28. Chapter 26
Xavier
Me: She is using the journal.
Derek: She had her meeting with Thayne today.
Hudson: How is she? Does she need anything?
I look across the table at our girl, her hand flying over the pages, a mix of words and drawings pouring from her. I doubt she’s even noticed that Oakley and I have both arrived. Or that food has been placed in front of her for nearly an hour now.
Reaching forward, I tuck some of the hair that has fallen into her eyes behind her ear. No reaction. This reminds me of the morning she drew for the four of us. Completely lost to her work. But this is more. Deeper. Harsher.
Me: She needs us. She’s fighting it.
Darcy: Xavier. No. Not until she is ready. You agreed to the plan this time. You have to wait. Give her space.
Derek: She needs to work through how she feels, and we need to give her the opportunity to do so. Rushing her will only push her away.
Hudson: Just be there for her. When she’s ready, she’ll let you know.
I grunt in irritation. I know I agreed to the fucking plan. It’s a smart fucking plan, this time. But she needs to be taken out of her head. She needs to be cut off from all this fucked-up emotion she is feeling and let us bring her back to zero.
She is spiraling like a lost little girl, not sure who she can turn to, when I’m right fucking here. Ready to catch her. We all are.
Me: *middle finger emoji*
Me: She needs another gift. This one is making her cry.
Locking my phone, I place it face down on the table and go back to watching Emery.
I’m not giving her space. I’m going to take up every crack, crevice, nook, and shadow in her life. I’ll be here, with her, even if it takes the rest of our lives. I’ll catch my little dove when she falls out of the sky.