"So we do charity, not exactly like Make a wish, but something a little similar. We go to hospitals, put on shows, take kids to parks, all that stuff. I worked in theater, so I help with makeup for cosplay. Usually it's princess or superhero, but" Ally launched into her explanation, all while Jason held her up on his arm.
The gist, was one of the kids found out they were going to be in the hospital for the next few years. They had drawn their own comic, working with teachers and friends from a club, they were trying to bring the characters to life. The kid was also taking art lessons, but getting a model in the hospital wasn't easy.
Jason helped out when he had time, but the main character started out as a wimpy, skinny, bullied kid… well, I couldn't argue I was skinny…
"Sure, we can message each other, and if I have the day off, I can play skinny and wimpy." I added with a grin. Ally flushed.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that! You're just so pretty!" Ally tried to explain, then covered her mouth.
I wasn't sure if I should laugh… or cry. Pretty… was not a word I'd use to describe myself. "Thanks?" I asked half laughing as she buried her face in her hands.
"I meant! You have that pretty boy look! Like a pixie!" Ally explained hurriedly.
"Is that… better?" I asked uncertainly as I choked down a laugh. Jake and Jack were grinning while Rusty and the girls were nodding along. Should I feel… emasculated???
"Oh! I'm not saying it right! You know what I mean! Help me Jason!" She demanded half exasperated, half pleading.
Jason was full belly laughing already. It took two swats to his bicep before he was able to calm down enough to wipe his teers away.
"You're a pretty boy Max. Surrounded by all us beefy, burly guys. Think of it this way, you're a poodle among wolves." Jason congratulated patting me on the shoulder.
I stared at him, "I'm not sure that's a good thing…" I said half laughing. A poodle? Really?
"Ah come on, he's no poodle, maybe an Irish Setter!" Jack disagreed with a wide grin.
I feigned offense, "Is that any better?" I wasn't exactly sure what an Irish setter looked like. But, I had the technology to find out. I pulled my phone out for the all knowing google. I looked at the sleek, brown dog. It was… pretty, but not poodle pretty. "Fine, an Irish setter then! I'll take it as a win!" I announced dramatically as I slid my phone back into my back pocket.
"Oh! Let me add you to our fb group! That way, if you can help with anything you can just reach out! We do stuff twice a week, but it's all volunteer." Ally called out reaching forward.
Jason had to lean forward to make sure she didn't fall. With a sigh, he set her on the ground. We exchanged information, and I was added to her group.
Not long later Jason's mother pulled them away to talk about wedding details.
"So… why does everyone get so tense when Wrath gets mentioned?" I had to ask, I knew I probably shouldn't, but the complete 180 of Jason's personality… I couldn't help myself. All of them stiffened as they shared looks.
"If's it, awkward you don't have to answer, I was just curious!" I added when I thought the silence might turn for the worse.
Jake rubbed his face, "Honestly, it's not like he's ever done anything… to us anyway."
"Yeah, he's more like… that legendary don't fuck with this guy. He's also got this… I dunno how to describe it…" Rusty added looking around as they kept their voices down.
Rose gestured for everyone to lean in. "I saw him once, he beat a guy almost to death. Totally deserved, but… shit went way down." She whispered.
"What happened?" Rusty demanded also in a whisper.
"Remember that girl who used to liv in 210? Some creep tried to kidnap her. Three guys, one driving a van, two chatting as they walked down the street toward her. No one saw it coming. She was walking on the sidewalk, as soon as they passed. I mean, the second they stepped off the grass to let her walk around them, they just snatched her up. Wrath came out of nowhere. Before the van door could close, Wrath was on them. Swinging that metal bat." Rose whispered with a shudder.
I tensed… 210… the apartment I was currently in? So, it must have been before Dillon moved in.
"I just gotta say, ten out of ten, would want him at my back." A friendly voice announced. Speak of the devil… Dillon was walking over, with a I caught you look.
"Lynn! You made it out of your coding cave!" Rose greeted with a wide smile.
"Lynn, glad you made it." Jake greeted making room for him to sit.
"Thought you forgot about us." Jack said with a grin.
"What? Heck no! But damn do I feel like a vampire. Almost forgot what the sun looks like. Hey Max, how ya been?" Dillon asked as he sat down.
"Go grab some food before you sit Lynn, we promise to play nice!" Rose teased.
Dillon grinned, "Okay Okay, I know you just want me gone so you can keep gossiping!"
"Well duh! Spoil sport!" Rose said with a dramatic eye roll.
"Fine, fine! You girls are like wolves with a bone when it comes to gossip. Back in 2 minutes." Dillon laughed as he went to raid the food.
Rusty waited until he was gone before she hunched closer to the table. "So what happened? Did they die?"
Rose shrugged, "Two guys made it to prison, had to amputate a hand each, they were crushed. The last guy, he had pictures of her. Had been following her for weeks. Broken skull, smashed limbs. I also heard, when he got out of prison, that night he was in the hospital. Been in a coma ever since." Rose added. She glanced over her shoulder to check on Dillon's progress.
Was there a reason they didn't want to talk in front of Dillon? How did that even work, he knew of the sins, just not their relationship?
Jack furrowed his brows, "How'd we not hear about this?"
Rose bit her lip, "All the parents knew, gramps put the gag order out. No one was to talk about it to us. Honestly, I'd forgotten all about it until Jason started talking about Wrath being at the gym."
Jake nodded, "Ahh, that checks out. It was the first time I'd ever seen him."
I was kind of surprised… hadn't Dillon ever? "So, he's just… scary? Shouldn't him helping that girl… have made him a hero?" I asked uncertainly… I mean, yes, brutal. But… kidnapping girls? I had no sympathy.
Rusty shrugged, "It's not just that Max. He's… scary, in a way that just rises our hackles. Dogs start barking the second he comes around. If a dog doesn't trust him… neither do I."
There were nods all around. Suddenly Jack stood up, "Speaking of dogs, they should be joining soon. Gonna help round the pups up before it gets too late."
"Have fun Mr. Mom!" All three girls teased, Jack flipped them off before turning it into an exaggerated wave. I realized why when three children probably only four or five barreled into him. Dillon raised his plate to dodge the oncoming projectiles!
"Hey! Hey! Pups! Don't forget to watch out!" Dillon said patting one of the kids on the head, then ruffling his hair into a rats nest.
"Lynn!!!!!! Stop it!" The kid complained burring himself into Jack's legs.
I hesitated, then stood to follow, "I can help." I offered.
"Naw, hang out here, the pups are crazy when they have to leave early. Maybe next time." Jake refused as he stood up. "Gonna grab another drink, want anything?" He asked raising a brow.
"Water!"
"Sprite!"
"Cola!"
"I'm good," I added when Jake turned his gaze on me. Soon the girls were spilling all the tea about Jack. How he'd gotten himself stuck in a tree as a teenager. How he'd crashed his first truck into a cement block when they were sneaking out. I needed popcorn. If I wasn't so full… I might have found something to snack on.
I told Dillon all about my first few weeks in the apartment, new job, just… life. Dillon complained about his new project, updating computers that the company had been using since the 90s!
An hour passed with us chatting before I was pulled to the lake's edge. Many of the middle age men started cleaning up. "I can help?" I offered but Rusty pulled my arm.
"No need, they're going to divi up the leftovers for the families. Really helps the younger couples so they don't have to cook every day. You have to watch the fireworks, come on!" Rusty laughed pulling me along.
I glanced to see Dillion being pulled aside by Jason and Ally, I kind of wanted to get a moment to ask about the sins… but this might not be the best place…
Just as we found a good spot, the first firework went off. A wolf head. The rest were just as amazing. Some had names, congratulations, they went on for a good half hour.
As we were walking back the largest dog I'd ever seen in my life was trotting toward us from the tree line. Now, I'm not scared of dogs. But this guy! Was twice the size of the biggest Doberman his neighbor used to have. That bad boy had been over 120 pounds.
I came to a complete stop, his shoulder reached my stomach! He had shaggy brown fur, honestly, he looked more like a wolf than a dog. Rusty bumped me as she started pulling me forward.
"Don't worry, he doesn't bite. This is why we have the pups leave early, they sometimes tug a bit too heard on tails and ears." Rusty explained as she led me back to the seats. The dog, wolf, followed us after a quick sniff.
The moment I sat down my lap was full of dog head. I let him smell my hands before I reached past his nose, watching to make sure I didn't startle the big guy. Then I started to scratch his ears. "Wow, who's a pretty boy? You're a pretty boy, yes you are." I crooned. I glanced up, "What's his name?" I asked as they were all grinning, Rose even rolling her eyes as she muttered something under her breath.
"Jack." All three at the same time. I stilled, at least until the head pushed against my stomach demanding more scratches. I quickly complied.