Part 5 (2/2)

”Youre right this is messed up.” Tears evaporated in the fire of my anger. ”I love you. I love you and you are breaking my heart.”

He paused with his head bowed and then opened the door to leave. ”Sorry,” he spoke so low I thought I imagined it.

It didnt matter anyways because words didnt mean anything. He was still gone.

7: Thats it?.

LEONA SET THE BOWL OF POTATO SALAD down and began adding spoons to each dish spread out on the table. ”Can you get the watermelon from the fridge in the garage?”

I finished pouring chips into a bowl and crumpled the empty bag in my hand to throw away. ”Sure.”

”Oh man.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. ”I forgot the bug repellent.”

”Its not Maryland, its not that bad here. But I think Dexter bought bug spray and suntan lotion this morning.” I tried to smile at her. She had been an emotional mess all morning, running around nonstop. ”Everything looks great, and the kids are having fun.”

She looked around the playground at the kids running around, the older ones shooting water guns and the younger ones playing in the sand box and water table. Felix was standing next to the water table with Aliya by his side.

”They are.” She nodded and gripped my shoulder. ”Thank you for your help today and yesterday.” She smiled brightly and released me. ”Im going to set up the pinata. If you see Dexter, let him know.”

The playground was in the field behind their townhome, making the set up easy. I walked back to the house to get the watermelon, scanning the area for Dexter. A group of three boys ran in front of me, chasing Jace with a spray gun. As I left the laughter behind, the sadness Id been keeping down the past twenty four hours began to bubble up, but I kept a firm lid on it. If I let it escape, I feared I wouldnt be able to get it back under control.

The watermelon was already sliced and laid on a tray. Leona and I had done most of the prep work yesterday. I pulled the heavy dish from the refrigerator, balancing it on my forearms to leave my hands slightly free to open the door. As I walked through the kitchen, Dexters voice in the living room made me slow, but what he was saying made me stop and set the platter on the kitchen island.

”She was here all day and stayed over last night...Because why should she be at the hotel alone?”

I stood at the edge of the doorway. Dexter hadnt spotted me yet.

He rose to his feet, voice rising. ”Youre an a.s.s. Talk to her yourself...You missed your nephews first birthday.” He walked to the laptop on the desk in the corner of the room, and his fingers moved over the keys. ”You keep saying that...fine.” His fingers slid over the mouse pad, clicking different things. ”Yup, its there, thanks.” He pushed the laptop closed and grabbed the back of his neck. ”I know. Tomorrow at five A.M., Ill make sure shes there.”

My flight was at seven tomorrow, they were talking about taking me to airport.

”Dexter, let me talk to him.” I stepped forward, and Dexter jumped as I interrupted him. I couldnt keep quiet, not when Gage was arranging things with him about me.

”Hold on,” he said into the phone. A slight smile pulled on his lips as he met my gaze, phone extended to me.

I hadnt talked to him since he left, although he had texted. Stupid texts saying he arrived in New York and a goodnight text. That particularly p.i.s.sed me off because he wasnt really going to bed at that early hour.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I didnt even wait to hear his voice. ”If you want to know what Im doing, ask me, talk to me.”

Dexter stood in front of me, smile growing as he gave me two thumbs up.

I rolled my eyes and turned away. I couldnt focus on him, not when Gage was pulling all my strings to the point of breaking, snapping them, and I was close to cutting the rest myself.

The silence stretched, and I wanted to scream into the phone. Then he finally spoke, hesitant. ”Okay.”

”Thats it?” I could barely breathe, the pressure on my chest increasing. I wished Dexter would walk away, I held back words I wanted to say because of him.

”Thats why I called Dexter and not you. I cant say what you want me to say right now.” He sighed like I was draining him of his energy.

”Will you ever?” A chill ran under my skin, everything in me shrinking with fear of his response. I knew the answer anyways; I just didnt want to hear it.

”Well talk tomorrow, just...have fun today.” He hung up the phone.

I turned back to Dexter, barely restraining myself from throwing the phone at him.

He extended one hand and carefully took his phone back. Then he held his hands up in innocence. ”Remember, I am not my brother. Dont hold his faults against me.”

He bobbed from side to side, tentatively going in for a hug. ”Is it safe to hug you? You look like you could kill?”

I circled my arms around his waist, letting my body rock with his in his tight embrace. He rubbed his palm in a large circle on my back.

”Im sorry hes being a d.i.c.k. Just give him time, it takes his thick head a little longer to realize some things.”

I stepped out of his hug with a nod before he could squeeze the tears from me. It felt like I was the one who was taking too long to realize things, to realize that things werent going to change. Walking back into the kitchen, I pushed everything back down and picked up the watermelon tray, smoothing out my features.

”Rea.” Dexter paused me with a hand on my shoulder. ”If you ever need a place to stay, or just to get away for a while, you are always welcome here.” He made sure I was looking at him before he continued, eyes clear with sincerity. ”No matter where you stand with him, youre always welcome here.”

”Thank you,” I could barely respond. Hot and cold clashed in my stomach, worry and relief mixing.

I didnt have much time to think about it. The second I stepped out the door, I had to lift the watermelon high above my head as water soaked my s.h.i.+rt. Jace was holding a laughing Felix, helping him pump a water gun at me.

Dexter ran past me and grabbed a super soaker from a nearby child to chase after them.

”Do you want some, Regan?” Ms. Lawson held up a gla.s.s of dark red wine. ”You deserve it after prepping, organizing, and cleaning up todays festivities.” She tilted her drink towards Leona. ”We all do.”

”I can drink to that.” Leona plopped in a chair at the kitchen table, picking up her own gla.s.s.

”Sure.” I took a gla.s.s from the cabinet, pouring a little wine into it. One drink couldnt hurt, if anything, it might allow me to actually sleep tonight, to mute the thoughts of Gage running around my brain.

”Maaaa Maaaa,” Felixs baby cry echoed around the house.

”Dexters putting him to bed.” Leona stiffened, waiting for the cry to quiet down.

”Lee, we need you,” Dexters voice rose above Felixs cry.

She downed her gla.s.s and then rose to her feet, leaving me alone in the kitchen with Ms. Lawson.

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