AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Two weeks had passed since I blew up at Dee and made the biggest mistake of my life. Despite the pep talk I gave myself in the parking lot of Mel’s office, all I could think about was her. Since our day at the zoo and the park, Amie had constantly asked where her “Dee Dee” was. I’d had to explain that Daddy and Dee got into a fight and right now, they needed a break so they could stop being so mad. Amie looked me square in the eye and threw my own advice back at me without batting an eyelash. Advice I’d given her when she’d accidentally made a little girl in her class cry.
“Say you’re sorry, Daddy,” Amie demanded as she planted her fists upon her little hips and stared me down. I’d had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep myself from laughing. Although she was still young, my daughter was a force to be reckoned.
“When Dee’s ready, I’ll apologize,” I promised.
“No, Daddy!Now!” Amie ordered before informing me it was time to play Fashion Show with her dolls and I was going to be held to the high standards Dee had set.
Another full week of radio silence had passed since my ‘talk’ with my daughter. That’s how I found myself sitting at The Chophouse’s bar, nursing a top shelf scotch. I’d fled my house because I couldn’t take the quiet from Amie’s absence or the quiet from Dee not being there. Both were too much and somehow, my stupid brain thought that alcohol would help. So far, it hadn't.
“Funny seeing you here,” Jason said as he suddenly sat down in the seat next to me. I’d come to his steakhouse tonight for a drink and to grab dinner. I hadn’t expected him to be here since he and Casey told me they were pregnant just yesterday. I figured they'd still be celebrating.
“Want me to take my business somewhere else?” I snapped, sounding like a complete asshole. I instantly regretted it. “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I don’t know where that came from.”
“I do. You’re upset about what happened with Dee.”
“You heard about that?” I looked over at him just as the bartender handed me a refill of my old-fashioned.
“She’s my wife’s best friend. What do you think?”
I blasted a laugh out through my nose as I brought my drink up to my lips and sipped. “Did Casey mention how I blew up and accused her of cheating on me with Dennis?”
“She did.” Jason waved at the bartender for another round. When it arrived, I was not happy to see it was water. “She also said that Dee doesn’t think you meant it. She’s convinced you were just reacting out of fear.”
I dropped my face into my hands and groaned. Once again, the woman had read the room and got it right. “What if I’ve messed everything up?” I asked my friend. “What if she says one thing, but thinks another? I fucking love her, Jason. I don’t want to lose her.”
“I don’t think you’re going to lose her.” He remained calm as he patted me on the back. “I think she’s giving you the same thing you gave her.”
My anemic laugh was astringent even to my ears. “Oh, and what’s that? The silent treatment?” I asked because I had no fucking clue. The few whiskeys I’d had left my mind fuzzy, filtering out all the good things and exacerbating the bad.
“No, you dumbass. Time. Dee’s giving you time.”
My head snapped up. My eyes locked with his as my fuzzy mind began to clear. “Do you really think that?”
“I do, and Dee may have mentioned that to Casey when they had lunch earlier today, so I think I have it on good authority.”
“I need to go home,” I blurted out suddenly. The need to be home just in case she came over instead of calling, itched at my skin.
“You’re not going anywhere if you’re intending to drive home.” Ever the good friend, Jason held his hand out, demanding that I hand him my keys.
“I took an Uber here,” I explained as I pulled up the app and ordered another ride. I got up from my seat and Jason did the same. Instead of heading back to the kitchen, he walked with me outside and stood with me while I waited for my ride.
“So, what are you going to do if she calls or shows up?” he asked after we’d been waiting a few minutes. I glanced down at my phone to see the driver was still several minutes out and released a tapered breath.
“I’m going to apologize, first and foremost. Then, I’m going to pull her into my arms, kiss the shit out of her, and never let her go.”
“That sounds like a solid plan.” Jason nodded his approval. “In the meantime, call me or Casey if you need something.”
My best friend stayed with me until my ride showed and I was whisked away by a small, red SUV. Thirty minutes later, I was home and had changed into a pair of comfortable flannel pajama pants, forgoing the shirt in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, Dee would come over and would end up spending the night. She didn’t, of course. My little minx made me wait until the following day, but hey? Better late than never, right?
thirty-four
Dee
Ittookmeweeksto get here, but here I was. After giving Travis some time, I'd decided it was time to look this bullshit in the eye and find our way past it. That's how I came to stand here outside his penthouse.
I knocked softly upon Travis’s door. It was still early and I was afraid to ring the doorbell and wake up Amie. I went to knock again but stopped when the muffled sound of footfall rushed across the floor, just before the door flew open.
“Dee!” Travis stood grinning from ear to ear as if he expected me. I blinked and a second later, I was in his arms with his mouth pressed against mine. “God, I’ve missed you,” he said against my lips, his arms kept me pinned to his bare chest. “I’m so sorry I acted like such an ass. I’m so sorry I said all that shit—”
