22. Family Dinner Cage Match
TWENTY-TWO
family dinner cage match
Dahlia
We surround the cherry oak table in the dining room ready to descend upon the hearty pasta dish Lorraine whipped up. As we take turns dishing out the meal, Lorraine asks about our day.
“So what did you think, dear?” In the time we’ve been here, I’ve grown quite fond of Lorraine.
She’s a gentle woman, but it’s clear she’s not to be fucked with—like she’d go to war for anyone in her family.
She’s the kind of woman I hope to be, soft but firm, kind but steady.
From what I’ve seen, Stone gives her a hard time, but he loves her fiercely.
“Honestly, it was a great day. Hard work for sure, but it felt really good to be outside and around the horses. They’re gentle giants. I can totally see how being here would be therapeutic.” I’m really eager to research what’s available, even more after my day.
The property itself is a sanctuary. It’s peaceful and serene, and the kind of place you could go to get out of your head for a little. That’s exactly what I want this grant to bring life to. I know traditional therapy has its place, but it doesn’t fit everyone the same and that’s okay.
I hear Jasper huffing and look up to see him scoffing like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. I move to apologize if I said something wrong, but Wes speaks first.
“You got something to say, Jasper? She’s trying to help.” Wes is pissed. His posture is rigid and I dart my eyes under the table quickly to see Wes’ clenched fists.
“This won’t work. It sounds like a fuck ton of work and the possibility of a lot more problems for this place. She’s trying to help herself. We’re just convenient, what difference does it make?”
“Jasper, before I embarrass you in front of your mama here, let’s take this outside and you can yell at a tree for all I care.
You will not talk to my best friend that way again or it’ll be the last thing you fucking do.
” Daphne slams her hands down on the table before she gets up.
“I’m sorry for yelling, Lorraine.” Shockingly, Jasper gets up and follows behind her.
Lorraine nods and looks at me apologetically. “Don’t listen to him. I think it’s a great idea.”
“You know how he is. Jasper will come around eventually. He moves slow,” Stone adds.
Wes is shaking his head and it almost looks like he’s about to get up and go after them, so I place my hand on his thigh.
His body tenses with my touch and I go to pull my hand back, fearful I’ve overstepped, when he reaches down and covers my hand with his larger, tattooed one.
I give him a soft smile and apologize to Lorraine.
Oblivious to the tension, Liam and Emmett barrel through the front door with Amber on their heels.
“Grandma! Grandma! We’re back and we had so much fun with Mommy.
She hits the ball so good. She said maybe we could play on the baseball team soon.
” Emmett is panting with his brother following close behind as Lorraine reaches to hug both boys.
Amber watches them with a smile. She’s beautiful in a classic way, long blonde hair and freckles decorating her cheeks.
Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes and I recognize the exhaustion in her eyes as she kisses her mom and whispers something before disappearing up the stairs.
Lorraine settles the boys in and makes them plates and we finish the remainder of dinner without incident. My hand stays on Wes’ leg until we move to clean up and I don’t hate it one bit.
After dinner, I’m grabbing my notebook and computer from my room when Daphne pops her head in.
“Hi.” She slinks into the room. “Are you doing alright?” I know Daphne is fiercely protective of me, but I’m surprised she went with Jasper to defuse things.
“I’m good, yeah. Just anxious. I feel like shit if they think I’m moving in on their livelihood or trying to ruin things. I want to help and this is something to benefit us both.” I sit next to Daphne, our knees knocking against each other.
“You shouldn’t feel bad because Jasper can’t regulate his emotions for shit.
He’ll come around. He needs to figure himself out, but that’s not on you.
He’s got his own troubles, but it’s not fair for you to catch strays when he and Wes are fighting.
” I know she’s right, but it doesn’t change the guilt settling in my chest. “Are you going to work on the grant?” she asks, pointing at my laptop.
I nod. “Wes and I are going to start a rough draft tonight.”
Daphne’s knowing smirk prickles my skin, because I can already hear the teasing before she starts. “My sweet girl, you need to make a move. Or he does. Or you both need to make a move, preferably while on top of each other. He’s so unbelievably down bad for you, it’s adorable.” My cheeks flame.
“I highly doubt it, but I appreciate your support. It’s not worth the risk to end up fucking miserable and down a friend.
I care about him too much to throw our friendship away because I’m horny.
” I know I’m minimizing my feelings for him, but I don’t need to hand Daphne anymore ammunition for the cause.
“You could easily fuck him without marrying him and shitting out a ton of babies. You realize that, right? You could just do the nasty and move on. Or a novel idea—you do the nasty, you fall in love, and it all works out? Also an option.”
“How dare you try to use logic with me!” I scoff.
“It’s not happening. Sadly, I do not possess the sex without feelings gene, and the gamble of true love is too big a risk for me.
Anyways, if I get with Wes, our plan to whore it up in the fifty-five-plus community goes right out the window. Absolutely tragic.”
“I appreciate your dedication to our retirement plans, but I do want you to be happy. Wes can, and does, make you happy.”
I wish I could believe her, I really do.
I would love nothing more than to fall into the arms of a safe man who makes me feel loved every second of the day.
Maybe if I had a better example of relationships growing up I could love freely, but it wasn’t my reality.
My dad wouldn’t know faithfulness if it hit him in the face, so any woman he dated after my mom angrily exited his life as quickly as she appeared.
“I owe you a movie night soon, promise.” I give Daphne a squeeze and a sad smile, heading to find Wes.