7. Dempsey
7
Dempsey
I ’ve never been so grateful that Katy and Owen are in different rooms in the preschool building. If I had to spend the next three hours consistently staring at her, I would lose my mother fucking mind. Being able to pace the hallway between the two gives me something to do with my body as well as my mind. I’m always on high alert having them separate, but the extra space is welcomed today.
What the fuck was she thinking? I only walked in at the tail end of the conversation, but it was more than enough to know she was upset.
“What if I wanted to strip naked and show him all of me?”
Him being me.
This morning was already too much. My restraint has its breaking point. The vision of her naked breast and now the kiss that still lingers hot on my lips is getting to me.
I heard her apology this morning and wanted to ask what it was for. Was it the kiss, the accidental flashing, or maybe hearing her words? Whatever it was for, I never in my wildest dreams thought Katy would kiss me.
“Mr. Dempsey?” Shelly, one of the teachers in Owen’s room, calls from behind me. She’s an older woman with white hair and kind eyes who loves the children here as if they were her own.
“Shelly, is Owen okay?”
“He’s fine, but he had a diaper blowout, and there isn’t an outfit in his bag to change him into. Could you ask Katy if she has any spare clothes for him?”
Shit . I completely forgot I used his spare and forgot to tell Katy.
“Is there another option? It’s my fault there aren’t clothes in there.”
“No, unfortunately not. All we have spare at the moment are little dresses.”
Of course. “Can he just walk around in his diaper?” She gives me a sheepish look because she knows I know the rules. “I’ll go talk to Katy.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dempsey.”
I grunt a response and reluctantly head to Katy’s classroom. She works with the two year olds and is sitting on the floor building blocks with a few children when I lightly knock.
Katy smiles toward the door until she sees me, and her face falls.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Katy glances at her co-teacher, who nods and tells the children she’s playing with that she’ll be right back.
“What Viktor. I’m working.”
I see she’s still being salty with me. “I made a mistake this morning—”
“This isn’t the time or place for a conversation like this. I’m working.”
“…with Owen’s diaper bag. His clothes.” I can see I need to get right to the point before she comes to the wrong conclusion again. “I used his spare outfit when I dressed him this morning, not wanting to wake you, and forgot to replace it. He had a blowout and now has no clothes. Ms. Shelly wanted me to come ask you if you have anything else.”
Katy sighs in frustration. “You know that I don’t. That’s what the diaper bag is for. They should have a few spares in the classroom.”
“I already asked. All they have are dresses.”
“Well, then tell Ms. Shelly to put him in a dress. I’m sure he’ll love it.” She spins, and I feel her dismissal. She may be acting nonchalant right now, but I know her wrath will come later.
When the morning is over and we’re walking to the car, I can’t help but admire Katy while she proudly holds Owen’s hand as he walks in his little yellow dress. She was right; he loved it. I watched him twirl in circles with some of the other girls wearing dresses in his class. Ms. Shelly had to scavenge the dress-up bin for some skirts so other boys could twirl, too. It was an adorable sight to watch.
“Please take me to Justin and Nicole’s house.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, ple—”
“I heard what you said, but why?”
“You don’t get to ask why, Viktor. I asked you to take me. Or you’re welcome to hand me the keys, and I’ll drive myself, and you can find your own ride home.”
Damn. I really fucked up. This wasn’t a planned visit. She’s running from me. She knows I’m not needed there and have no reason to go inside. Why is she being so infuriating? I’m not the one who flashed me or kissed me. I’m the fucking victim here, yet I’m being treated as the villain.
“As you wish, Miss Katy.”
Three…two…
“Are you freaking kidding me with that? Miss Katy? That’s how it’s going to be? Fine. Fine! Take me to see Nicole, Dempsey. ” She crosses her arms and huffs back into her seat.
Fuck. I asked for that. Maybe a few hours alone will do both of us some good. It’s been a volatile morning. Hopefully Justin will be there, and we can have a burger together. I don’t ever have girl problems, not that this is exactly that, but I’m at a loss.
When we pull up to Nicole’s house, it feels like she’s out before I even put the car into park. I can almost see the steam rising off her as she takes Owen out of the back seat.
“Katy?”
“What, Dempsey?”
I close my eyes and sigh. I don’t want to fight. “I’ll let you have your time. Just please let me know when you’re ready to come home. Please.” I see her soften the tiniest fraction, and she gives me a curt nod before walking the path to the front door.
I wait until the door opens, and Justin lets Katy in. He steps out and waves.
“Hey, Vik. Want to come in?”
“Thanks for the invite, but I think Katy wants some time without me around.” Justin looks inside the house then closes the door behind him, heading to me in the driveway.
“Wanna talk about what’s going on with you and her?”
“There’s no me and her.” My comment comes out more forceful than I mean it to. Justin raises his hands in surrender but cocks his head and arches a brow at me.
“Okay, how about this. Blake is in there with Rose and the twins, so there are three women and six kids. Why don’t we go find a burger or taco place and grab some lunch, and you can tell me all about what’s not going on between you and Katy.”
“Yeah, sure.” He runs into the house and is back out a few minutes later.
I have a lot of respect for this man and the things he’s done for Katy. He convinced Katy’s deadbeat mother to sign away her parental rights, and Spencer immediately adopted her. Owen was a few months old by the time the courts made it official, but in everyone’s hearts, she was already Spencer’s.
“So tacos or burgers? Either works for me.” Justin stares at me waiting for a response.
“I can’t drink.” No idea why I felt I needed to say that out loud.
“Wouldn’t try to convince you otherwise, Vik. I’m only asking about your food preference.”
Dammit. I’m so on edge I can’t seem to have a simple conversation.
“Burgers sound good. I know a place.” I smirk, but he doesn’t see it. I know the perfect place to help lift my mood.
“This is where you want to eat? I’m thoroughly amused.” Justin shakes his head as we walk through the front doors of the Fifties-themed diner, Debevics. I can’t help but plaster on a huge smile at Ziggy, the hippy-dressed man at the host stand. His brown suede vest with fringe on top of a tye-dyed t-shirt wouldn’t be complete without the pink heart-shaped glasses.
“You come in at lunchtime? I hope you don’t expect great service. Sit wherever you can find a spot.” Ziggy flails his arm to the crowded restaurant. Justin takes the lead, and we find a booth that needs cleaning, but I know it will make the experience even better.
“Ever been here before?”
Justin’s head is on a swivel, taking in the atmosphere. “Only picking up patients. This is the place where everyone is rude to you, right?”
“Okay, listen up.” Rebel, a greaser-looking guy with slicked-back hair and a leather jacket, slides up to the table. “I have a girl in the back waiting for me. If you could give me your entire order now, I can get back to what I was doing before you interrupted me.”
“Justin, any allergies or dislikes?”
“Nope.”
“I don’t have all day.” Rebel taps his foot and looks over his shoulder toward the kitchen.
“I got this. We’ll get a Route 66 and a Kiss My Heinz burger. Fries with both. I’ll take a root beer, and he’ll have…” I spin my hand in a circle, encouraging Justin to pick a drink quickly.
“Oh. Me? Um, I’ll have a Coke.” Oh no .
“Ugh. Nope, you’ll get water. We don’t serve that gross stuff here.” Rebel turns to walk away, and I spew out the rest of what we’ll need.
“Rebel, he’ll have a Pepsi, and we’ll take napkins and ketchup with our food.”
He rolls his eyes at me and scowls. “Newbies are so much more fun.”
“Why are we here, Vik? What’s going on?”
Justin might as well be Katy’s dad. He’s the closest she’s ever had to one. I don’t know why I thought I could talk to him about my Katy situation.
“Come on, Vik. I know something’s going on with Katy. Should I call the guys and get the info from them? You know how much Axel likes to gossip.”
I meet his eye and instantly know. “He already told you, didn’t he?”
“The moment your car left the driveway this morning.”
I throw my back into the seat and huff. I should have known. His invitation for lunch was just a ploy to get my side of the story. He doesn’t seem mad, so I’ll take that as a good sign.
“If you know why we’re here, then give me your thoughts, Justin. I can take whatever you have to throw at me.”
“What are your intentions with my Katy?”
Huh? That’s not at all what I expected him to say or ask. My intentions. Do I have intentions? Katy and Owen’s safety is my number one priority. It always has and will be.
I want Katy to be happy. Period. I want her to have everything in life she could ever want. Her past was terrible. Honestly, terrible isn’t even a strong enough word to describe it.
Katy was neglected by the people in her life who should have been taking care of her. I may not have neglected her that night, but I let her down, and that’s just as bad in my books.
“Damn, Vik. You shouldn’t need to think about it that hard. I won’t bite. I know you’re a great guy, and I’m sure whatever your feelings are for Katy, you’re fighting them hard. You’ve been fighting them for a while.” He cups one hand over his mouth and whispers. “We’ve all seen it.”
“What do you mean? Seen what?” How would they see anything? I never let my emotions get the best of me. Not since…
“No man can sit and watch hours of chick flicks without there being ulterior motives. Even Axel, and he loves those kinds of movies.”
My recovery. Katy and I grew close. Despite not being able to protect her physically, I knew I was helping her heal mentally as much as I could with what I had. Friendship.
“I have no negative intentions or ill will for Katy or Owen.”
“I know. Trust me, we know. If any of us had doubts about you, we wouldn’t allow you to still be in the position you are. The fact that you care about her to whatever degree that might be right now means you’ll protect her even more than if she was just a job.”
“But she needs to be just a job.”
He looks shocked by my curt response. “Why?”
“Here’s your food, your napkins, and your ketchup . You take all the joy out of my life, you Viking look alike. If you want anything else, speak now or forever hold your pen—ees. Hold your piece, ‘cause I got a lady in the back who’s about to hold mine.”
“Thanks. Everything looks great. Enjoy your…peace.”
“Why, Vik?”
“Why? Oh, I ordered two of the best burgers and figured we could split them in half and share. Unless you had a preference for one over the other?” I’m fully aware of what he’s asking, but I hope I can avoid or distract the question with food.
“Splitting is fine, but you know what I’m asking.”
Fuck. I knew I couldn’t get away with it. Grabbing a knife, I cut my burger in half, buying myself a few more moments of peace before I have to pour my heart out in the middle of a diner that prides itself on minor degradation. Seems fitting actually.
“I failed her.” Those three words sum up everything I feel about that night. All the weeks that I recovered because I failed her. It’s bad enough she lives with the memory of my injury, if I had died…
“You saved her.”
“I fucking didn’t!” Heads turn at the level of rage behind my words. Lowering my voice, I try again. “I didn’t save her that night. I wrecked her. We were arguing about stupid bullshit. My guard was down. I was being a friend and not her bodyguard and…fuck. She watched me fucking die because I was upset that she walked off on me at the mall and flirted with some little boy. Then the pictures were sent, and I was out of my mind with worry. I let my fucking guard down. Even if I wanted to pursue anything with Katy, I don’t deserve her. She deserves the best of the fucking best, and that’s not me.”