“Thank you. Thank you for everything. I wish the trip had turned out like we’d planned.”
Colton bows his head slightly. He begins rubbing his hands back and forth before looking back up to rejoin the conversation. “Look, I know this is beyond shitty timing. You’ll be leaving tomorrow instead of touring facilities with us. I want to do this face-to-face.”
“What is it?” Eli questions.
“Okay. So, I’ve made a decision without talking to you first, and I hope you’ll be okay with it. I’m letting ALITE go from my management or whatever you would call it. I know what my wife would say.” He chuckles. “Dylan, I’ve spent a lot of time going over all the additions you want to make. The timing is right. You’ve made it your own in every way. You deserve to run it, you both deserve to run it, with any vision you see fit. I’ve had the papers drawn up to do away with the structure as it stands and to become a major contributing sponsor only. I want you to be the head, Dylan. You’ve been that from day one anyway. This will now make it official. You’ve put your heart and stamp on it. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with ALITE next.”
I sit here with what I’m sure are wide eyes and my jaw hanging open. “Jesus, Donavan. Are you sure?” Eli asks.
“Have you ever known me to do something without being sure? Wait. Don’t answer that. What do you say, Dylan? Don’t tell me that I’ve rendered you speechless.”
“I… I mean you kind of have. Thank you for the confidence you have in me, but I don’t have the skill set to run something as important as this.”
“Viper, are you kidding? You have been and you aren’t alone. If we can’t do this then we will find help.”
I look at my still swollen knee in my husband’s lap. I can’t dance right now. I miss it. I think about the opportunity Jill has given me. I swirl the ideas of teaching and running the foundation. So many new and exciting things pop in my head. Again, I think my face is a dead giveaway.
“Somebody just became instantly comfortable,” Colton teases.
“I won’t disappoint you,” I tell him.
“You never have.”
Chapter 18
Wes
The night was long. I felt like I was in a terminal meeting. I was the one who did ninety percent of the talking. Every so often I could get Hayley to respond to me. It was like I was telling stories to a small child who was awake all night.
I was grateful when she did fall asleep. That way I didn’t have to keep my happy face on. She didn’t move away from my chest much, other than to take small walks, have a little bite to eat, or freshen up. I’m glad I could comfort her in some way. I don’t know what to do otherwise.
We watched through the small crack in the curtains when the psychiatrist was in with her. Hayley’s characteristic mannerisms were nonexistent. She was my girl but not my girl. My usually animated girlfriend seemed timid, shy, and small. I need to see her be her again.
Hayley slept curled up on the cream sofa on the right side of the plane the whole cross-country flight. Occasionally she would mumble a little bit. Eli and I would jump every time. Dylan would stroke Hayley’s hair from beside her and she would stop.
Halfway through the flight, I go into the back of the cabin away from everyone. I need a minute, like when Eli was in the hospital, to try and sort everything out in my head. Just a goddamn minute to center. Eli gives me a few before he follows. He sits down across from me and says nothing. Fuck. Sometimes that’s worse than word vomit.
“Say it,” I tell him.
“Say what? I’m just sitting here.”
“You haven’t had the talk with me yet, so please, get it over with.”
“What are you talking about? I’m worried about you too. I don’t want to say too much so I’m saying nothing.”
“Jesus Christ. Are you kidding? Saying nothing is worse. I don’t know what to do for her. I’ve known her since she was what… seven? I look at her right now and I see both someone I love and a stranger.”
“What are you going to do about it when we get home?”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay. Like I said, I don’t want to say too much, but I think we’re in a point of no return area. Does Hannah know about Hayley?”
“What? Of course she does.”
“Let me ask it more pointedly. Does Hannah know Hayley’s place in your life and the life of your child? And for that matter, does Hayley know her place in your life and the life of your child?”
Wow. I should know my best friend doesn’t pull punches by now. This cuts to the heart of it. “Hannah knows I have a girlfriend. Hayley knows I love her.”
“Do you plan on staying with Hayley long term?”
“Fuck off.”
“Calm down. Jesus. I’m asking the question for a reason. It’s not a judgment call on you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. We’ve only been a couple for a few months. I haven’t got us on a five-year plan or anything yet.”
“Maybe that’s a problem, given the present circumstances. You’re sharing a child with another woman forever. Did you stop to think about what that means to and for Hayley? I know I didn’t.”
“Did she say something to you?”
“Not in so many words. I’m just thinking about how she’s been the last several weeks. It’s all Monday morning quarterback yet again. I missed things, big things. I didn’t realize I missed them until Dylan pointed them out.”
“What did Dylan say?”
“What I’m trying to ask you. She’s had some experience around what Hayley is going through. She’s been telling me how a lot of it comes about due to insecurity and the need for some type of control. You heard the social worker. She said similar things and I was up half the night researching on the internet, which I don’t advise by the way. It mostly points back to those main elements in some way.”
“What is she insecure about? I’m with her. I’m going to be with her. I’m not leaving her for Hannah, that’s for damn sure.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, Mav. What matters is what she believes. If she sees Hannah as a threat, she’s a threat. If she sees you walking away from her, then you are. It’s as simple and complicated as that. Have they met?”
“No. Absolutely not. Hayley keeps asking, but I don’t want Hayley near her. Hannah’s not evil. She just represents something I don’t want to touch Hayley’s magic. She’s too pure for that.”
“Pure? Even I don’t see my sister that way. You honestly think it’s realistic to keep them away from each other? I know you didn’t ask, but I think that sends a dangerous message.”
“You’re right. I didn’t ask.”
“All right. I’m going to go there. You promised not to fucking hurt her. I hope you pull your head out of your ass before you break that promise… again.”