Chapter 9:
"Will you let go of me!" Cassidy laughed and tried to pull out of Randon's arms, which were locked around her waist.
"Never!" he shouted and picked her up, swinging her around.
"You have to! Maria and Cora will be here any minute with Anna. I have to make sure that everything is set up right! You wouldn't want to come home from a three week hospital stay to a dirty house, now would you?"
"I guess not. The guys will be here any minute as well. Marcus brought a cake. His sister owns a bakery." Randon sighed and let go of Cass.
"Oh, how nice! I fixed some gumbo. Its Anna's favorite. I'm glad she agreed to having a small get together. She's been cooped up in a hospital room for a while. She's handled this whole experience incredibly. I know I wouldn't have been as strong as her throughout this entire ordeal."
Randon nodded and Cassidy looked around Anna's living room. The house Anna lived in was much too big for one person, but she had three golden retrievers that shared it with her. There was Molly, the playful puppy, Gordo, the lazy old grandpa, and Pete, the protective one. They were Anna's babies, and Cass had been given the job of looking after them while Anna had been in the hospital.
The living room was close to spotless, save for the few stray chew toys that Molly had drug out and around the room. She lay on the floor playing with a squeaky toy that was driving Cass just a little crazy. Gordo lay on one of the huge leather couches with his head resting on his paws. He was getting old, and it showed. Pete sat by the front door, alert and ready for anything to happen.
When the front door opened, he jumped up and growled until he caught scent of Anna. Cora and Mari walked in first, and Anna followed. She was being carried by a downright sinfully gorgeous man. Marcus.
Cass had only met him a few times, and while he was a player and had a temper, he could be very sweet. Anna looked a little bit uncomfortable. Her leg was still in a cast, and although the bruises and cuts had disappeared over the past few weeks, she still looked pale and fragile. The smile that she wore on her face didn't quite meet her eyes.
Behind Marcus and Anna were two of Randon's other friends, Logan and Joshua.
Joshua had his gaze locked on Cora. He'd been half in love with her since they'd met at the club, the same night she'd met Rand. Cora didn't seem to know it, and although she flirted with him when they were all out, she didn't really realize that he worshipped the ground she walked on. Cass remembered the way his eyes had lit up when he'd found out she'd broken up with Ryan. Again.
Logan was taken with Maria as well. Cass thought they'd make a great couple. And she knew for a fact that Maria thought he was a nice guy. It was only a matter of time, Cass decided, before they started dating.
Marcus and Anna, they were about as opposite as two people could be. They seemed to get along at the hospital. Marcus, Logan, and Joshua would come up to the hospital with Rand on Wednesdays to hang out with Cass, Mari, Cora, and Anna. Then they'd all, with the exception of Anna, head to Randon's club. It was like a ritual of some sort for the past three weeks. Tonight was a Wednesday, but instead of going clubbing, they were having a welcome home Anna party.
"You can put me down over there." Anna said and pointed to her couch. Marcus obliged and set her down. Immediately she was surrounded by three huge golden retrievers. "My babies!" she squealed excitedly. Pete was licking every inch of his owner, as if assuring himself that she was okay. Molly was licking her face and begging to be petted. Gordo had simply lain down beside her with his head on Anna's lap.
"Looks like you were missed Anna." Mari laughed.
"Those are some very nice dog's tidbit." Marcus said and scratched Molly behind the ears.
"Thank you. This here is Pete. The one you're petting is Molly, and the old guy here is Gordo. He's almost fourteen years old." She said proudly.
"Brooklyn would love these dogs. I just bought her a golden retriever puppy last week. She named him Buddy. Her face lit up like the fourth of July."
