Part 2 (2/2)

”Or not.” I shrugged.

”What does that mean?”

”It means I never see you.”

”Then dont go to the f.u.c.king gym, stay here with me.” He threw his hands up. ”You can adjust your d.a.m.n schedule. You dont even need to go to school. You could be here with me.”

His outburst silenced me for all of a second before my own anger rose to match his. ”For what? Youre here to sleep and then youre gone. Do you even go to the gym anymore? Do you care about boxing anymore? Do you care about me anymore?”

His eyes blazed with anger until my last question. Then it drained from him, just as it did from me.

”You know I do. I love you.”

I couldnt catch a full breath but kept sucking in air to calm my racing heart. I had said too much, and now he would respond with the words I wanted, but only because I baited him to say it.

He slid one hand to my cheek. ”Im sorry. Things are tough right now. The club is taking a lot of time, but it will get better soon. And well have all weekend together, away from this.”

His eyes searched mine, begging for understanding. I wanted to believe him, but only time would tell.

I nodded, grabbing his hand with my own and pulling it from my face. Stepping close to him, I gave him a small kiss on his lips, taking him by surprise. ”Okay. Then Ill see you later.” I whispered the words near his face, pulling back to meet his gaze. ”I love you.”

He covered my lips with his, and I moved with him, wanting to breathe life into our words and seal our promises with a kiss. Wed be okay. Things would get better. They had to.

But I didnt want to stick around and argue more this morning. I needed to leave now. I squeezed his hand before walking out.

”Statistics sucks,” Kendall declared the moment we stepped into the crisp autumn air.

”Says the math major. Theres something very wrong with that.” Leo pulled his beanie over his blonde hair, squinting against the bright sun. ”Remind me not to cheat off of you anymore.”

”Dont blame me for your poor judgment. And Im not a math major.” She pushed her bangs from her eyes and leaned forward to look past Leo at me. ”You want to stop by the union for lunch before our next cla.s.s?”

Her words died off at the end as I froze on the top step of the building. Gage was waiting at the bottom, looking more like his old self, faded jeans and dark grey t-s.h.i.+rt with a black hat pulled low, shading his face.

Leo and Kendall traded glances, and then Leo waggled his eyebrows at me.

”Maybe another time. Ill see you in cla.s.s.” Kendall waved and grabbed Leos hand, pulling him down the steps.

Gage gave me an easy smile as I approached him and pulled me into a hug. ”Friends?”

”Yeah, howd you know where to find me?” I asked as he loosened his grip on me, but he didnt let me go.

”I know your schedule. I always know where you are, babe.” The look he gave me was sweet and warmed me, but his words had the opposite effect.

He always knew where I was; I wish I could say the same about him.

”I thought we could get an early start on the weekend.” He started walking towards the parking lot, keeping an arm around me.

”Really?” It was only Thursday. This gave us a day longer to be together away from everything. I couldnt believe hed pulled that off. ”Oh, but Ive got cla.s.s.”

His jaw clenched, but I spoke before he could. ”Its okay though, I havent missed this semester. I can skip this once.”

”Good. Lets go pack. Our flight leaves at three.”

4: Little Bit.

FELIX TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS A COUPLE of weeks ago, but hed already given up walking for running, a sort of clumsy, arm flailing run that had me constantly reaching to balance him when he pa.s.sed. He was always leaning forward, big head of curls leading the way as his tiny body raced to catch up.

He eyed the phone in Gages hand from where he stood, pudgy hands smacking a beat on the low coffee table, and then he was off towards his uncle who didnt even notice. His little feet didnt move fast enough for his body, and his run melted into a forward fall.

I was off my seat in an instant, but not close enough to catch him before he hit the carpet. I swept him up in my arms, placing him back on his feet but not letting him go at first. His wide, one tooth smile and baby giggles like gurgling spit eased my split second of panic.

”Rea,” Dexter laughed from the hallway. ”If you try to stop him from every fall, youre never going to be able to do anything else. My dude is clumsy, but hes tough. Let him fall. Only way h.e.l.l learn to slow down.”

He squirmed between my hands, but still wasnt steady on his feet. As I eased my grip, he launched himself at me, wiggling his head on my chest and patting at my silk tank top as he snuggled close. He popped his head up, looking at me with big honey eyes and babbling in a baby language I couldnt understand; but I laughed when he laughed, like I got the joke he was telling.

Then he raised one fist, and spread his hand flat. His fingers were so fat I was amazed he could move them.

”Ba-ba?” he questioned very clearly.

I was willing to walk miles for this boys bottle if need be, even in the ridiculously high shoes I was wearing tonight, anything to get that smile back and stop the tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g in his eyes.

”Uh-oh.” Dexter knelt down beside us, running his hand over Felixs silky curls. ”Only sippy cups for you. Remember yous a big boy now!”

Felix didnt seem convinced as he glanced at his father. He wrapped his arms around my neck and tried again, louder. ”Ba-ba?”

”Do not give him a bottle,” Leona warned, peaking her half curled head over the railing above us.

”Jesus, Lee, go finish your hair and get dressed already.” Dexter rose to his feet as the doorbell chimed throughout the townhome.

Felix sat up on my lap, smile back and little arms still around my neck as he squealed, a high-pitched, ear piercing, scream of joy.

”I think your Grandmas here.” I smiled with him but snuck a look at Gage who slipped his phone back out of his pocket at the sound of the doorbell. He tapped his thigh with one finger and met my eyes over the screen. I knew he was ready to leave, he didnt like being around his mom.

”Wheres my big boy?” Her raspy voice echoed in the open living room, and Felix hid his face in my shoulder, popping back up to see her in a fit of giggles.

”Ba-ba?” he paused from the game of peek-a-boo to question his grandma.

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