I step into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me and taking a seat on the bed. “God, I’ve missed you. How was your day? How’s the promo going?”
“Good, I’m tired as shit though. I’ve been running around all day. How about you? Are you at Mom’s house?”
“Yeah, we’re staying with her tonight. I made spaghetti for dinner and now she’s in there trying to teach Caroline how to crochet.”
Linc smiles. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Helping me take care of her.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Linc. I want to do it. I should have done it a lot more before but…” Tears sting my eyes.
“Hey, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Why?” I say, swiping away an escaped tear.
“Don’t lie to me. I know you. I can tell when something is bothering you. What is it?”
I should have known he would be able to see right through me.
I sigh. “Dani. When she left the other night she said some pretty nasty things to me. I’m just…still trying to process it all.”
“I thought you said everything went fine.”
“It did. Until she got ready to leave.”
“What did she say?”
I let go of a deep breath; her cruel words still cutting me deep. “She expressed how unhappy she was that you and I are together and that I drove Dean to kill himself in order to be with you.”
Linc pulls a hand down his face. “Christ. Why didn’t you tell me this the other night?”
“I didn’t want to bother you with it. You have enough going on right now.”
“It doesn’t matter how busy I am. I want you to talk to me. You can’t hold this shit in. It makes it worse, you understand?”
I nod.
“You take what she says to heart, Syl. She’s still hurtin’ and people in pain do things that they might not realize hurts someone else. You know what I’m saying?”
I nod again; reminded of the pain I’ve caused him and so many others without even realizing.
“Have you thought any more about what we talked about?”
“Linc.”
“You better get your ass on that plane. I need you here with me, Sylvie.”
When he begs like this, I can’t help but want to give in. “What about Caroline?”
“It’s already been taken care of. Your parents already said they would keep her. You have no excuse.”
“Okay, I’ll come. But just for the weekend.”
He smirks. “I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Present
