The look on Decker’s face is priceless. The shock on everyone else’s face almost matches it. Deacon and Quinn’s eyes dart over to each other, and they share a sly grin.
I narrow my eyes. “And don’t act like you fired her. You made me do it. Knowing I was in a relationship with her. You were a vindictive prick, who jumped to conclusions, overreacted, and nobody called you on it, because you lord your power over them and don’t listen to reason.”
Fuck it. I just said everything I’ve wanted to say the past few days. He needs to hear it. I know Tate gives him shit on occasion, but everyone else just lets it go.
Decker’s face is damn near as red as the inflatable Santa Claus outside. I don’t know if anyone has ever stared me down the way he is right now, and I won’t lie, it’s a little intimidating. I don’t care, though. What he did to Karli was unacceptable, and the fact I went along with it, makes me just as guilty. I’ll deal with that and take ownership of it too, but he’s going to share it with me.
“Decker.” Tate looks up at him.
His eyes slowly roll down to hers. In a slightly trembling voice, he says, “Do you agree with him?”
Tate’s eyes dance around at everyone then land back on him. “I think you’re stressed and haven’t dealt with your feelings about what happened with Donavan in an emotionally healthy way. You’re also not dealing well with Jenny going away to college and not living under our roof. You’ve thrown yourself into work and this project, and what you’re seeing now is the result of that.”
Decker’s eyes move around to everyone else, but he doesn’t say anything for a long time.
Finally, Dexter breaks the tension. “A lot of shit has happened, brother. But yeah, a lot of us are worried about you.”
Nods follow from everyone else.
Decker takes a step back, then sort of falls onto his barstool. For the first time ever, he doesn’t have perfect posture and just kind of slumps in the chair. His shoulders shrug and a shaky, “I’m sorry,” comes out. His head shakes back and forth, and he looks over at Tate. “Okay, I’ll go see someone, try to work this stuff out.”
Tate hugs him and buries her face in his neck. “Thank you.”
“Best thing I ever did, Decker. You’ll be glad you did.” Cole Miller raises a glass at Decker and then takes a drink.
It’s weird, seeing them all like this. I’m glad it seemed to get through to Decker, but I have to get the fuck out of here. I turn back toward the door.
“What are you doing?”
I glance back. “Huh?”
Decker waves a hand over. “Come back here. You’re not quitting your damn job.”
He can’t be serious. I hesitate for a second, because what the hell?
“You’re not going anywhere, pussy.” Dexter laughs, but looks at me like he’s proud I came around and did the right thing. “We won’t allow it. You’re family. Families fight, but we make up in the end.”
Everyone else nods at me.
“Besides, you’re going to need some help with your next move, loverboy.” Dexter stands up this time, then pats an empty barstool next to him. “Get over here.”
I’m not sure why, but I do as he says. The whole way over, I shake my head at all of them. “You guys are so fucked up and dysfunctional.”
Everyone dies laughing at that.
Deacon says, “You’re not wrong. Not one bit.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait… Your plan is to do what?” Dexter leans back, half drunk, while Abigail yawns.
“Umm, it’s already done. What you just saw earlier.” I take a sip of scotch. “I just wanted to clear her name.”
Abigail and every other woman, including Harlow, perk up at that.
“Wait, you’re not going to go after her?” Abigail frowns.
Decker clutches his temples and looks at Tate. “I know I’m trying to turn over a new leaf here, but I’m seriously getting nauseated.”
Tate laughs and punches him on the shoulder. “You’re such an old curmudgeon.”
This time even Decker looks over at me and seems a little interested, like he was just joking. “So all of that, even quitting your fucking job… And you’re not going to at least tell her what happened? I’ll hire her back, if she wants anything to do with us now.”
I shrug. “I did it because it needed to be done. Not to score points with her. It wasn’t to virtue signal and say, ‘Look how amazing I am and what I just did for you.’ It was the right thing to do, that’s all.”
“Bullshit.” Decker laughs.
“What?”
“Nobility is for the fucking pope. Do you want to win Karli back?”
I sigh, wishing the conversation would turn to something else because thinking about her hurts so damn bad. “Of course I do, but she’s never going to talk to me again. The woman is infuriatingly stubborn.” I point at him. “Worse than you, even.”
Decker snickers, then shakes his head at me. “Pussy.”
My eyes go wide. “What?”
“You’re being a pussy. I said what I said.”
“It is kind of a bitch move,” says Deacon.
“Yep,” Quinn pops the p on the end of her word.
“What the hell?” They’re all nodding as I look around the bar.
Decker leans toward me, like he’s dead serious. “Do you love her?”
“What?”
“Easiest and hardest fucking question in the world, all at the same time. Do. You. Love. Her?”
I sit there, and it’s like every single memory with Karli flashes through my mind, all at once. I know it all happened insanely fast, but it’s like I’ve known her my entire life. Everything from running into her on the sidewalk, to our date, to fucking her, worshipping her body, and even working with her. Until yesterday, it was the happiest month of my life by far, and I already lived a good life before her. Now, it’s fucking empty. I feel like my soul is gone.
I nod at him. “Yeah.”
Decker leans back, grinning. “If I can admit I need to go to therapy and get some help to stop me from being a maniacal tyrant around the office, then you can stop being weak and go get the woman you love.”
Every single person around me has a look of affirmation on their faces, like they can all see clear as day what needs to happen, and I’m over here blinded by emotions. Finally, I nod, and say, “You’re right. I’m miserable without her.”
“Of course I’m right.” Decker scoffs.
Tate backhands him lightly in the chest.
Suddenly, a kind of panic comes over me. “How the hell can I possibly do that, though? After what I’ve done, the things I’ve said?”
Decker points right at Dexter. “I don’t know, ask him. He loves romance movies and shit. That’s his department.”
“I don’t fucking love them, for the thousandth time. I study them, and it makes me the best husband in this damn place.” He kisses Abigail while everyone else groans. Then, he turns back to me with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. “You need an over-the-top redeeming gesture.”