Chapter 25 #2
“Turkey?” She held the platter out to me.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I took it from her. I stabbed blindly at the meat and loaded up my plate.
I knew I’d fucked things up with her, but at the moment it felt like there wasn’t anything I could do to even start building back the trust.
Everyone was wrong. I fucked up, and she wasn’t interested in giving me a second chance. Ever.
Sighing, I pushed the food around my plate. I wasn’t all that hungry anymore.
“Everything okay?” Indy asked in a soft voice as Nathan and Austin argued loudly at the other end of the table about mufflers and RPMs. I got enough of that shit at work, why they wanted to talk about it now was a mystery to me.
“Yeah. I’m good.” I gave her a weak ass smile and turned back to my plate.
I thought this would be easier given the way she’d come up to me outside earlier.
But maybe she just wanted to be friends and was feeling awkward as fuck given how obvious my family was being.
“So, Indy,” Aunt Wendy’s voice called out loudly over my brother’s stupid work convo. “I hear you’re something of an artist?”
I glared at Austin.
He turned to Nathan and pointed at him with his fork. “I think we should go with a Reinhardt for our next build. They have the best sound.”
“I’m working on it,” Indy answered Aunt Wendy.
“I’d like to see that sometime. This one here.” She jerked her fork in my direction. “Is so secretive about his work. Unless it’s on the side of a bike, we don’t get to see it.”
Indy swung her eyes my way, and I knew what she was thinking.
She’d seen everything I’d painted before she moved out.
Years worth of work piled up in the spare room closet.
We’d gone through it one day, talking about media and style.
Who inspired us and who we didn’t understand.
We’d shared our work with each other—my canvases and her sketch pads since it was all she had on her.
That had been one of my favorite nights.
Indy tipped her head. “Maybe one day. I haven’t painted much lately. Been too busy between work, volunteering, catching up with friends, and finally settling into the apartment.”
“Do you need anything on that last front, dear?” Aunt Wendy asked with a frown. “We’re all more than happy to give you a hand if there’s something you need. I happen to have four capable sons who aren’t afraid to pitch in.”
Indy smiled down at her plate. “I’m good, but thank you. Just trying to make it mine, if you know what I mean. Which reminds me, you left some yearbooks in a closet, Sabrina, if you want them.”
“Oh sure.” Sabrina beamed at Indy. “I’ll swing by this weekend and pick them. Sorry about that.”
Indy shrugged and turned back to her plate.
Everyone else glared at me.
“Have you heard back from your college?” I asked her softly, trying in vain to keep something between the two of us.
Indy nodded.
Yeah, this wasn’t going to work. I couldn’t draw her out of her shell with all these people sitting around staring at us like we were their personal entertainment.
Hunger finally winning out over angst, I dug into my dinner.
“I’ve been meaning to thank you.” Indy’s soft voice had me freezing in place a few minutes later.
“Seriously? Why?” I blurted out without a thought.
Indy giggled—no doubt at the bafflement in my voice—and the sound of her laughter made me smile.
“Well, not for kicking me out if that’s what you’re thinking—especially your crap timing.” Her tone was joking, but her words wiped the smile off my face.
My fork fell to my plate with an audible clink.
She winced. “Sorry, that was kinda harsh—true—but harsh.”
I nodded. I got it. I really did. A lot had changed for her in a small amount of time, and it was a dick move to have her leave when she did. Most days I still agreed with Aunt Wendy that it had been best for Indy.
This, however, didn’t feel like one of those days.
Indy sighed. “Sorry. I’m supposed to be thanking you, but I sound like a bitch.”
“You’re allowed to feel how you feel.”
“I was angry at first. So angry.” She darted a look around the table and clocked all the eyes on our end of the table. Tipping her head away from our audience, she stared down at her plate.
I groaned. “Seriously, guys?”
“Mufflers!” Austin yelled.
“Someone pass the yams?” Maddie asked loudly, despite the fact that the dish was right in front of her.
“Come on.” I grabbed Indy’s hand and pulled her up from the table. On our way by, I grabbed the gravy boat. “We’re just going to get more gravy.”
“Take your time, you two!” Aunt Wendy waved at us.
I rolled my eyes.
So fucking obvious.
My family was insane.
Setting the gravy boat on the counter, I turned to Indy. She crossed her arms over her chest and paced the length of the room.
“What’s going on? You were fine when we got here.”
She laughed incredulously. “That was when it was just the two of us. But I can feel your family watching our every move. Judging me.”
“That’s not what they’re doing.” I blinked at her, amazed that she assumed they saw her as the bad guy.
“Every single person out there has told me at least once that we need to get back together, that they’re rooting for us.
They love you, Indy. I’m pretty sure if given the choice, everyone out there would choose your side.
They’re my family, but they’d choose you.
Because you’re amazing. We all love you. ”
She stared at me.
“Oh shit.” Which did not come from me. I distinctly heard Nathan’s laugh followed by a grunt.
Good. I hoped Maddie slugged him extra hard for me.
I rubbed the back of my head. “Can you pretend like I didn’t say that last part?”
“You love me?” Indy shook her head. “I don’t… How can you say that? You pushed me out. I mean, I get now that it was for my own good, but I thought… You haven’t even tried to stay in touch with me—you’ve never called, you avoid me at work. I thought maybe you’d moved on.”
My heart ached. Physically ached at the naked hurt in her voice. “I’ve always wanted you. I want you now, this second. I’ll want you on my fucking deathbed. You make me want to be a better man, so I can be worthy of you.”
She blinked a few times and judging by the dazed expression in her eyes, she didn’t really believe me.
“Yes, I pushed you out. But only because your entire life was revolving around me. Aunt Wendy was right—our power imbalance was insane. And honestly, I need you to choose me because you want me, Dylan Burns, warts and all. And you’re not just with me because you don’t have any options.”
She nodded slowly. “I never thought of it that way before.”
Thank you, Dr. Johnston. The time I’d spent with my therapist was clearly worthwhile.
Then I swallowed and decided to shoot my shot. “Go out with me Saturday, and I can show you just how much you mean to me. Choose me. Please.”
She bit her bottom lip as she thought over my words. Then after a hella long minute, she nodded timidly.
I grinned. Fuck yeah. It felt like I’d singlehandedly won a war. I still had a chance. “You won’t regret it. I swear. I’m trying to do everything I can to be worthy of you.”
Her brow creased with concern. “Dylan, you know you’re enough, right? You don’t have to do anything or change yourself to be worthy of love. You’re pretty amazing all on your own.”
I moved my shoulders uncomfortably. That didn’t really sound right. I still had miles to go to make up for everything I’d done.
She took a cautious step forward with her hand out like she was approaching a wary animal.
After a beat, she rested her hand on my forearm.
“But thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
Getting me a job, setting me up with an apartment, hell, even getting the attorney for my dad.
He doesn’t appreciate it, but I do. You don’t owe him anything, and I know you’re doing it for me, so thank you. Really. Thank you.”
I didn’t think I’d ever been on this end of so much gratitude. It didn’t sit right. Kinda made my soul itchy. I moved my shoulders uncomfortably again. “I know how much he means to you. I just want you to be happy.”
She smiled slightly. “I’m getting there.”
“Good.” I couldn’t help myself. I took a step closer to her and reached out to cup her cheek in my hand. “Happy looks really good on you.”
She bit down on her bottom lip again, and I nudged it free with my thumb.
“You going to be okay out there? I know my family can be a lot, but I promise they only want the best for you too. They’re rooting for you.”
“And us, too, right? That’s what you said.”
I tipped my head and nodded.
“Good. I am too.”
She was just too fucking cute—I couldn’t resist. I bent forward and brushed a soft kiss against her lips. Her eyelashes fluttered close. I took the hint and took the kiss deeper.
And it was just like coming home. Warm. Familiar.
Every-fucking-thing.
Before I knew it, my arms were wrapped around her, my other hand was buried in the back of her hair, and our tongues were dueling.
“Ack!” Maddie screeched. “Sorry. As you were.”
I broke the kiss and rested my forehead against hers. “See? They’re rooting for us.”
Indy’s giggles floated through the kitchen.
“Actually, guys?” Maddie called from down the hallway. “Do you mind if I grab the gravy boat real quick? Nathan wants some more.”
“Fuck,” I murmured before pressing a quick kiss to Indy’s forehead. “We’re coming! I’ll bring it!”
I crossed the room and ladled more gravy into the boat then held out my hand to Indy. “Are you seriously okay with joining that band of lunatics?”
“Absolutely.” She plopped her hand down in mine.
Best. Thanksgiving. Ever.