitting in the corner of the small restaurant. He goes over to the window table and pulls out my seat, waiting for me to sit. I sit down and scoot up to the table and grab the menu that is already on it. After the waitress comes and grabs our order and brings back our drinks there is an awkward silence. I stare out the window to avoid having a conversation with him, but he doesn't take the hint. "Tell me about the children." He says getting my attention. I smile slightly as I remember them. "They are brother and sister. The sister's name is Breana, she is 8. The brother's name is Christopher, he is 6. Their parents died in a house fire 6 months ago and they have been living with their aunt and uncle since." I say. I feel his sadness for the children. "How did you meet them?" He asks. As our food arrives. "I overhead Christopher crying to Breana on my way home from enrolling Maleena at school. I went over there to see what was going on." I said. Then I quickly started eating my food so I wouldn't have to talk. He looked at me and chuckled then started eating his food. "What the f*ck is so funny about him annoying us?" Fen yells in my head. "Maybe I should start calling him chihuahua too. Annoying me with just their presence." I roll my eyes at her and she gasps. "No! I got it, he is a stink bug, not a chihuahua." As soon as she says that I breath in to laugh but accidentally inhale the food and start to choke. I quickly grab my water and try to wash it down. It helps the food go down but then I start coughing. "Are you okay?" Alarick asks with wide eyes. I nod my head as I continue to cough. I drink more water and it helps. I look to see Alarick still looking at me with concern laced in his face. "Yes. I'm fine. Just forgot how to eat." I said to ease his worries. He chuckles a little to see that I am alright. "Next time chew first before you swallow." He says taking a bite of his burger and chewing it so I could see how it is done. He is being very dramatic in his chewing, which makes me laugh, while I toss a fry at him. He pouts and I laugh a little harder. Fen rolls her eyes and starts again. "Don't laugh at that stink bug." She says in a disgusted tone. "Why stink bug?" I ask her. "Well because they are annoying as hell and they stink. Like him." She says matter of factly. I only rolled my eyes at her and continue to eat. In Addicted to You movie, Audrey's biggest regret? A one-night stand with Floyd, her secret love for eight years. Despite his arranged marriage and his family's troubles, he kept rescuing her. She tho...