Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Dylan’s shoulders fall, and he breathes deeply. The corners of his lips tip upward.
“I know seeing Jay here shocked you,” I say. “And maybe I underestimated you. I should’ve told you first or at least not assumed you wouldn’t notice that he and I are . . .”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
My gaze falls to the blankets, and I think about it. “Honestly, Dylan, I don’t know. He and I enjoy spending time together. I think he’s a good man. I think, I hope, it has the potential to be something that lasts a long time. But it’s still too early to start slapping labels on it.”
He sighs, staring at the wall across the room. The wheels are turning inside his head. He’s thinking deeply; his bottom lip is between his teeth. It’s a quirk of Christopher’s, but I don’t mention it now. I’ll save that for another day.
“Well, what do you want me to do?” He pulls his gaze to mine. “What am I supposed to think about this?”
“I’m not telling you what to think. I’m asking that you respect Jay when he’s here and don’t act like a child. He’s done nothing to you and doesn’t deserve you acting like you did tonight. You’re better than that, Dylan.”
My son pulls in a long, deep breath. “I’ll try.”
Thank God. “Thank you. Sometimes, we have to respect people even when we don’t like them. Even if we don’t like who they are in our lives. And sadly, this is a part of life, Dylan. Showing respect even when it’s hard. And that’s the man your father would want you to be. So yes, please try. That’s all I want you to do, buddy. Try.”
He leans up and wraps his arms around my neck. His hug is quick and tight, before he drops to the bed and rolls away from me.
“Will you leave me alone now?” he asks, his voice muffled by the blankets.
I pat his leg and stand. “I will. Thank you for listening to me. And thank you for trying.”
“Go.”
Teenagers, man. “Good night. I love you.”
“Bye.”
I leave his room, shutting the door behind me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
JAY
Iswallow the last gulp of tea in my glass, then rinse it out and place it in the sink.
The sun hovers above the horizon, promising an hour or two of sunlight before it sets for the evening. I wanted to be home an hour ago. But thanks to the pop-up showers that hit the jobsite all afternoon, we didn’t get out of there on time.
My irritation can’t be blamed solely on the weather, though. It has more to do with the kink in my stomach after last night’s dinner than anything else. That’s what kept me awake until a brief nap at dawn. That ordeal is what ran through my mind all day.
Dylan’s pain has haunted me for the last twenty-four hours.
My heart hurts for all of them. Suffering a loss like they have is brutal. Gabrielle’s ability to keep everything going in the midst of the tragedy is a testament to her strength.
She’s an amazing woman.
What’s bothered me since I left their house is that I can’t help. This isn’t something I can get involved with, because to Dylan, I’m the enemy. Or, at least, that’s what he wants us to believe.
The problem is that I’m not the enemy, and we both know that.
My phone rings on the counter. I pick it up when I see it’s Gabrielle.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hi. How was work today?”
“Wet.”
“Now you know how I feel every day.”
I grin. “Funny. How was your day?”
“Hard.”
“Now you know how I feel every day.”
She laughs. “Look, I know we talked about this last night. But if you don’t feel comfortable coming over here tonight, I understand.”
“Do you not want me to come?”
“I didn’t say that. It’s just that you aren’t here yet, and I know you got home about twenty-seven minutes ago because Carter yelled the moment you pulled into your driveway about wanting to go get you to play catch.”
I touch my still-swollen eye. “Do you think you could get him interested in something less painful? What about . . . piano lessons?”
Gabrielle bursts out laughing. The sound settles in my gut, unwinding one of the knots that’s been plaguing me all day.
“No to the piano,” she says. “Your eye might feel better, but your ears would not.”
“Damn it.” I lean against the counter. “We’re hanging the light on the porch, right?”
“Yup. I about killed myself trying to get in the other night in the dark. It’s a matter of life and death at this point. I mean, I’d do it myself but—”
“It’s electrical,” we say in unison.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face. “I’ll be there in a few.”
“Okay.”
“See ya.”
“Bye, handsome.”
I slide my phone down the counter until it crashes into the bananas. This woman is going to be the death of me.