That sounds like the Dex I know. If he can’t be in charge of the situation, he’ll take charge of the person who is.
“How do you know about the hospital?” I ask.
“He told us.” Ian smirks.
I jerk back. “Stop fucking with me.”
Dex would never tell them. Telling his friends he’s vulnerable is impossible. He’s the superhero you love to hate. There is no losing in Dex’s world. That’s what makes him infuriatingly charming and hatefully lovable.
Ryan looks confused. “We’re not. He asked us to meet at the Black Heart and sat us all down, saying he’d had a stressful situation that brought him to the hospital. He asked us not to say anything to our girls, but we both said we would tell them anyway.”
“Then,” Ian adds, “he said you were worried for him and he didn’t know what to do with you. We had a long chat about his feelings for you.”
I laugh. “Now you’re fucking with me!”
“I am.” Ian chuckles. “His words were more along the line of you needing to get your head out of your ass and realizing he wasn’t in mortal danger and wasn’t a child. We had to explain worries and feelings to the Tin Man he can be. You’ve made his heart beat for the first time in forever, Luke. Don’t expect everything to connect right away.”
When you stay mad at someone, at some point, you forget why you’re mad or you don’t realize you might have been wrong. Maybe I should have been more patient.
“Hey, man, do you think I’m ready to tattoo some skin?” Ryan asks, jumping subjects like others jump ship.
I shake my head, trying to get my thoughts onto his question. “I guess if Morgan helps. Who do you want to tattoo?”
“I could start with myself? I want a black heart on my wrist for V.”
“I’ll do it. Come tomorrow. I’ll be here around ten a.m. Ian, do you finally want to get inked?”
“Nope, I’m good for now. Maybe for Gia’s first birthday. We’ll see. I need to talk to Julie about it first.”
I keep my opinion to myself, not delivering my speech about his body being his and how nobody should control what he does with it.
Our discussion is interrupted by Dex leaving. I send a pointed look to my brother, who ignores me and follows Dex. Turning to my guests, I try to forget the drama in my life. If Dex hasn’t called me by tomorrow night, I’ll reach out. If not to get back together, at least to break up once and for all.
26
Dex
“I’m fine, Aaron. I won’t jump from a bridge because I had a fight with your brother. Fucking let me be, I have things to do.”
Aaron is still following me. Susan told her mother that Luke and I had a fight. Her mother called Bella, who sent Aaron to check on me. Stupid grapevine! You would think they’d have Luke’s back, but Aaron said that Bella said they’re not worried about my laid-back hairy bear. I hate that he-said-she-said shit, but I still find it cute that Bella is more worried about me than Luke. She’s truly an amazing woman.
“Aaron! Go back to your brother’s party!” I continue walking.
“No. I told Mom I would be sure you’re fine, and all I’ve seen since I got here is a jealous asshole who thinks my brother would cheat on him. That’s not being fine. And you should know Luke is the most loyal man you’ll ever meet. Well, maybe him and my father.”
True, seeing Bruce jump on Luke awoke my jealousy monster and I might have overreacted. My stomach hardened and I saw spots of red, feeling Bruce’s ass on my shoes. It took all my willpower not to kick him.
But I can’t lose Luke again because of my stubborn heart. I need him to be mine, therefore I have to kick my own ass. I had already laid out a plan this afternoon, but Aaron telling me that I was a ridiculous motherfucker was the push I needed to take the last step. As in every battle I fight, offense and surprise are my best weapons. I need to act fast and prove to Luke he’s it for me. Whatever “it” entails.
“I’m fine. I have tons to do, but I’m fine!”
We stop in front of my car, and he motions for me to unlock the passenger door. “What do you have to do on a Friday night?”
“Pack my shit, move to your brother’s, sell my condo, and make a grand gesture,” I explain.
Aaron stares at me incredulously. “Please tell me you’re not proposing! He’ll dump your ass right away.”
I roll my eyes and sigh. “I don’t think he would, but no, I’m not proposing.”
“What then?” He tilts his head the same way Luke does when he wants to read my mind.
“Sorry, can’t tell! Only one person knows, and the next one to know will be Luke.”
No whining, no prying, just a simple nod. Aaron just became my favorite person in the world. “I get it. You’re sure about moving in?”
“Worst-case scenario is what? He’ll dump my ass?” I shrug.
Aaron chuckles. “Mom would kill him if he does… I’ll help you pack. How are you getting into his house?”
“I’ll break a window.”
“Yeah, let’s use my key instead. I think he’s had enough men breaking his windows recently.”
“You’re not afraid he’s going to be pissed?” I raise my eyebrows while taking care of booking sleeping arrangements online for Aaron tonight.
“Ha! Let’s say it’s payback for when he stopped talking to me twenty-something years ago and sided with my high school sweetheart.” He grins.
“I just got you a room at the best hotel nearby, because whatever happens tonight, there will be some screaming.” I tap his shoulder.
Aaron’s eyes stay impassive, and I find that refreshing. Ian would have played twenty questions by now, and Ryan would have made some crass comments about who would be fucking who. What I would have given to have Aaron as a brother or a friend. I smile, thinking it might still be possible to have him as both. He’s certainly in the pro column for me getting Luke back. The whole Gritt family is, in fact.
* * *
It takes us a little more than an hour to pack what’s important to me. Clothes, letters, pictures, my whole office. That’s it. The rest can be sold. I don’t care about my furniture or dishes. Using Aaron’s key, I settle into Luke’s mini house, hanging my expensive suits next to his plain T-shirts and shifting things around to make room for my belongings. Then I set up his office so we can share the space. I want to start working from home more regularly. He wants me to slow down? I’ll slow down. In fact, I don’t need to work at all. I can’t really stand seeing Aiden and Marlene anyway, and I dislike most of my clients. Once I sell the condo, I’ll be sitting on fifteen million more I don’t need. Why should I work with people I hate?
By the time I’m done, it feels as though I’ve been living here for years.
“Now I need to make my grand gesture. Can you get Luke distracted at his party for at least thirty to forty-five minutes?”
He smiles. “Of course. Happy you’re trying to get him back. I would have hated breaking your teeth. And I think you’re Bella’s favorite now. She can’t shut up about you. Whoever breaks my mother’s heart will get my dad angry, and last time he was angry was… never. Nobody is stupid enough to ever hurt my mother to find out.”