Otto shook his head, his brow furrowed. “Not really,” he said with a huff.
My heart sank. “Otto, I am so incredibly sorry..”
Otto broke in. “Sorry? What the hell doyouhave to be sorry for?”
“I..”
“Dex? Do you mind coming in so we can talk without shouting? I’m still a little tired.”
“Oh, jeez! Of course!” I slipped in and pulled the door closed behind me, standing awkwardly in the center of the small room. “Sorry about that.”
Otto cocked his head. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Dex.”
Dex. Not baby.
“I don’t?”
Otto shook his head, his mouth twisted into a small frown. “Naw. If anything, I owe you a bunch of apologies. Myke told me you were just helping with my care and we aren’t actually together, so I must have made you pretty uncomfortable with all the touching and marriage talk and everything.” His brows drew together. “I definitely crossed some lines so I’m sorry.”
“Oh, um, I didn’t mind,” I said softly. “You know I’ve always cared about you so I absolutely wanted to help in any way I could.”
Otto’s frown morphed into a scowl. “I appreciate that, but your mate couldn’t have been very happy to have me pawing you.” He winced. “Or trying to bond with your baby.”
I tried to smile understandingly but was pretty sure it was more sickly. “It’s fine, Otto. I don’t have..I’m not in a relationship, so it isn’t a problem.”
Otto’s eyes dropped to my belly, but he didn’t say anything.
“Did, um, did the doctor help with your memories?”
Otto huffed. “I guess it depends on your definition of help. He showed me the pictures of the house when..well, you know.”
I nodded. I definitely knew. There was no way I could ever forget that scene.
“I’m still not sure what happened but I am sorry you had to find me like that.” Otto groaned almost inaudibly. “I know some people think it was a suicide attempt,” he said quietly, “but I am positive it wasn’t. I mean, I don’trememberbut I don’t feel like it was that.”
I snorted. “I never thought that, Otto,” I assured him. “Not even for a minute.”
~*~
Otto
I should have been glad that Dex didn’t subscribe to the suicide theory, but something about the sad look on Dex’s face wasn’t quite sitting right.
“You didn’t?” I asked with a relieved breath. “Thank god. Why not?”
“Why not what?” Dex seemed confused.
“Why didn’t you think I was trying to off myself?”
Dex snorted. “Basic reality. We had an argument and they thought you were so broken up by losing me that you would drink yourself to death.” He snorted again. “Obviously ridiculous.”
Wow, there was alotto unpack in that short response, so I started with the most important part.
“Why would it be ridiculous for me to be broken up over losing you?”
Dex froze for a second and then forced a stiff smile. “Well, you can’t really lose someone you don’t love, right?”
I considered that and then shoved on. “Dex, I’ve loved you most of my life. You know that, don’t you?”
