Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Dylan
This is not good.
I run a hand over my tongue, the spicy, tangy mayo giving me the ultimate ick. But also ... watching Cheyenne jump to her feet to chase after her jerk of a boyfriend who’s now running out of the dining room is making me feel some type of way...
It’s a feeling I can’t quite name right now.
“Why did you spew it all over him?” Genna asks, her tone flat rather than accusatory.
“I didn’t mean to...” My voice trails off, my eyes landing on the mess of orangish gunk across the tablecloth. “I mean, I had nowhere else to spew it.”
“Valid point,” she says with a sigh. “But this is not good.” She repeats the same thought I’ve been having since the moment I saw that horrified look on Garrett’s face.
“Maybe we should set a new rule that pranks can’t happen at the table?” Mom offers up, giving me a meek smile.
“Yeah...” I don’t even know what to say, trying to ignore the muffled voices coming from the foyer. Cheyenne sounds emotional, and Garrett’s tone seems sharp.
He’s laying into her ... over me.
I need to make things right, and I don’t even know what that means. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m the one who ruined Garrett’s sweater, so I probably should be the one who apologizes. It’s not fair for Cheyenne to be thrown under the bus over the mess I made.
I push back from the table, brushing some confetti off my lap before standing to my feet.
“Let them work it out,” Genna warns me.
“But Garrett is a—”
“Dylan,” Mom cuts me off sharply, her tone chiding.
I choose not to say anything further and exit the large dining room, making my way to the foyer. On one of the white walls I pass, I catch sight of a family picture from one of our camping trips, and right there beside Genna is Cheyenne.
She’s family. Which means I have to intervene.
This was my fault. I’ll just apologize and offer to buy the jerk a new sweater. It is the holidays, after all.
But as I round the corner, I see the front door standing wide open. I squeeze my eyes shut and head for it, already knowing that this will require some major damage control. I can only imagine how Cheyenne is feeling...
As I step outside, tires squeal loudly against the pavement, and Garrett’s Prius takes off down the street.
Ugh. I’m too late. They’ve already left.
I let out a sharp exhale, but as I do, I hear a small hiccup from across the front yard, where a large, old oak tree stands. I narrow my gaze and catch sight of dark brown waves whipping from behind the tree trunk.
Poor Cheyenne.
I take a deep breath and head down the steps of the front porch, my footsteps silent as I cross the yard. There’s a chill in the air that cuts through my sweater, but I ignore it. I need to keep my wits about me and prepare for a lethal lashing for what I did.
I mean, could I have kept from spewing the nasty pie all over Garrett?
Possibly.
Was it a subconscious act of dislike toward him?
Also, possibly.
I rake my fingers through my hair as I round the tree, coming face to face with a visibly upset Cheyenne. Her cheeks are wet with tears, and she’s sitting on the ground, hugging her knees.
This is way worse than I expected.
“I can’t believe he broke up with me again,” she sobs, looking up at me just long enough to stab my heart with sadness before dropping her head into her hands again.
“Yeah...” My voice trails off as I rock on my heels, wishing maybe I’d let Genna handle this. I have no freaking idea what I’m doing. “He was ... He was dumb.”
“Yeah, okay.” She laughs miserably, and I cringe. Clearly, I’ve said the wrong thing.
“I’m really sorry for how I reacted. I didn’t mean to spew mayo all over his sweater. Although, it was the same color as your pie, so I’m sure it can be washed out, but you know ... I get it. It sucked.”
She’s quiet for a few moments, leaving me to wonder if I need to try a third time, but then she looks up. “It was a good prank though.” She sniffles, her voice weak and wavering.
I nod eagerly, determined to make her feel better. “You totally won this year. My confetti had nothing on a mayo pie.”
“For sure.” She nods, wiping her olive-colored cheeks. “I seasoned it with pumpkin spice to cover the smell, so you’d still eat it.”
“You probably could’ve skipped that and I still would’ve tried it.” I laugh, running my hands over my face. “My brain just assumed that it was pie. I wasn’t remotely prepared for what happened.”
That gets her to smile, but it quickly fades as another sob racks her. “I can’t believe he did that in front of everyone. That’s so embarrassing.”
I frown seeing the progress I thought we had made dissipating. “I mean, he’s a jerk. That’s just what jerks do. They don’t take into account anyone’s feelings but their own.”
“He was just misunderstood,” Cheyenne cries, her voice muffled.
I furrow my brow, not sure how Garrett’s crappy attitude could be misunderstood by anyone. I mean, a jerk is a jerk. “Yeah, maybe.” I force myself to be somewhat agreeable. “He still shouldn’t have done what he did.”
“You’re just not a fan of him.” She keeps her head in her hands, and I glance down the street. The closest neighbor to my parents is about a half mile away, and at the moment, I could be convinced that we’re stranded alone in the wilderness.
Heartbreak is the wilderness for someone like me.
I avoid it like the plague.
“No one ever liked him, and it made things so hard,” she continues, her voice still barely audible.
Because he’s a jerk.
“I’m sorry...”
“You’re not sorry.” Cheyenne looks up, her eyes now fiery. “You clearly wanted us to break up. You probably did it on purpose!” The shrillness in her tone makes me wince. “You probably planned to sabotage it.”
“That’s way too much effort,” I mutter, shaking my head and folding my arms across my chest. “Regardless, you deserve better than him.”
“Garrett cared about me,” she argues. “He wanted more for me than what I currently have. I don’t have family—”
“You do have family,” I stop her. “You don’t need some guy to save you, Chey. We’re your family, and we’ll always be your family.”
“Okay, I know that. But ... still.” She sighs.
“You’re tough, Chey. You’ll show him.”
“Ha, okay,” she retorts, wiping snot from her nose. “You’re trying way too hard to make me feel better right now.” There’s a sharpness in her tone that actually does hurt, and as much as I want to help her right now...
Maybe she needs some space.
I take a step back, breathing out a defeated sigh. All I want is for her to smile again, and I don’t know how to make that happen. I don’t know how to make anything right in a situation like this...
But it is Thanksgiving.
“Do you want some pie?” I offer in hopes of swaying her from sitting outside for the rest of the holiday. “Some real pie, no mayo included.”
She lets out a tiny laugh, and my heart skips a beat.
“You can eat your feelings. And then, maybe I could take you Black Friday shopping, if it would make you feel better. What do they call that? When you shop to numb your feelings...” I pause, mulling it over.
“Retail therapy.” Cheyenne smiles through her tears. “And while I really appreciate it, I don’t really feel like getting trampled for a barely discounted TV right now.”
“That is completely valid,” I assure, closing the distance again and extending a hand. “Maybe that’s not the best way to get over him—but it would be an adrenaline rush.”
She laughs again, and this time sounds just a little lighter.
“Yeah, but I will take some pie. I should probably get a head start on eating my feelings.” Chey takes my hand and lets me help her up.
I ignore the warmth of her touch and immediately release her.
She uses both hands to dust off her jeans.
I gesture toward the house. “And if for some reason, eating your feelings doesn’t work, I’d be happy to go slash his tires...”
She peers up at me, a tiny sparkle returning to her eyes. “As much as that might feel vindicating, I don’t think you need any misdemeanors on your record. I have a feeling Garrett would know exactly who would be responsible for it.”
I scrunch my nose as she passes me to climb the porch steps. “You think? Because I feel like he’d have no clue.”
Chey glances back down at me. “You’re crazy.”
I grin at her. “I know.”
But at least you feel a little better.