“Well, you need to tell your body that.”
I raised a hand and took a deep breath. “Just give me a second.”
“I’m havin’ a hard time not holding you, Wyatt.”
I was having a hard time not letting him, but I wasn’t about to admit that.
“I’m okay.” I took a deep breath and forced myself to take a step inside.
His hand settled on my lower back and it made me want to crawl onto his lap and fall asleep. I hadn’t had much in weeks and I suddenly felt safe again.
I needed to shut this down. I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Please don’t touch me,” I begged.
He removed his hand and I took another deep breath. We walked side-by-side into the great room and I held my purse to my chest like it was armor. Teddy was already at the pinball machine, Orion standing with him, encouraging him as he played.
I didn’t see Raquel, which bummed me out. I was in desperate need of a friendly face right now.
“Hey, Wyatt.”
I turned at the sound of my name and saw Aero walking toward me, a beer in his hand.
“Why the fuck do you look like you just saw a ghost?” he asked.
“Aero,” Sundance warned.
“I’m okay,” I rushed to say, and Aero studied me for a few tense seconds.
“You need a drink. Let me get you a drink,” he said, and headed toward the bar, returning with a bottle of Macallan and a glass already half full.
“I’m driving,” I said.
“Do you want me to put the bottle back?” Aero asked, and I gulped the glass then held it out again.
“One more.”
He grinned and filled the glass again before walking away. This one, I forced myself to nurse even though I desperately wanted to finish it.
“You wanna talk?” Sundance asked.
I shook my head.
“What happened with Teddy?” he asked.
I sighed and took a sip of the whisky. “He apparently wanted to see you.”
“Yeah, I get that, but what’s goin’ on with him and his meds?”
“They’re losing effectiveness, obviously.”
“Have you tried pot? Or CBD.”
“I’m not having my brother smoke a dooby in his long-term care house.”
Sundance chuckled. “There are edibles, Dimples. Or oil, or all manner of options outside of ‘doobies.’”
I sighed. “I haven’t looked into it, to be honest.”
