“Do you have to though? I mean, it’s not about money, and she’s not some chick from the bar or whatever. She has a house. A gate. Security if she wants it. She can kind of take care of herself.”
“Then what good am I? Why would she keep me around if I can’t even protect her?”
“The dick?”
“This isn’t funny,” I say, but find myself laughing anyway.
“To answer your question,” he says, making his way to the door, “you could love her. And be there for her. And support her. That’s what I think about when I think about the good times with Keeley. That’s what I miss. I miss seeing her eyes light up when I’d bring her home little gifts or the way she’d look at me like nothing else mattered. Like we were a team. We’d talk about what we wanted in life and how we were going to get it and dream and plot and plan and laugh at how dumb we were.”
With a little smile, he opens the door. “I gotta go or I’m going to be late. Be home later.”
“See ya.”
The door snaps shut and I’m left standing in the kitchen. The picture is crooked on the wall where Nate tried to rehang it after my tantrum yesterday. The picture itself is one from my grandmother’s kitchen. It hung in there my entire life. It reminds me of ham loaf and mashed potatoes and Gospel songs on the radio while we ate with plastic silverware in front of the television.
With a sad smile, I head down the hallway to check on Ryder.
Camilla
“THOSE ARE SUPER CUTE.” JOY points at my new yoga pants and smiles. “Where’d you get them?”
“Halcyon,” I say in reference to Ellie’s store. “She has a new line in and they’re amazing. I love them. She has these in green too.”
“I might run by there tomorrow. Cute workout clothes make me want to wear them which, in turn, gets me off my butt and into the gym. Sometimes.”
We go back to stretching after our yoga routine. I planned on skipping today, but after yesterday, my body needed the release.
I kept my phone in my pocket all evening yesterday and even took it into the bathroom while I soaked in the tub just so I wouldn’t miss his call in case one came through. I warred with myself whether or not to just call him but decided he might need the space after dealing with my brothers. Maybe I needed a little time, too, to let things marinate.
“So,” Mallory says, plopping down beside us, “Sienna said Ford and Linc met your mystery man yesterday.”
I eye my sister as she sits in between Mallory and I. “Yes. They met Dominic.”
“Oh, he has a name,” Mallory teases. “You know, I feel like I’m ostracized from information because of Graham.”
“You know, you feel right,” I laugh.
“Okay, but you guys directed me to him,” she protests. “It isn’t fair that I don’t get to be one of the girls.”
“Whoa!” Joy says, cutting in. “Did you say Dom had lunch with your brothers?” Her eyes are wide, her jaw hanging open. “I know none of you want to hear this, but that’s like alpha heaven right there—no offense, Mal.”
“That’s gross,” Sienna flinches. “Except for the Dom part. I’ll agree with you there.”
“Hey!” I laugh.
We break into a fit of laughter, each of us mentally erasing a different part of that statement. It’s Mallory that brings us back to topic.
“So,” she says, “this non-info thing. It’s not fair. It’s not like Graham is going to marry me or something.”
She rolls her eyes and tries to make it seem offhanded, but it’s not. There’s a pain on her face that Sienna and I both pick up on.
“What’s going on with G?” Sienna asks.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Mallory frowns. “I’ve left every possible hint that something needs to happen. There’s a bridal magazine on the coffee table. I’ve been talking about flowers and good months for weddings. And . . . nothing.” She worries her lip between her two bottom teeth. “Look, I know in the grand scheme of things we haven’t dated that long. I get it. But, hell, I live with the man. I can’t as much as look at another guy without him taking me home and . . .”
“Yeah, just trail off right there,” I wince.
“No. Don’t. I’ll take details,” Joy jokes as Sienna elbows her.
“We’re together. I can’t imagine not being with him, and I don’t think he has plans to not be with me,” Mallory laments.
“He definitely doesn’t,” Sienna agrees. “It’s Graham, Mal. Everything has to go on his time. At his pace.”
“On his schedule,” I add. “Maybe he’s scared. He’s never really done the serious girlfriend thing before.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want that with me,” she says. “I see everyone in your family getting married, having babies, and I just want to be a part of that. I watch Dani with Ryan and I get . . .”
“Baby fever?” Joy offers.
“Yeah. That.”
“I think the Landry boys do that to everyone. Sorry. Again, no offense,” Joy adds.
“None taken,” Mallory sighs. “I know he loves me. He bought this place for me. We’re married in every way that counts . . .”
“Except for the one that does,” I finish. “I’m sorry, Mal. Want me to talk to him?”
“No,” she says, getting up. “I don’t. I just need to stop feeling sorry for myself and enjoy what I have.” She flashes us a smile that’s only mildly happier than her frown. “I have another class to teach. Talk to you guys later.”
“I have to go too,” Joy says. “I need a shower after all that visualizing.”
“You’re so gross,” I say as she and Sienna trade goodbyes. Once she’s gone, my twin looks at me.
“What are you doing today?” she asks.
Pulling my legs together like a butterfly, I shrug. “I don’t know. I need to go by Dom’s in a little bit and grab my laptop. I left it over there and I need it to send a few emails about the charity thing coming up.”
“How’d it go yesterday? You didn’t call so I was afraid to ask.”
“The actual meal didn’t go too bad . . .”
“What’s wrong, Swink?”
“I don’t know. I just . . . Dom said some things that bothered me.”
“What about?”
I look at my sister. Her eyes reflect my concern. “A lot of things. Me. Him. Us.”
“You didn’t break up because you’re not in bed crying.”
“No,” I chuckle. “We didn’t. I don’t think. I mean, we didn’t talk much when he did call because he had Ryder and was distracted. But he seemed fairly normal and insinuated he’d see me today.”
We exchange a look.
“Let me give you a ride over there,” she offers. “That way if things aren’t all abs and awesome, I can take you home. And if they are, I can leave you and you can figure out how to get home on your own.”
Standing up, I laugh. “Abs and awesome?”