Once Upon an Arizona Sunset

Chapter 9

******** Peyton ********

I left Olivia alone for a few days. I wanted to give her a chance to mourn. Chuck was working with Liam, training injured soldiers. Helping them. Two days after I had shown her the house I was sitting by the pool on a towel. I didn’t own a lawn chair yet. Loki was playing with his toys by my feet and I heard the doorbell ring. I jumped up and headed out to answer the door. My faithful pup at my heels. I was happily surprised when I opened the door. Norra and Olivia were standing there. 

“Hi” Olivia said. I smiled at her and pulled her into a hug. Then I hugged Norra.

“God, I was just thinking how lonely I am.” I said. They smiled at me. 

“Let’s shop for some furniture for you.” Olivia said, smiling. 

“Give Norra a tour while I run up and get some clothes on will you?” I asked Olivia. When they came into my room I was dressed. 

“I have Liam's truck so we can haul home furniture.” Olivia said. 

“Perfect. That’s a good idea.” I said. I put Loki in his crate. He was getting so good at being in there. He loved it. Olivia drove, taking us to our favourite mall. We all loved Bitmore. She seemed ok. Less cheery than normal. I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Norra, but I wanted to ask how she was. I wondered if she had told her yet? 

“Which room should we start with?” Olivia asked. I wasn’t really sure. 

“I don’t know but let’s hit a furniture store first?” I suggested. I really needed something more than an old shitty couch to sit on. It took us hours, but we bought a dining room table and chairs, an entirely new living room set. We didn’t even have a TV so I had to get that. 

“I don’t think we are going to fit this into Liam’s truck.” I said to Olivia. She smiled. 

“Yea, I think maybe we should pay for delivery?” She suggested. Norra and I both agreed. Then I picked out spare bedroom furniture, outdoor furniture and a barbeque. I picked out a table for the foyer and some accent tables for different rooms. 

“Is that all I need?” I asked the girls. They both shrugged. 

“Well I guess it will probably be good for now.” I said, looking at Olivia. I needed to see if she was doing ok. She seemed fine. I went up to the front and paid for the new furniture. 

“That will be twenty three thousand four hundred and eighty seven dollars and twelve cents.” The cashier said. Holy s**t. That’s insane. But I paid. We needed this stuff. 

“Should we get lunch?” I asked them. 

“Yea, I’m starving.” Olivia said. 

“Sushi?” Norra suggested. I didn’t question her. I took the lead, walking towards the sushi place. Norra either knew about the baby, or she didn’t know pregnant women couldn’t eat it. Either way I let it go. 

“Do we want to get you anymore stuff?” Norra asked me. I did, but I wondered about Olivia. I looked at her again. She still seemed ok. 

“Let’s see how we feel after eating.” I suggested. Both girls agreed. When we were leaving the restaurant a familiar face crossed my line of sight. A face that I really didn’t want to see. Not here, not now, not ever. He stood and walked towards me. s**t. Pierce. Not here, not now. 

“Candy!” He said, pulling me into a hug. s**t. This was going to bring questions. I didn’t reply. 

“Oh common baby? You must remember me?” He said. 

“Ummmm. Hi.” I said, I needed out of this. 

“Sorry, I’m in a hurry.” I said, skirting around him. I didn’t need to do this. I had told Chuck about my past, partly because I felt I owed it to him. Partly because I wanted to tell someone about it. But I didn’t feel like telling my girls about it. 

“Let’s just head home?” I suggested. 

“The movers will be there in an hour with the furniture. I should go let Loki out.” I said. Olivia drove us back. We parked on the street to leave room for the movers. Norra and I packed in the four new deck chairs to the pool and I let Loki out in the back. 

“So who was the guy?” Olivia asked me as we came back into the house. I shrugged. 

“Not a clue, seemed to think I was someone else.” I said. Offering her a bottle of water. 

“You sure? Cuz he seems to be in a car out on the street.” She said. My whole body froze. My mouth went numb. s**t. I walked over to the window and peered out. 

“Next shopping day we are getting curtains.” I said staring at him. Oh my god. He followed me. I checked my phone. 3:15 PM. Chuck wouldn’t be home until around 5:30. I had to keep the girls here until he got home.

“Let’s go to the backyard until the movers get here,” I said, hoping Olivia would stick around. 

“Sure.” She said smiling at me. I locked the front door before we headed out there. We stretched out on the chairs. 

“Oooo comfy.” Norra said. I smiled. 

“I’m really happy here.” I said, Olivia smiled at me. 

“How about you?” Norra asked Olivia. She was quiet for a minute. 

“Honestly. I’m taking things one day at a time. But I’m doing a little better. I still cry a lot. Sometimes I have nightmares. But Liam’s a good support system and I now see a counsellor twice a week.” She said. 

“I’m glad you’re ok.” Norra said. So I guess she did know. 

“I’m glad you’re doing a bit better Olivia. I agree you have the best support system available.” I said smiling at her. Loki I noticed had curled up next to her on her deck chair. She was stroking his fur softly. I was a little jealous, but at the same time. I wondered if he sensed that she needed his support. Animals were supposed to be intuitive like that. The doorbell rang. 

“I’ll get it.” I said. If it was Pierce I had to get rid of him. I looked through the peephole. It was the movers. I opened the door. 

“Hey!” I said, 

“Afternoon miss. We have your furniture.” The big muscled man said. I smiled. 

“Great, do you want to come through the garage or is this door good?” I asked him. 

“This one should be good. If you can direct us where to put each piece as it comes in the door that would be great.” He said. I nodded. I directed each piece as it came in. When they were done I tipped them each fifty dollars. 

“Thank you so much for the help!” I said. It was now 5 pm. 

“Crap! I didn’t make any supper.” I said to the girls. 

“Let’s just order Pizza?” Norra suggested. I smiled and phoned the delivery place. 

“This place looks great!” Olivia said walking through the dining room. I smiled, it really did look good. 

“Need some decor now.” I said. She nodded. 

“How about tomorrow? I don’t have anything else to do.” Olivia said. 

“Perfect, I don’t either. How about you Norra?” I asked. 

“Nope I’m clear.” She said, smiling. 

“Peyton and I decided that you need to find yourself a boy and move into the neighbourhood.” Olivia said, smiling. Norra smiled. 

“I like that plan too! We could start our own community.” Norra said. We laughed. The pizza arrived just as Liam and Chuck came in. 

“Pizza’s here.” Chuck called from the door. I jumped up and rushed to the door.

“Hey baby, sorry. I was busy and forgot about supper so I ordered it.” I said. He kissed me softly.

“Don’t be sorry. You look beautiful, hunny.” He said. I smiled at him. 

“Wow the house looks so good!” He said. Walking through the living room. I beamed at him. 

“Thank you!” I said. When everyone finished eating we sat on the couch together. The TV on. It felt like we were an old married couple. I remembered Pierce outside. I got up and walked over to the window. He was still sitting there. 

“Chuck!” I said loudly. 

“What?” He asked, jumping up. 

“This guy out here in the car, he’s a pornstar. He recognized me at the mall today. I think he followed me home.” I said. 

“Serious?” He asked. I nodded. 

“Is he dangerous?” He asked me. I shrugged. He pulled out his phone. 

“Liam.” He said, 

“Can you come to my place for a minute? There’s a guy here who followed Peyton home sitting on the street.” He said. 

“K see you in a second.” He said. 

“You stay here ok?” He said. I nodded, he went to the kitchen and above the fridge he pulled out a black plastic case. He set it down on the counter and unlocked it. Then he pulled out a black revolver. Oh my god. He owned a gun? 

“You own a gun?” I asked him. He looked up at me as he slid it into the back of his pants. 

“Yes, I have many guns. Is that a problem?” he asked me. I was quiet. Was it a problem? 

“I don’t know.” I said. He smiled. 

“I’m a marine, this is what I do. Liam and I like to go to the range and shoot targets to keep our aim up. Also protection is important.” He said. I nodded. I guess I could accept that. I was an ex pornstar. Who was I to judge?

“Do you need to take it out there?” I asked him. He smiled. 

“It’s ok, I’m not going to tell him I have it. Guaranteed Liam has his too. It’s just in case. This guy could pull one on me and I would rather be prepared.” He said. I nodded. 

“Ok, be careful please.” I said. He nodded, Liam walked up then and he headed out with him. They walked towards the car, I cracked the door open so I could hear it. Chuck rapped his knuckles on the glass of the window and it rolled down.

“Good evening,” Chuck said, Pierce didn’t say anything. 

“Can I help you?” Chuck asked him. 

“No I’m good.” Pierce said. 

“Oh your good? Is there a reason you’ve been casing my house all day?” Chuck asked him. 

“Just sitting here.” Pierce said.

“Go sit somewhere else.” Chuck said. I couldn’t see Pierce but I assumed he laughed or smirked. 

“Or what?” Pierce asked. 

“Listen bud, you leave or we will make you leave.” Liam spoke this time. 

“I just want to see Candy.” Pierce said. Liam and Chuck were quiet for a minute. 

“There’s not f*****g Candy here. Take yourself somewhere else. If I see you back here again we're going to have an issue.” Chuck said. I stood, I could hear them coming back towards the house. They came in, and I hugged Chuck. 

“Did he leave?” I asked them. They both nodded. 

“He’s weird,” Liam said. Chuck nodded. 

“If he comes back I’m going to kick his ass.” Chuck said. I squeezed his arm. 

“What?” He asked. 

“No you are not.” I said. He smiled. 

“Well I’m going to head back and go to bed.” Liam said, heading out the door. Chuck and I went back to the couch. 

“Should I help you with Bills?” I asked Chuck. He took my hand. 

“No baby, you go to school, that's your job.” He said, kissing my hand. I ran my fingers along his face. 

“But I could work part time.” I said, he smiled. 

“I don’t need your help. I would like to put you through school and you can work after.” He said. I smiled at him. 

“Ok, but if you ever need help with the money. Let me know and I will get a job.” I said. He smiled. 

“Peyton, I know that you are more than capable of helping me with financial issues. I’m not trying to be the man and make you the little wife. I just want you to focus on being a student. That’s what I want for you right now.” He said. I smiled. 

“I wouldn’t mind being the little wife.” I said. Oh s**t. I can’t believe I just said that. I thought to myself. But he turned to me and smiled. 

“Really?” He asked. 

“Sorry, I just messed that up didn’t I?” I asked him. He shook his head. 

“No, no you didn’t. I’d like that very much. But I think we should wait a little while. Let’s spend some time living together first ok?” He asked. I nodded. He was right, I just found out he had guns. What else didn’t I know about him. Loki was sleeping on the couch beside us. I stroked behind his ears. 

“Common baby, let’s go to bed.” Chuck said, standing up and taking my hand. I smiled and picked up Loki. Putting him into his crate and following Chuck upstairs. He wanted me to be his wife. Oh my god.