Chapter 54
Dex
It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen Dani, and I fucking miss her. This arrangement was fine at first, but I’m starting to get antsy. I had to fly to Denver last weekend to check on a potential investment, so I couldn’t see her. Her visit here this weekend can’t come soon enough.
I know she’s a highly independent woman, but I still hate the idea of her being in Sacramento practically by herself.
Just her mom and stepmom are there, and I know she can be a bit of a recluse during the school year.
She doesn’t get out much outside of work.
I was happy to hear that she had dinner with Kylie and Britney recently, though.
They’ve been trying to keep in contact more, and I love that for her .
I’ve just hopped in my truck and I’m about to head to the restaurant when her call comes through the truck speakers.
“Hey, beautiful,” I answer.
“Hey.”
My alarm bells immediately ring. Something’s wrong. I put the truck back in park.
“What’s wrong?”
There’s a drawn-out pause.
“Dani?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” she finally says, her voice tight, like someone trying to smile through pain. “I, uh…I just don’t think I’m going to make the drive tomorrow. It’s been a long week and…I’m just not feeling up to it. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll come there,” I respond immediately.
“No, it’s okay.” She lets out a deep sigh. “Actually, you know what? I didn’t want to burden you because you’ve been traveling a lot, and I know you’re tired too. But I’ll just tell you.”
“You don’t have to worry about burdening me. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”
A deep sigh and then a long silence follows.
“It’s my brother.” She pauses.
“Oh no. Is he okay?”
“I think so, but…he checked himself out. No one has heard from him since. He’s relapsed, obviously. ”
Her voice cracks at the end, and my heart breaks for her.
I saw the joy and the hope on her face after visiting him.
On the way there, she had still been hesitant, not fully believing it until she saw it with her own eyes, I think.
But when she came out of that place, she’d looked lighter, like something had lifted off her shoulders. She carries a lot.
“Dani…this sucks. I’m so sorry.”
I feel like I’m always telling her that, but I never know what else to do, what else to say. I am sorry. I hate that she’s constantly having to shoulder so much, and I hate that I can’t fix any of it.
“I know,” she says quietly. “Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I just didn’t—”
“Didn’t want to trouble me,” I finish for her, gently.
“Something like that,” she mutters.
“Please trouble me. Anytime. I’m serious.”
“Okay. I’m gonna go shower.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Love you,” she mutters before hanging up.
I head back inside the house to pack my bags.