“Legally, yes. But Landry and I haven’t been living as husband and wife all this time,” I admit. “Only as roommates. Well, until yesterday, I guess.”
“I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have started all that just now. And I’m happy for both of you.”
“It’s okay. But I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” I tell her.
CHAPTER 43
landry
“Landry, wait!”
I stop in my tracks when an unexpected voice calls after me. I turn, surprised to find Tenley jogging my way. She slows down as soon as she realizes I’ve stopped, clutching the potato in the baby sling that’s strapped over her chest and trying to catch her breath as she approaches.
“Sorry, I just … I’m not much of a runner.” She waves a hand in the air and gasps.
“What do you need, Tenley?”
The baby grunts and squirms, and she pats his butt before she continues. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, I guess.”
“Since when do you care whether I’m okay?” I spit out, and she flinches. “Sorry, I’m not in the mood for this right now.”
“I know,” she says, “and you don’t have to worry about hurting my feelings. I’m here for solidarity … and to apologize.”
“Solidarity?” I cock an eyebrow at her. “What the hell would you know about …” But I trail off when I realize what she’s trying to say.
“I always thought I was terrible at expressing my emotions and recognizing that in others, too. It turns out I was just scared.” She shrugs and drops her hands to her sides. “I was so afraid of failing that I kept pushing everyone away, and in doing that, I hurt them more than I thought.”
“Well, looks like you’re managing just fine now. Congratulations,” I say sarcastically, gesturing to the baby. “I don’t know what any of that has to do with me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, you do.”
I frown and cross my arms. “Are you really trying to offer me advice right now?”
“I’m trying to prove to you that it’s not too late to pull your head out of your ass and see how much everyone in that house cares about you, despite the way you’ve convinced yourself otherwise.”
“Now you’re blaming me for this?” I ask incredulously.
She throws her head back and groans. “I’m not saying any of this is your fault. But you don’t have to keep punishing yourself for wanting something different. You deserve to feel loved and safe and understood as much as the rest of us, but you have to give your friends and family a chance to make you feel that way.”
By the time she finishes her rant, I realize her teeth are chattering, and she’s rubbing her hands over her baby, presumably to keep him warm. I turn and open the door to my Jeep, which I’ve already used the remote to start a few minutes before.
“Come on, you’re freezing,” I tell her, gesturing for her to sit inside.
She peers at me curiously. “Thanks,” she finally says before she climbs into the seat. “Aren’t you going to get in?”
“Is that okay?” I shove my hands in my pockets while I wait for her consent.
“Of course, Landry,” she replies, glaring at me. “I’m not worried about being alone in an enclosed space with you. And like you said before, we’re family now, aren’t we?”
I sigh and nod before going around to the driver’s seat, then I turn up the heat as soon as I close the door behind me.
“This was very kind and intuitive of you, you know,” she comments after a while. “I don’t think you’re as bad at reading people as you think you are.”
“I’m a doctor,” I say with a scoff. “I can’t just look the other way when someone gets sick or needs my help.”
“Is that why you married Daisy?”
I purse my lips and look down at my lap. “She needed the health insurance. I couldn’t let her go without.”
