Chapter 37 Raegan
Raegan
Turning my key in the lock, I twist the handle and swing the apartment door open. It feels weird to be home and I haven’t even been gone a long time, all things considered. I place my keys on the entryway table and kick my shoes off.
Muffled voices drift through the air, signaling my sister and the boys are here again. Or maybe they never left. I don’t mind. I love her and my nephews, but if she’s spending more time away from home, things with Greg must be pretty bad.
“I’m home,” I call loudly, hoping not to startle them.
“Auntie Rae!” Xander shouts while running to meet me halfway, then jumping into my arms. “Where has you been? We miss you.”
Sweet baby Xander is growing up so fast. “Hey, my little Xanadu. How did you learn so many words since I’ve been gone? You’re practically a big boy now!” I coo, pinching his little nose and kissing his cheek.
“I don’t know. I just smart.”
“Yeah, buddy. You sure are.” I set him back on his feet and continue down the hall until I see my older nephew planted on the couch and fully engrossed in his video game.
“Hey, Jonah.” I scruff up his hair and he pulls his head away in irritation. “You winning?”
“I’d be closer if you hadn’t distracted me.”
“Don’t mind him, Rae. He’s got ball hair now and thinks he’s grown. He’s too good for us now.” I look up to see Sutton leaning against the wall separating the kitchen and the living room with a kitchen towel draped over her shoulder.
“Mom! Jesus, can you not?” Jonah shouts without removing his eyes from the tv screen. Kid doesn’t miss a beat.
“You’re back.” Sutton states plainly.
I shoot her a cheeky grin. “My sister, ladies and gents. Mistress of the obvious.”
Her eyes roll as she turns back into the kitchen. “Don’t be a dick. It’s unbecoming of a lady. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re the mistress between the two of us.”
Following her into the kitchen, I snicker at her snark and bite back, “It’s funny you think I’m a lady. I’m a professional. There’s a difference.”
Her upper body jostles as she laughs silently with her back to me. I lean into the counter and slide my hip against the edge until it bumps into hers, but she doesn’t budge.
“Nice try.”
I scrunch my nose playfully, then peck her cheek. “What are you making?”
“Stir fry. Jonah actually requested something… for once. I couldn’t tell him no.”
“Like you’ve ever told him no.”
“He’s been through a lot.”
She’s right, he has. But they’ve all been through a lot. Jonah’s not the only one. But I don’t want to argue with her about that. It never ends well.
Her hands move effortlessly, slicing and chopping peppers and onions in perfectly symmetrical pieces.
She’s so good, it’s like watching moving art.
She finishes, then scoops it all up and drops it in the hot oil, where it sizzles the second it hits the pan.
She wipes her hands on the towel still draped over her shoulder, then grabs the handle and slides it against the burner until the food shuffles around in the pan.
I have no idea what she’s doing or what’s in that pan but it smells like heaven.
“Are you back for good?” she asks while stirring everything in the pan, her back still to me.
She’s not going to like this. “No, I’m moving to Chicago permanently.”
Her head whips around like a tornado, “What the fuck, Rae. What about your practice?”
“I already talked to a colleague and she’s happy to take my patients. It’s not like I’ve never started a practice from scratch. I can do it again.”
She clicks the burner off and turns to face me, moving over to lean her ass against the counter. “What happened to getting closure?”
“I got my closure, for the most part. We have some work to do, but I love him. If I’m being honest with myself, I never stopped. I have a lot to tell you. Can we talk about it over dinner? Because that looks fucking amazing.”
“Auntie Rae, that’s a bad word,” Xander scolds from the other room.
“Sorry, buddy,” I laugh. “I just need you to keep an open mind, Sutton.”
Her expression softens and she offers me a slight nod, then turns to grab plates from the cupboard. “Boys, dinner is ready.”
“Can we eat in the living room?” Jonah asks quickly.
Sutton meets my eyes, checking to see if I’m okay with it.
I give her a tight nod. I don’t really care.
As much as my sister can’t say no to them, I’m not going to say no, either.
“Sure, Jonah. Just pause your game and eat, please. Let’s not do both at the same time and have a repeat of last time. ”
We make small talk as she puts plates together and I gather all the necessary silverware.
The boys run in and grab their plates and she yells at them to stop running with food in their hands.
When she’s sure they’re out of ear shot, we make our own plates and sit opposite each other at my small dining room table.
I tell her about both Hayes and Demetria.
She already knew some things, and it wasn’t a surprise that I broke Demetria’s heart because I was still hung up on Hayes.
She’s a little pissy at Hayes for being such a ‘bee with an itch’ when it comes to his poor communication skills about his past, but she’s choosing to be supportive of my decision to reconcile even though she doesn’t understand it.
It’s going to take him some time to get in her good graces and I’m not really mad about it.
He has work to do and it shouldn’t be easy. Nothing worth having ever is.
When I tell her about Demetria and then about being with them both, surprisingly, she doesn’t flinch.
I wasn’t aware she noticed how hard my breakup with her was.
I’m not even all that shocked she’s fine with me entering into a throuple situation with them both.
My sister has always been inclusive and open-minded.
I love that about her, but sometimes it causes her to give people too many chances, except for my now ex-husband.
She doesn’t seem all that keen on giving him any grace.
He’ll earn it though. I have faith in him.
“Does Hayes still talk to his Dad? How do you know something like this won’t happen again?” she asks.
It’s not like I haven’t thought about it, I’ve just been hesitant to bring it up out of fear I’d trigger him. We’ve made progress, but I can’t deny this is a lingering worry that could fester if it isn’t taken care of. The last thing any of us need is to start walking on eggshells.
“I don’t know,” I admit hesitantly. It’s the truth.
I neglected to ask this one simple, easy question and I’m mentally cursing myself for it.
I shouldn’t have missed this piece. “I don’t know if he ever talks to his father, but I’m assuming not.
We seem to have an open line of communication now, though.
I need to believe he’ll handle it better next time. If there is a next time.”
“Oh, Rae.” She blows out a slow puff of air and slumps back in her chair. “Do you really want to take that chance?”
I do want to take the chance on him. “I’ll talk to him about it and we’ll figure it out. I need you to trust me.”
“I do trust you, but I also worry.”
“Yeah, same.” I cock my head to the side accusingly. “Wanna tell me when the last time you were home was?”
“About that–”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“I’m leaving Greg,” she spits.
My eyes widen at her announcement and the sharp right turn in the conversation. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say I can come with you to Chicago.”
My eyes blink rapidly as my brain works to process what I’m hearing. I’ve been trying to convince her to leave her piece of shit husband for longer than I’d like to admit and she’s finally pulling the proverbial trigger. This is a huge deal for her.
“Yes, of course. Come with me. But what’s with the sudden change of heart?”
“There’s a fancy schmancy culinary institute in downtown Chicago. They need someone to teach one of their intro classes. They want me. So, I guess it just finally feels like the right time.”
“Fuck, yes!” I shout, jumping up to pull my sister into the biggest of bear hugs.
“Auntie Rae!” Xander scolds.
Sutton and I both burst into laughter. I cradle her face with my hands. “I’m so fucking proud of you. Whatever you need, we’ll help you.”
“Okay. I’m so scared,” she admits.
“I know, but you’ve got this. We’ve got this. I can’t believe I get to have you and the boys with me in Chicago. This is better than my news. Way to one up me, as usual,” I snark.
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow,” I wince. “Hayes has to get back to Gravity. Apparently, even when you own half of a kink club, you can’t do whatever the fuck you want.”
“Well, he probably could, but then it wouldn’t be a very good club now, would it?”
“Great point. By the way, I’m staying the night.”
Her brows knit as she considers me, confusion written on her face. “What about Hayes and Demi? Where are they?”
“Oh, they needed some alone time to… reconnect and officially move out of the friend zone. They’ll be busy all night.”
“You’re a better woman than I am. I’m way too possessive to share.”
“It’s easy to share them with each other. Their happiness makes me happy.” I grab her hand. “Now, let’s pack whatever we can so we can get the fuck out of here.”