Running my hand through my hair, I glance at the gravel driveway and look at the house. “Yeah, I know. She just means so fucking much to me.”
“Then let her breathe. You can’t contain a dragonfly and expect it to live.”
Empathy swallows me, and tears strain behind my eyes, but I know he’s right.
“Alright, get to the bottom of it if you can, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Give yourself grace, Burke. Her, too. Healing… it’s a fucking trip, a wacked-out line that’s one step forward and leaps back. It’s the way it’s undoing the trauma worked into the threads of someone’s being.”
“Is it the baldness or the beard that gives you wisdom?”
Curt’s laughter breaks the silence into the night air. “Deflect all you want, tough guy, but you know I’m right.”
“Write in your journal or something.” I click the car button, and it starts up.
He circles his own before opening the driver’s-side door. “Just trying not to clean up your shattered heart. Stay safe, Burke.” Curt’s smile drops at his final words.
I nod, and after he leaves I back into the garage, making sure the main floor is locked.
Once I’m upstairs, Clara is half asleep on top of the covers.
“Dragonfly, get under the blanket. You’ll freeze.” I pull her light hair out of her face and shrug out of my joggers.
Peeling back the bed, I lift her slightly to cuddle her in.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You can’t control who you became to survive,” I whisper into her neck and wrap my arm around her.
She snuggles back against me, and I feel whole. “We have plans tomorrow. We’re gonna close early to double date.”
“Sounds good. Why did you say earlier I could kick you to the curb?” I should let things rest, but I know that communication is crucial.
Clara sniffs and moves onto her back to stare into my eyes. “Ryan always left when I wouldn’t do what he wanted. It was his third favourite thing to do to hurt me, but I’ve been hurt enough, and so I’ll figure it out. Always fucking seem to.”
I lower and kiss her nose. “I’m never going anywhere, and you’re always welcome here. I don’t care what you do or don’t do. Just try not to break my heart if it’s possible.”
“Deal. Night, Burke.”
“Sweet dreams, Dragonfly.”
We’re seated on a bench across from two empty chairs in a very rowdy steakhouse.
Wouldn’t have been my first choice, but Clara didn’t want me to go “overboard,” as she says, and I stare at the vacant expression of the steers on the wall. What a lawsuit it would be if they fell and ruined dinner.
“Bailey!” Clara squeals and jumps up to hug her. She’s wearing a flowy yellow dress, and a medium tall man stands behind her, dressed in jeans and a button-down similar to my own attire.
“George,” Bailey says, “this is Clara and Burke. Guys, this is George.”
We all shake hands and sit down. Reading the menu, I already know what I’ll get, but wait on the others.
The server comes by and we order drinks, sticking with water. Clara stares up at me with her green eyes and bites her lip before asking the server for a mixed cocktail.
She glances back at me for approval, and it breaks my heart a little. I squeeze her thigh, trying to let her know all is good.
“It’s so nice to get out and have a double date,” Bailey says. “I was worried we’d be in the diner forever.”
Clara giggles. “It’s just until Debbie comes back, then it’ll be easier. I think she’s going to hire someone else soon.”
