Chapter Twenty
This is the last place I want to be right now.
A week after their breakup, she was still nursing her broken heart.
She’d told no one about it. Roxanne threw herself into her work over the last seven days and made herself unavailable to everyone.
Even Cassie, who she worked with, hadn’t seen her much.
It was a strategic move. She planned her office time before and after hours.
She spent the days on the road meeting clients and checking out venues for upcoming events. It’d worked flawlessly. Until tonight.
Her father invited her to the house. He was having everyone over and insisted she come. She couldn’t say no to him. He was the one person she couldn’t refuse or avoid.
So here I am.
Roxanne walked inside and was immediately greeted by Kenzie.
“Hey stranger.” Kenzie chuckled and hugged her. “Where have you been? I’ve sent you like a hundred messages.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. Work has been crazy.”
“I get it.” Kenzie smiled, and her gaze traveled over her shoulder. Roxanne took a breath, prepping herself. She knew what was coming next.
“Where’s Jonah?”
“I don’t know. Home, I guess.”
“Oh.” She knitted her brows. “I thought he was coming.”
“Well, since you don’t see him, he obviously didn’t come,” Roxanne snapped. The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Such a bitch move.
Kenzie’s eyes widened, obviously taken aback. An apology was on the tip of her tongue, but Emory swept her in for a hug. She embraced her best friend, holding her a little tighter than usual. Emory pulled back, but Roxanne held on.
“Hey,” she whispered in her ear, caressing her back. “What’s wrong?”
Roxanne pulled away and shook her head. “Nothing, just a long day.” She drew in a deep breath. Kenzie and Emory were looking at her with concern. “Where is everybody?”
“Uh, kitchen.” Emory pointed over her shoulder, and leaned closer, lowering her voice. “What’s going on, Rox?” She clasped her hand. “Come talk to me.”
She wasn’t sure what’d come over her, but she yanked her hand away, and Emory flinched. “I’m fine, Em.”
She walked past both women, ignoring their stares.
She made her way into the kitchen to find everyone spread out.
She made a beeline to greet her dad, and he immediately spread his arms for a hug.
How was it possible? After the biggest heartache of her life at twenty-six years old, the only thing that could make it slightly better was a hug from her dad.
He kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
It was as if he could see through her mask. If she had any hope of making it through this dinner, she had to pull herself together. People broke up all the time. Technically, she and Jonah hadn’t been together all that long. So why does it hurt so much?
Roxanne had tried to keep her mind off him.
She worked extra hours, got rid of anything that reminded her of him.
She’d even taken the wooden art piece down in her office.
She didn’t have it in her to throw it away.
Instead, she tucked it deep into her closet.
Having done everything humanly possible to forget the man, he was all she thought about.
She gave her dad a tight squeeze and let him go, turning to her family.
She quickly glanced past her brothers. She was still working through her anger that they’d told Jonah about her meeting with them.
It wasn’t the sole reason for their breakup, but it’d been a contributing factor.
However, she wouldn’t ruin her father’s dinner by bringing it up.
Eventually, they’d feel her wrath. Just not tonight.
She mustered a smile. “So? What did I miss?”
Sadie pointed to her father. “Your dad invited Pearl for the weekend.”
“You did?” This was the good news she needed. “When?”
“Next month.”
“It’ll be great. We can plan a big couples’ dinner,” Kenzie said, sliding into Bogs’ arms. “We’re thinking that Saturday.”
“Do you think that’ll work for Jonah?” Emory asked.
There was no escape from this. Her plan to remain cool and calm diminished every time his name was spoken. She was officially hanging on by a thread and about to snap.
“Or we could do Sunday if Jonah has to work?” Kenzie offered.
SNAP!
“It doesn’t matter. We broke up. So, looks like it’ll be a couples plus a single for dinner. Unless you're set on it only being couples, then I just won’t go.”
Bogs furrowed his brows and held up his hand. “Alright, Rox, settle the fuck down. She didn’t know.”
“Well.” Roxanne widened her eyes, dramatically. “Now, she does.”
It was an asshole move. Completely out of character for her.
Fuck!
Roxanne turned and walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
She was a coward. Not only had she just gone full-blown psycho, but she didn’t even have the decency to apologize.
She walked down the hall to her childhood bedroom and slid inside, closing the door.
For the first time in days, she felt a little peace.
She peered around her room, walking toward her bed.
It was just as she’d left it. She slowly sat down and closed her eyes, allowing the calm to wash over her.
This was what she needed. It didn’t last long of course.
She heard the gentle knock on the door. Roxanne should’ve known she wouldn’t be left alone long.
Bogs poked his head through the crack in the door.
She sighed. “I’ll apologize.”
Bogs pushed the door open, snickering. “Of course, you will. You’re the nice Garrison.”
She snorted, and her cheeks heated with embarrassment for the way she spoke to Kenzie. She’d done nothing to deserve it.
“Yeah, really nice.” She shook her head. “I’m an asshole.”
He scoffed. “We’re all assholes. You just hide it better than the rest of us. Under normal conditions.”
Leave it to Bogs to make her laugh when she was at her lowest. He always had that gift, even when they were kids. He’d piss her off, but she couldn’t stay mad for too long. He always found a way to make her smile. But it didn’t change the remorse she felt for going at Kenzie the way she did.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know you are, and while I suggest you formally apologize to her,” he chuckled, “Kenzie knows you’re upset. She gets it. Lucky for me, I found a very forgiving woman.”
“I would think that had to be a prerequisite for the woman you settled down with.”
He laughed and moved closer to stand next to the bed. “This is the Rox I love. More snark, fewer tears.”
Her shoulders slumped as the mattress curved when Bogs took a seat next to her.
Her eyes welled, and she sucked in a breath.
She would not cry. His hand rested on her back, rolling over her shoulder and tugging her into his side.
It wasn’t often she found herself being consoled by Bogs.
In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time.
Part of her was waiting for him to tease her.
But he didn’t. He’d never kick her when she was down. And right now, she was pretty low.
His fingers trailed over her arm, and she dropped her head onto his shoulder.
“He ended things?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
Bogs’ hand stilled on her arm. “When?”
“A week ago.” She sniffled and straightened, reaching over to the small nightstand for a tissue. She dabbed under her eyes trying to salvage her mascara along with her dignity. “He said there was no place for me in his life. It was bullshit.”
“Yeah,” Bogs muttered under his breath.
“Want me to beat the shit outta him?”
Roxanne snorted. “Can you? He’s pretty big.”
Bogs sighed. “Probably not, but I’ll give it a try, Rox.”
“I can take him.”
She gazed at T, leaning up against the doorframe, scowling as usual. But beyond his harsh glare, there was something else. Pity maybe? Or just feeling for his little sister, whose heart was broken.
“I’m having flashbacks to sophomore year when you all ganged up on Cooper More because he told everyone he nailed me after Homecoming.”
T snorted. “That pussy nearly pissed himself when we cornered him.”
Bogs laughed and grasped her arm, holding her tighter. “Oh man, I remember that. See, Rox, we did it once, so we can do it again.”
She nodded, trying to hold on to the humor. It was the only thing saving her from a complete breakdown.
“Hey Bogs, man, go check on the steaks.”
She glanced over at T, who’d pushed off the doorway and strolled into her room, taking a seat in the chair across from where she sat on her bed.
Bogs gave her a tight squeeze and did something he hadn’t done in forever.
He kissed the side of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled through her glassy eyes.
“You’re awesome when you’re not being a dick.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh now, don’t go getting all sappy on me, Rox.”
She released him and watched as he walked out, closing the door behind him. T remained silent, staring at her. It lasted a minute with neither of them speaking, until she finally broke.
“Let me guess, he’s not a bad guy, right, T?”
“You know he’s not.”
She nodded. It was the truth and the hardest part about their breakup. If he’d been a total dick, she could’ve hated him. It would’ve been easier to get over him, for sure.
Her bottom lip trembled. “I wish he were. It’d hurt less.”
T didn’t respond. He settled into her chair and clasped his hands in his lap. Of all her brothers, he was the least emotional and responsive to sad situations. Yet, that didn’t stop her from letting her tears flow down her face, swiping her chin with the back of her hand.
“Love sucks.”
“Yeah, sometimes. But it’s worth it.”
“Yeah.” She snorted. “When it’s reciprocated. You try being in a one-sided relationship and tell me how it feels.”
“Alright, but I can only speak to Jonah’s side.”
She glanced up.
“He loves you, Rox, I’d bet my fucking life on it.” He stared at her. “Maybe he just doesn’t think he deserves you.”
She shook her head. “It’s a cop-out answer.”