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“Oh my gosh.” I hugged him again. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to see Maddy.”
“She’s anxious to see you too.”
I released him. Track took his spot, giving me a gentle bear hug.
“Hey, Em. How are you?” Track had always been like an older brother to me. I’d known him my whole life. I could be real with him.
“Not great.”
We pulled apart, and he nudged his head toward Danny. “He’s not a PDA guy. He’s been miserable all year.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “Me too. I just… I don’t know.” It hurt too much, watching Danny entranced with Dante. He hadn’t touched him yet or talked to him. He just studied him like a scientist would assess a foreign object.
“Hey,” Track whispered, lifting my chin with his finger. “Give him a minute to process.”
“Tell me the truth,” I whispered. “Is there another girl in his life?” I turned away from Track, embarrassed by my insecurity and terrified to hear his answer.
It was like the dam broke as soon as the question had left my lips. Wracking sobs hit me all at once. I didn’t even care.
“No, Em.” Track reached for me, but I batted his hand away.
“I need to go,” I muttered to Piper and hugged her. “Thank you for everything.” I took Dante from her and limped toward the black SUV, holding back my tears as much as possible. Of course it was no use when I was dying inside.
“Emilee, what’s wrong?” Dodge called.
What’s wrong? Is he serious?
I didn’t stop, though I winced with each step. I held my baby protectively to my chest, feeling as if he was all I had in this world.
What’s wrong?What kind of question was that?
My dad was missing, and my baby was targeted by a gang. I was a fucked-up mess.
“Hon, let me help you,” Piper hollered after me. “Don’t forget your backpack.”
“Emilee?” I heard Dodge come up behind me. “Hey, let me help you.”
“I’m just walking to the car.” My words came out in a clipped tone. I didn’t mean for them to, but I was crying, heartbroken at my pathetic homecoming. I couldn’t hold it together anymore.
“You’re limping.” It wasn’t a question but an observation.
Way to state the obvious,was the first thought I had.
“Hurt my knee when I jumped out of the window to save our baby.” My tears picked up as I recalled the terrifying experience. I pressed my lips to my son’s head, my chest rattling against his little body. It was like it had just happened and not hours ago.
Should I be acting this way? Dante and I had gotten away. We were safe, yet I was breaking into tiny shards of glass. How could I be so weak? My child needed me to be strong for him. I thought I had been for all these months, protecting him from my dad and Tami.
Tami. My gut had been right about her. Perhaps mother’s intuition?
“I don’t know what to do. I’m just upsetting you.” The worry in Danny’s voice cut me deep.
“It’s been a long day, y’know? I’m exhausted,” I told him in a calmer voice, trying to comfort him when I needed comforting.
He’d had a horrible childhood. The abuse he’d suffered had made it difficult to get close to him. It’d taken a whole summer to get him to talk to me. Once I showed him he was safe with me, he opened up. After that, I fell hard for him during winter break my first year of college.
“Then let me help you.” He opened the passenger door.
I still couldn’t read him. Not his emotionless voice or stony face. What in the hell was going on with me, with him… with us?
