CHAPTER 29
“When a body moves, it’s the most revealing thing.
Dance for me a minute,
and I’ll tell you who you are.”
—Mikhail Baryshnikov
Dylan had stayed late at work. He’d had a report to type. Paperwork was an essential part of his job, but this report had taken a really long time, especially since he’d been called into the lieutenant’s office for a lengthy meeting to discuss how he and Traci had handled the day.
Though Dylan had known his report, written in the most factual, impersonal way, had been correct, it still left a bad taste in his mouth. Because while he and Traci had performed well enough to receive praise from his lieutenant, he’d done so many other things wrong. He might know how to keep his emotions in check when summarizing police procedures, but he had a long way to go before he was able to keep cool when it came to his personal life.
In the span of a few hours, he’d managed to hurt his sister, irritate his partner, and surely tick off Shannon.
Now, as he walked into his house, Dylan knew he was going to have to apologize profusely to Jennifer. He’d said some words that he really regretted. While he did believe that his sister needed more help when it came to dealing with the trauma that she’d endured, he realized that he’d been letting his hurt and frustration show. He’d hurt her instead of helped, which was always his greatest fear.
Well, all he could do was apologize and try to make amends. It wasn’t like he could change the past.
“Sorry I’m so late, Jen!” he called out as he walked into the kitchen. “You wouldn’t believe how long the report was that I had to write. I didn’t think I’d ever finish it.”
But as he looked around the space, with its modern appliances and granite countertops, it was obvious that Jennifer hadn’t been cooking. Actually, it didn’t look like she’d even set foot in the room, which was a rarity. Even though he knew better—and that he’d just chided himself for doing the very same thing—the fear that was his constant companion where she was concerned loomed large.
“Jennifer?” he called a little louder.
One second passed. Then two. He walked into the hallway, peeked into the living room for her coat and boots that she always took off and left scattered around.
But the room was immaculate.
Just as he was about to start searching the house, she appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Dylan?”
She was dressed in soft looking corduroys and a lavender sweater. She looked rested. That was good. “Hey.”
Leaning over the bannister, she frowned. “Dylan, is everything all right?”
“Yeah. I, um, I wasn’t sure where you were.” That was a little better than admitting he’d been afraid something had happened to her again.
She pointed to her hair, which he hadn’t noticed was wet. “I was in the shower.”
“Oh.” Well, now he felt stupid. Looking for something to say, he said, “You didn’t make supper.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re right, I didn’t.” Her voice hardened. “I thought I’d order a pizza or order something in tonight.”
“There’s no need for you to do that.” Eager to be of help, he pulled out his phone. “What would you like? I’ll order it for you.”
“I can order a pizza.”
“I know that,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean you couldn’t. I just want to help.” No, what he really wanted to do was apologize but he wasn’t sure how to get started on that.
Looking resigned, she walked down the stairs. Her feet were bare and her hair was still streaming down her back in wet waves. Thanks to the plummeting temperatures outside, their house was cold. On another day, he might suggest she go put on some socks or maybe dry her hair a little bit. Tonight, he didn’t dare.
After she stopped a couple feet from him and folded her arms in front of her chest. “Dylan, I think we need to talk.”
“Okay . . .” He looked around. “Do you want to go sit down?”
“No, I don’t want to sit.”
“All right. So, what’s up?” And yes, he realized that he was sounding like he had nothing in between his ears except a lot of hot air.
“Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about everything, and I’ve decided something. You were right. We are in a rut. You are used to looking out for me, and I’m used to asking you for help. I need to start doing more things on my own. A lot more things.”
Relief poured through him. She wasn’t going to be mad at him forever. “That’s fine,” he said with a smile.
“No, Dylan. You don’t get it,” she countered impatiently. “What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m going to move out.”
Move out? Move out when she still got rattled by big crowds? Move out when that Lance guy was still at large? “Jennifer, don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“Stop being so condescending!”
“I’m really trying here. But—”
“You wouldn’t even listen to me when I tried to tell you that I was looking for a dog today. I wasn’t freaking out. I wasn’t running from an imagined person. I got lost in the woods and the snow while looking for Harvard.”
“I realize that.” Now.
“It sure didn’t sound like it.”
She wasn’t wrong. “You’re right, and I’m real sorry about that. I shouldn’t have gotten so freaked out that I took out everything on you. I’m so sorry for the things I said.”
She sighed. “I’m not looking for an apology,” she said softly. “I’m saying, that this is the right time for me to move forward. It’s the right time for both of us.”
“Where do you plan to go?” Maybe she was headed to their parents? That might be best. They could take care—
“I’m going to ask Shannon, Traci, and Kimber if I can move in with them.”
She wanted to room with his partner and the woman he was dating? He couldn’t think of a more uncomfortable situation for himself. “Jen . . . you can’t do that.”
“Why not? Shannon told me that her money situation is tight. Plus, they have an extra room. It sounds like an answer to a prayer.”
“You don’t need to move,” he said in a rush. “ If you want more space, I’ll give it to you.”
Her expression softened. “Dylan, I really do think living with those girls is going to be better.” She smiled. “Not a one of them can cook, they need me.”