Of course, the hotel Lex picked is fancy as fuck. Except for Kate, we all look a little out of place in the high-end restaurant on the top floor. But we don’t really care, preoccupied by other things. Lex got us a private room reserved for business luncheons or whatever, so we’re able to talk freely about what’s on everyone’s minds. By the end of dinner, my parents seem slightly less worried. They understand Lex has the means to fix this problem and that we’ll soon be out of the woods.
In all honesty, neither of us is entirely confident we’ll find a way to free ourselves from Becker’s death grip, but we’ll try. We’ll do everything we can to get our lives back. With our brains combined, we might be unstoppable.
My parents leave first, having had a long day. We’ll meet with them in the morning at the hospital to see MC before her surgery. Then, as soon as we know how it went, Lex and I are leaving for Seattle. We’re going back home.
When Rafa and Kate decide they should go as well, she excuses herself to go to the bathroom first. About a minute later, I join her there, desirous of talking to her alone. Like the others, she seems troubled, worried.
I’m leaning against the counter with the sinks when she comes out. Surprised to find me there, she proceeds to wash her hands. “Are you okay, blondie?” I ask.
“I should be the one asking you that. You got shot two months ago, and now this?”
“Life got a little crazy, yeah.”
My attempt at humor doesn’t land well. Instead, she stares at me blankly. “I was worried, you know? Going away like this, for two months? Everyone was happy you were taking a much-deserved vacation, but it sat wrong with me. I thought it was Lex’s way of keeping you away from your family and friends so he could better manipulate and abuse you, like a narcissistic pervert would.”
“Oh… no, I promise, it wasn’t like that. It was for our safety.”
“I realize that now. But still, I regret ever throwing you in his arms, pushing you to give him a try.”
The resentment in her voice pains me. For months now, I’ve neglected everything and everyone that wasn’t Lex. At first, I was too focused on getting him out of jail, then for a short while, making up with him, followed by two months in Canada. Kate is one of the many people I’ve neglected since Lex’s arrest. We’ve drifted apart when we should have gotten even closer since she’s now dating my brother.
“Don’t feel that way,” I plead. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I have no regrets, Kate. None.”
“Well, I do. Someone’s trying to kill you, Andy. And you, by association and through your actions, have become one of the most wanted people by every single law-enforcing federal agency. I wish you’d never met him. I wish I’d never encouraged you to sleep with him. I wish I could go back and warn you.”
She’s spiraling into her emotions, eyes glistening with them. The only thing I can think of doing is holding her through it, so I do, taking her into my arms for a tight, loving, and comforting hug. She doesn’t return it right away, shaking slightly against me. But then she sniffs, takes a soothing breath, and her arms come around me.
“I missed you, you skank,” I say.
“I missed you too, you crazy bitch.”
Once I feel that she’s calmed down, I release her. “How was Canada?” she asks.
“Amazing. We went on so many hikes.”
“Hikes?! You went on hikes?!”
“To be fair, Lex has mastered the art of positive reinforcement and made me love it with random forest quickies here and there.”
She laughs before shoving me in the shoulder. Immediately though, she slaps her hand over her mouth and says, “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! It’s the one where—”
“It’s okay. It’s all healed. Lex nurtured me back to health like it was his life’s mission. We did the exercises, the therapy… It’s almost as good as before,” I explain, moving my arm around to show her.
She hesitantly looks at the spot for a few beats. “Can I… can I see it?”
I only agree because I know how well it healed and that it will reassure her more than add to her concerns. So, I tug at the collar of my top and expose the thin pink scar to her eyes. She leans in closer to see it, then straightens up.
“Still can’t believe you took a fucking bullet for a man. Andrea from a year ago wouldnever.”
“Andrea from a year ago hadn’t met the love of her life yet,” I counter.
“Ugh, I feel you. As annoying as he can be sometimes, I’d take a bullet for your brother. Don’t tell him, though. He’d be insufferable about it.”
“Oh, so that’s what he is? The love of your life?”
“Yes, nothing compares. I can’t believe I ever thought I was in love before him.Thisis what love feels like. Before Rafa, I was infatuated at best.”
“From what he told me, I’m sure he feels the same way. I hope the language barrier isn’t too hard on you two?”
