Chapter 14
1328 Words
Dillon:
“Please, be safe on the bus and don’t talk to any men wearing trench coats.” Declan warns me as I leave the centre. We’ve just handed out food parcels today and I am exhausted. Tomorrow there is a lunch for the homeless at the centre and we’ve also set up for that.
“Could you get any weirder?” I tease him as I hug him goodbye. “See you on Monday.”
“Be ready to put up the Christmas decorations! Have a good visit with the folks.”
I shrug, “I’ll try. See ya.”
When I get home, I remember to call Jill before my cab arrives. She’s jovial and excited to be spending her first Thanksgiving with Mike. He is taking her away for the long weekend after their dinner with Roan.
I’m so tempted to ask about the dinner, but I don’t. Jill is a great friend, but I know she’s protective of Roan and like she said before, he worked so hard to be OK again. Even though I know I wouldn’t hurt him and would rather have him break my heart. In fact, I felt like I was being drawn deeper into my feelings for him, than away from him. Wasn’t time supposed to be a healer?
“I’ll come by next week when we’re both back in town. Deal?” She asks.
“Yeah, deal.”
“Dillon?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re OK, right?”
I feel teary suddenly and its been a while since I asked myself that question, let alone anyone else, “Yeah. See you next week.”
“Bye.”
I hang up before she can say anymore. My heart is completely broken and it can’t be fixed at this point.
My cab arrives shortly after and we leave for the bus station. I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and I know if I don’t do something, its not going to get better for me. The question is; what am I supposed to do?”
It felt like I was leaving home, instead of going to it.
Roan:
Everyone is at my place the night before Thanksgiving and it’s a fun affair, for them. I’m sat in the corner, whisky in hand, listening to everyone laugh and kid around. I look at them thoughtfully and I’m thankful for everyone in the room, even Jordan’s nag of a girlfriend, because she keeps him feeling something. Mike is my only friend that knows how I cried into a bottle of Jack Daniels after my parents died and Jordan wouldn’t see me. I’m thankful the bastard can keep a secret. Jill was the friend who had my back and was always willing to prove it, even if it pissed me off at times. Jordan, who I leaned on, more than what he thinks he leaned on me.
Only problem was, it just felt wrong not having her there. Dillon. My Dillon. She was mine the minute I laid eyes on her. I had never been as persistent with anyone else. I tried so hard to move forward, but it wasn’t working. When I did try, it felt wrong. It felt like betrayal.
Jill looks at me pensively and then saunters over.
“Having fun?” she asks me as she sits down on the seat next to me.
“Tons.” I lie.
“You’re not happy, are you?”
“No shit.” I say, gulping my drink.
“She’s on a bus to Illinois in the next uh,” Jill looks at her watch, “fifteen minutes, in case you want to know.”
I look at Jill whose eyes are almost pleading with me to get up and go.
“Do you think I’m a sucker for punishment?”
“You’re miserable and I think she’s pretty much down in the dumps too.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then it doesn’t work.”
I grab my keys and run out the house like a man possessed! If I have one more shot with her, I am going to take it!
When I pull up at the bus station, there is no one there, bar a guy who is locking up the doors to the ticket office.
“The Illinois bus leave yet?”
He nods, “Yeah. About five minutes ago.”
Shit!
I try calling her. It goes to voicemail. I try a few more times and just keeps going to voicemail.
This must be the worst luck, ever.
Dillon:
“Turn around, please.”
“What?” My cab driver asks.
We’re almost at the bus station.
“You forget something?”
“No. Just please turn around. Take me to Sandusky Breweries, please.” The tears are streaming down my face at this point and I just want to go back and try to fix things with Roan.
“OK, but that’s more than double the fare basically.” i***t.
“Here.” I hand him more than enough. The drive back feels like it takes forever. Is this guy purposefully trying to ruin my life?
We pull up outside the long driveway and I tell him not to turn in. He looks at me like I’m crazy. I probably am, because its completely dark out and I have a suitcase that’s almost heavier than what I am in tow.
I stand outside for what feels like forever, before I pluck up the courage to try and call his number. Its busy. f**k!
After I start to feel the cold nipping at my appendages, I decide to call a cab. I’m not going up to his door to say, “Oh, hi. Why aren’t you picking up?” and then I’m faced with an awkward situation, especially if he has guests.
I start dialing the cab company again.
Roan:
My eyes must be playing tricks on me as I pull up to my gate. There is someone sitting on the side of the road, next to my fence, huddled up under what must be at least three coats.
Not fearing that it could be a potentially bad situation, I get out of the truck and call out, “Hello? Are you OK?”
When the person looks up, I immediately run over and scoop her up into my arms, “Dillon?”
“Roan.” She says quietly. She’s freezing!
“How long have you been out here? Why are you here?”
She wriggles against me, trying to pull free, “I was just leaving. I’m waiting for my ca-“
“Dillon, I meant why aren’t you in Wells. I thought you left for Thanksgiving.”
“I had to see you.” Her face is tear-stained and her eyes are puffy.
“I had to see you too.” I say, searching her face.
She’s beautiful, even with a red nose and eyeliner streaks. I can’t even formulate the words for the speech I had planned.
I hold her face in my hands and all I want to do is consume her. She looks at me, her eyes searching mine, “Why are you so good to me? Even when I’ve hurt you so badly.”
“You’re everything to me, Dillon.” I don’t need to give her a speech or declare anything for her to know its true.
She kisses me, pushing herself closer to me and after a while, pulls away.
“Is it too late for me to tell you that I love you?”
Her admission warms me to the core and I cover her mouth with mine again.
“Roan.” She whispers against my mouth.
I won’t tell her just yet that I have loved her since I saw her because I know I’ll have forever to tell her and I plan on doing it every single day.
- Writer
