Chapter 26
Twenty-six
Rafael
After getting dried and dressed, we go for a walk with Huey, and I tell him that since I have to grab some things from home anyway, I don’t mind stopping by his place on the way back to the cabin to grab his packages.
“The spare key too?” He kicks his shoes off in the place he always leaves them.
“That was actually the first thing I was thinking about, but I was trying to not to sound like a possessive boyfriend this early on,” I chirp.
Lifting his head, his eyes widen. “Boyfriend?”
“Sorry. It kind of just came out. I shouldn’t have assumed—” His fingers find my lips to keep me from rambling on. He’s getting better and better at that.
“Too late. You can’t take it back now, boyfriend.” His lips purse and I laugh, kissing the tip of his nose.
“Then I guess if it’s too late, the label will have to stay.”
“And I’ll have to find a way to live with it. Oh, such a hardship. How ever will I manage?” he says while smiling big. “Now hurry up and go make all those trips so you can come back to do more of your boyfriend duties.”
I chuckle and press a chaste kiss to his lips. “I’ll do my best. You sure you don’t want to tag along?”
He looks down at his feet and then up at me. “I’m sure, and I think it’ll be better for Huey to not have to travel back and forth.”
“You’re probably right, and better for your idiot ex not to have a reason to talk to you more.”
“That too. I’ll wait here, and I’ll have dinner ready when you return. It’ll be good to try my hand at it completely alone.”
“Okay. Just remember the fire extinguisher is under the sink,” I snark and he huffs a laugh.
“Yes, yes, I know. Try not to take too long.”
“Well, standing around talking to you about possibly burning the house down isn’t going to help with that.”
Laughter flies out of his mouth and he punches me lightly in the side. “Okay, get out of here.”
“Lock all the doors and keep your phone close by.”
“I will, now go.” He shoves me out the door and I do my best not to reach for him. I know if I do, I won’t be going anywhere.
“I’m going, I’m going. We’ve only been boyfriends for a few minutes and already you’re wanting time away from me.”
He scoffs. “Oh my god, don’t make me put you in the car myself. It may take me a while to find it and we might wind up in the frozen lake, but at least you’ll be moving.”
“Or breaking through the ice and drowning.”
He shoves me again and shoots me a warning glare. I throw my hands up in defeat and step backwards down the porch steps. “You hear that? I’m moving closer to the car.”
“Yeah, a little too slowly if you ask me.”
I turn around and walk faster, taking wider steps with my hands sticking out.
He doesn’t need to be able to see me to know what I’m doing.
Others have stared right at me with twenty-twenty vision and still managed to look past me, yet this wonderful vision impaired man sees all of me every time I’m in close proximity.
Laughing, he shakes his head and folds his arms in front of his chest as he leans against the doorway. “Bye, now.”
“Bye, Honey.” I blow him a kiss, making loud smacking sounds with my mouth so he can hear exactly what I’m doing.
Smiling big, he pretends to catch it, and places his hand flat over his mouth.
As I get in the car and drive off, he disappears behind the front door, and the further away I get, the more I understand why in my sleeping state I keep finding a way to get back to him.
It must hurt as much when I’m unconscious as it does when I’m awake.
It’s almost excruciating. Mostly because I can feel myself slipping back to the dark place the more distance I put between myself and the light.
I don’t know what I’ll do if I see Travis at his house, and I’m trying so hard not to entertain the thoughts trying to push their way through.
***
Hours pass and many, many songs play before I finally arrive on my street. My phone vibrates and I hit the answer button via Bluetooth on my car, and seconds later, my brother’s loud voice is coming through the speaker. “Hey, asshole.”
“Hey, fuck plum.”
“What’s a fuck plum?”
I laugh. “Well, since I called you that, you should already know the answer.”
“Yup, still a dumb fuck.”
Shaking my head, I flex my hand on the wheel, biting back a grin. “So, what’s happened now? Any more of my exes move in down the street from my family? Did that wife of yours finally realize she deserves better?”
He laughs. “None of the above. Actually, I’m calling to invite your ass over for Christmas again, and I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”
“No, and no I won’t change my mind.”
“We’ll have it at our place, or even in a different country from him if we need to. Whatever it takes.”
“That’s very sweet and thoughtful of you, but I kind of have plans.”
He pauses for a beat before saying, “What plans? Walking your pig and sharing a bowl of spaghetti with him Lady and The Tramp style?”
“No,” I bite out. “I happen to have someone else in my life other than Huey now, thank you very much.”
His breathing picks up and he doesn’t speak again for a long time. “Wait . . . like, a new friend?”
“Yeah. A little more than a friend. We accidentally made things official today.” I smile at the memory of confusion flashing in Henry’s eyes before they shone with pure joy. Fuck, I miss him already.
“Wait . . . wait, wait, so, way more than a friend?”
“Definitely more than a friend.”
“Holy fuck.” His voice jumps in excitement. “Like this guy is real and everything?”
“Yes.” I roll my eyes and let out an annoyed sounding laugh. “He’s very real. His name’s Henry.”
“Well, damn. In that case stay right where you are and send lots of pictures.”
My laughter is light this time, and I pull into my driveway then shut off my car. “I plan to, and I’ll pass on the picture sending.”
“Oh, come on. I at least need proof you’re not bullshitting me just to get me off your back.”
“And you’ll get proof when you meet him someday.” Shit, I can’t believe how easy those words come out. I want that too. For him to meet the other important people in my life. “Other” because he’s important too.
“And will this meet up be soon? You can always bring him to Cousin Mark’s New Year’. party.”
“We’ll see,” I press my back to my seat. “Look, don’t say anything to Mom and Dad yet.”
“Fine, but you better tell them soon because they’re starting to worry about you again.”
“When don’t they? They could always call me.”
“They want to, but you haven’t exactly made it easy by going so long ignoring their calls.”
Pinching the bridge above my nose, I sigh. “Yeah, I haven’t been ready to face them yet. Especially after Rory wrote them that email.”
“Yeah, fuck him. I saw him taking groceries into the house the other day. He smiled and waved at me. I ignored him and kept walking.”
I tense in my seat. “Don’t . . . don’t do that. What happened wasn’t his fault. I’m the one who caused all these problems for myself.” For me and everyone else in my life.
“You weren’t you. You went through a lot that nobody else can possibly understand, but we all want to try. We want to be here for you as much as you’ll let us. We love you.”
“I know.” My eyes water. “I love y’all too. I’ll try to be there this New Year.”
“Good. And don’t forget to bring Henry with you. Oh, and I guess the pig can come too.”
I breathe out a laugh, slowly opening my door.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later, and I really am okay.
I promise.” And that’s mostly the truth.
Minus all the sleep killing. It’s been days since the last one, and I hope it stays that way.
I have to see if spending my nights with Henry is the reason for that.
I have to see if I can be the man everyone can trust to be around again.
I have to find that man because Henry needs every best version of me he can get. He deserves the best of everything.
“Okay, I have to get to Simon’s baseball game anyway. Love you, fuck face, and you can call me too sometimes.”
I smile. “I will. Have fun at the game and tell everyone I love and miss them.”
“Will do. Tell Henry I’m looking forward to meeting my future brother-in-law.”
I chuckle. “Getting a little too ahead of yourself now. Hasta pronto.”
“You better. Adiós, pendejo.”
I hang up the phone and step onto the sidewalk, and as I’m getting closer to my front door, I stop dead in my tracks when I notice the broken plant pot.
My eyes scan the porch, hackles rising when I see the door busted open.
The fuck. I march forward, taking precautions as I enter the house.
I turn on the living room light and most of the furniture is flipped over.
My glass coffee table is shattered, and my books are ripped apart on the ground.
I reach for my phone again and call the cops to report a break in as I inspect the other rooms. My pillows are torn, cotton spilling out of them and feathers flying everywhere from my shredded down comforter.
“Sir?” The operator says loudly on the phone. “When did you first notice your house this way?”
“About five minutes ago. I’ve been staying somewhere else the last two days.”
“And was anything taken?”
I look through my tossed drawers and shake my head. “Not that I can see. Looks like someone forced their way in only to destroy the place, and I don’t know why.”
“Okay, sit tight and we’ll send an officer your way.”
“Thanks,” I say before hanging up the phone.