Chapter 20 Mile Twenty #2
I roll my eyes. “Just as I need a little reassurance occasionally, I know you do too. I promise to message you in the future before turning off my phone and to be better about answering it, but you also need to work on not spinning out with the idea that something has happened to me if I don’t pick up. ”
“I know,” he says quietly. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to check in with me. That’s not what I want. I just…”
“You worry when you can’t get a hold of someone that the worst has happened.” I stroke his cheek. “Because that’s what happened with Val.”
“Fifteen minutes,” he says, his voice pained and scratchy as if emotions claw at his throat.
“She’d said she should be home in fifteen minutes, and she’d text when she got there.
The rideshare was side-swiped by a drunk driver down the street from the hospital.
The chief of staff was leaving and rushed to the accident to offer help.
Both Val and the driver were already dead. ”
“Oh, Garrett…” I press into him.
“When the chief of staff called, he just said for me to get down to the hospital. That there’d been an accident, but I knew she was dead.
He spoke to me in that same soft tone he used with families when telling them their loved one had died.
Until he called, I just thought Val didn’t answer my text because she’d hopped in the shower or…
I didn’t worry, because I thought she was fine.
But she wasn’t. Now, every time I can’t get a hold of someone, I can’t breathe.
All the worst scenarios play on repeat until I know they are safe. ”
A pain, echoing his, twinges in my own chest as I think of each time he’s grumbled about me not answering my phone through the years. On the surface, what appeared as just grumpy Garrett was actually him reliving the worst fifteen minutes of his life.
“Is that why you hold people at a distance?”
“I’ve never been the life of the party like Anker or my siblings, but it just got easier to manage the anxiety about something happening if I didn’t have to deal with people.
Then you and Anker came along. Your brother will not let anyone ignore him, and you…
I couldn’t ignore you if I tried.” He snorts. “And believe me, I tried.”
“You certainly tried.” I poke him.
“And failed.” He kisses my temple. “You two were the first people I let in after Val died. I rarely talk to the friends I had back in Chicago. It’s too hard. Besides my family, I’ve just had me to worry about.”
“And Ditka.”
“My mom’s intervention.” His groan is laced with laughter.
“You love him.” My eyes widen. “Oh my, he’s home alone.”
“He’s okay. There’s an automatic feeder and plenty of water. And—” He reaches over me and grabs his phone off my bedstand “We can spy on him,” he says, unlocking his phone. “He’s currently asleep on the couch.”
“So, Ditka was your mom’s attempt to bring you out of your hard candy shell?” I cuddle into his nook.
“Yeah… She thought it was time for me to have someone other than myself to come home to.” Contentment radiates from him as he swipes his thumb over the phone’s screen.
“You’re a good cat dad.” I smile. “Is Ditka your first cat?”
“Yeah.” He reaches over and returns the phone to the bedstand.
“Did Val and you have pets?”
“No.”
I gnaw on the corner of my mouth. “What was Val like?”
“Only you.” Head tipped back, a laughing groan slips out.
“You know what to say if it’s too much.” I offer a sassy expression.
Despite the heaviness in the air from this conversation, it’s nice that we can tease one another.
This may be one of my favorite parts about us.
We’re an us! Even when we’ve argued in the past, there was always an undercurrent of playfulness.
No matter how angry I’d get with him or the bite of our words to one another, deep down inside, I never worried that it was too much.
“You two would have liked each other.” He chuckles.
“We’re we alike?”
“No…not really. Very different from one another. She was no-nonsense and driven. Always focused on the next item on her to-do list.”
“Yeah, so my complete opposite.” I crinkle my nose.
“You’re not exactly not driven, Ms. Running a Marathon.
” He squeezes me. “Val and you are different, but there are similarities. You’re both soft in the same ways.
Kind. Loving. But, you’re also hard in the same ways.
You stand your ground. You both push when needed.
Though, she was a little less dog with a bone than you. ”
“Woof,” I mock-bark, causing him to laugh.
“You’re both funny. Your humor is silly and quippy. Hers was dry. But you both always make me smile,” he says, trailing his fingers up my bare arm.
My heart swells with how relaxed he is. Each fact about Val is another gift. It’s not just him telling me about her but sharing himself with me. It’s all the reasons he loved her. All the things that are important to him. We remain like that. Naked in my bed while he tells me about his wife.
This should be weird, but it wraps me up like a cozy blanket. We’re comfortable enough to talk about this. For him to share both his pain and joy about Val. For me to know that his love for her doesn’t diminish his feelings for me.
“She didn’t!” I roar with laughter.
“She did.” He wipes at the tears of laughter in his eyes.
“She dumped a tub of salsa on your racist aunt during a Fourth of July BBQ?”
“Val said my aunt didn’t get to enjoy Mexican cuisine while disparaging its people.”
“Oh my god, she’s my new hero.” I lean back against the headboard.
He joins me. “Thank you,” he says, wrapping his arm around me and tucking me close.
“Thank you for sharing Val with me.” I snuggle in deeper. “You’re right, I would have totally liked her.”
“Yeah.” He kisses my forehead.
A loud knock, knock breaks into our little bubble.
He twists in the bed. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No,” I say, my forehead scrunched. “Most people call or text before they come over.”
“Because you’re stellar at answering your phone.”
“Ha…ha.” I pinch him.
“Easy, crab hands.” He playfully bats me away. “Not to mention your phone is still off, despite the power being back on.”
“I was a little distracted.” I flash him a wry expression.
“Jensen, are you home?” Anker’s muffled voice calls through my door.
Anker, I mouth.
“I’m aware,” Garrett whisper-hisses.
“We’re naked and in my bed.” I motion between us.
“Also aware.” He slides out of bed.
“Jensen, I can hear you moving around in there. Should I use my key? Are you okay?”
“No! I mean yes, I’m okay. Don’t use your key!” I shout, scrambling and almost tumbling out of bed.
“Careful,” Garrett whispers, catching me and helping me to my feet.
“Did I catch you listening to one of your dirty audios, or something?” Anker’s laugh is taunting.
“Ha!” My voice is high-pitched and insincere. “Hilarious.” I point to Garrett’s still very naked body and mouth, Clothes, now.
We may plan to tell Anker about us, but this isn’t the ideal scenario.
As much as I’d love to have Garrett hide in my bathroom until I get rid of my brother like something out of a bad sitcom, this is happening.
If we’re going to tell Anker about us, I’d prefer both of us not look like we’ve spent the last ten hours doing—well, exactly what we’ve been doing.
“What are you doing here, Anker?”
“Being the dutiful big brother and checking on my sister post-power outage. I also brought bagels and lattes. Should I use my key, or are you going to let me in?”
“No! I’m getting dressed. Just got out of bed.” I rush to the closet, because I have no idea where my clothes from last night are.
“I know Garrett is in there,” Anker says.
“What!” I spin, my panicked gaze bouncing between where Garrett stands beside my bed, tugging up his jeans, and the door.
“His SUV is parked in front of your building.”
Shaking his head, Garrett clears his throat. “Morning, Anker.”
“Morning, Garrett…” he pauses for a beat, “…Can I come in or—”
“Ah…give us a minute,” I yell, yanking on a pair of sweatpants.
“Just as I thought,” Anker says.
I shimmy my hoodie on and brush my hair out of my face.
“Glasses,” Garrett says, handing me my glasses.
“Thanks.” I put them on.
“Ready?”
I suck in a breath and nod. “Ready.”
Garrett strides to the door, me in tow, and opens it.
Anker leans on the door jamb—no doubt a smirk playing in his features. “So, this is finally happening.”
“Finally?” I arch an eyebrow.
“Don’t play coy. Why do you think I teased you about having hate sex with Garrett?” Straightening, he juts his chin toward Garrett. “Not to mention, you couldn’t see how Mopey over there looked at you, but I could.”
“That’s one.” I hold up a finger. “Also, I never hated Garrett,” I protest with a small pout.
“I’m aware.” Anker laughs, pushing past us and moving to the small kitchen island to deposit the drinks carrier and bag of bagels. “So, how long?”
“Last night,” Garrett says, closing the door.
“I knew something was up after the race.” He walks over and hands me a to-go cup. “Red Velvet Cupcake latte.”
I shouldn’t be that shocked. Anker isn’t aloof. He may play the loveable cad, but he’s tapped into people. It’s what makes him a good doctor.
“Garrett, there’s an Americano on the counter for you.”
Garrett tilts his head. “How’d you know to bring me a coffee?”
“I drove by earlier this morning on my way to yoga in the park and saw your SUV. Jensen may be taking her training seriously, but not seven a.m. serious—especially on a Sunday. I figured if I was going to surprise my sister with breakfast, I should bring something for her guest.” He pats Garrett’s shoulder. “I’m assuming you were here all night.”
“Yeah.”
“No wonder you didn’t want me to come over,” he says over his shoulder, looking at me.
“Garrett wasn’t here then,” I say.
“But he’s here now?” Turning toward Garrett, he steps back.
“I am,” Garrett says, looking between me and Anker. “To be clear, this isn’t just a one-time thing. I care about Jensen and—”
“We’re dating,” I cut in. “Or rather, we’re going to. Our first date is on Friday, so we won’t be at happy hour.” I gesture wildly with my free hand. “Whatever we are, we’re… uh…”
“Together,” Garrett says, his tone emphatic.
“Good thing I brought breakfast, then.”
“What does that—”
Anker slams his fist into Garrett’s stomach. With a groan, Garrett lurches over.
“Figured breakfast both celebrates your coupling and makes amends for that.” Anker shrugs.
“Anker! What the actual fuck!” Placing my cup on the coffee table, I rush to Garrett.
Garrett holds up his hand. “It’s all good. I expected it.”
“Sorry, man, but I want to be crystal clear that while I am very much okay with this, if you hurt her, I have no problem making my displeasure known.” He slaps Garrett’s back.
“Maybe just use your words next time,” I hiss.
“I blame our Viking heritage,” he quips. “We cool, man?”
“We’re cool,” Garrett groans and straightens.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” I place my hands on Garrett’s cheeks.
“Baby? Aw, you two are adorable,” Anker coos, walking to the counter. “Who wants bagels? Garrett, I got your favorite. Sorry, Jensen, they didn’t have blueberry, so I got your second favorite.”
“I think he’s taking this well.” I grin.
“Yeah…so well.” Garrett coughs.