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She turned, went back to the kitchen and came back with a big bowl of salad, and set it down.
“Go ahead and catch up with your man, Gia. We’re good here,” Delia said. “But come back for some food, Jesse. Fuel up.”
“Gonna head out in a few I think, Delia, so gonna say bye to you here,” Gigi said and reached to Delia for a hug.
“We’re not leavin’ until the convoy goin’ back leaves,” I stated.
“I’ll say bye for now anyway,” Gigi said to Delia, not looking at me.
Sara watched all this, eyeing me curiously while serving food to her kids. I saw Skip in the corner, scooping pasta onto his plate and failing at doing his best to not watch.
Gigi marched past me with her nose up in the air. I followed.
Once she turned the key on the door, I followed behind her and shut the door.
She spun to face me.
“I said I loved you last night and you didn’t say it back,” she snapped, eyes fiery.
“Was pretty pissed last night for a lotta reasons,” I clipped.
“Even still, that’s not cool to hang up on me when we’re hours apart and there’s danger everywhere without saying it back.”
I filled my lungs with air and let it out slowly.
She crossed her arms over her chest.
“How about what you did yesterday?” I volleyed.
“I’m sorry about that. I said that already. But that said, I need to go to my aunt’s today.”
“Not fuckin’ happening.”
“No!” she snapped. “You might not like her. You might not like my dad and I can’t fault you for that. But she’s dying. She’s dying and I refuse to not try to talk to her, get her to eat, take care of herself, and to ask her some important questions. I don’t even know what she wants done if she does pass away for a funeral. I don’t know any of that and want to know what her wishes are.”
“I say you leave her there just like she left your sister.”
Her eyes went harder. “No. I won’t do that. I refuse to do that regardless of what’s happened in the past. Two wrongs don’t make a right, Jesse. I refuse to sink to other peoples’ level. And I’m not gonna let her die alone thinking I don’t care anymore. Because despite everything, I still do care. As shitty as she was as a guardian, she still took me in and she’s family. If she didn’t take me in, I’d have wound up in foster care and God knows what would’ve happened to me. Ask Edge what happened to Jet in foster care when she was a teenager.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind. I’m pissed and saying things I have no business saying.”
“You’re not stayin’ with her three hours away from me, Gianna. I’m not fuckin’ havin’ it. Not after what she’s already put you through and not after all the shit going on with the enemy. I’m needed at home, and I need you there by my side, so I know you’re safe.”
“I need to see my aunt. I’m goin’ there now. You can come with me or not. You’re being stubborn right now and as much as I love you, I’m not going to let you steamroll me into not doing it when I know it’d haunt me the rest of my life if I just walked away knowing the state she’s in.”
I picked up my phone and texted Skip, who was, unfortunately, leading the convoy.
When are we heading back?
He replied immediately.
Skip: 5:00.
Me: Thanks. Got something to do. Be back before then.
Skip: You need cover?
Me: That’s ok. Just ten mins away.
He replied with a thumbs up.
I tucked my phone into my cut after noting it was just past one o’clock.
“I’ll drive you there. Let’s go.”
She grabbed her purse and phone, and locked up the room.
She dropped the key through the slot on Delia’s office door and then we left.
I’d brought her a helmet, so I strapped it on for her, our eyes locked together.
We said nothing.
And then I drove to the aunt’s place.
By the time I got there, my blood had simmered some, so when we got off the bike and our helmets were off, I tagged her hand and jerked her toward me.
She grunted in surprise, but then our eyes met. Hers were moist.
I took her face in both hands.
I knew whatever she was about to face in there wasn’t gonna be easy on her. She didn’t need us to be in the middle of a fight on top of that.
“I love you,” I said.
Her throat bobbed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say it back. Won’t do that again,” I vowed.
Her eyes softened.
I kissed her, squeezing the back of her neck. When the kiss ended, I put my forehead to hers. “Don’t take off like that again. I thought I was gonna come outta my fuckin’ skin not knowin’ where you went. Not knowing if something happened to you. If one of them had you. If you’d seen that poor fucking girl last night, Gigi… fuck.”
