Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,15
the eye. I guess when someone’s darkest days come, some people can’t stand not being in the sun.
My grief makes him uncomfortable.
“You’re doing enough taking care of the business for me. I’m going to need to take care of Antonia, so you’ll have to hold down the fort for a little while longer.”
He nods in agreement and shuffles his feet. He’s anxious to leave, and it’s awkward, and that saddens me. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I’m dealing with the worst shit that could happen, and he can’t wait to flee my presence.
“So, I’ll get this filed and let you get back to Antonia.”
“Okay, sure.” Before I can say anything else, he’s out the door.
Before the door closes, Gavin’s hand stops it and he comes inside.
“If you’re here to give me shit about accusing your dad of playing away with my mom, you can just save it because I’ve had my fill for one day.”
He’s pissed. There’s aggression in his stance. The muscles in his jaw are coiled and ticking.
“You were a complete dick, and we will have to talk about your fucking tact for future bullshit, but for now, you’re my best friend and you’re dealing with shit no one should have to, so I’m here to listen to you shout, scream, or just talk.”
He shuts the door and folds his arms over his chest.
“I don’t want to talk about it. There’s nothing to say that takes the sting that’s constant in my chest. Tell me something completely off topic.”
I wish I didn’t wake up today and could just sleep until all this turmoil in the pit of my gut fucking passes.
He saunters over to the dining table and pulls out a chair before slipping into it. “The papers were finalized for the apartment today.”
I raise a brow and nod my head, pleased for him.
“So, you’re going to be a permanent feature around here, huh?”
He shrugs.
“I’m already that, just now I won’t be taking up your personal space.” He grins, and as much as I don’t mind helping out my friends, I need my own space right now. The way this day is going, I might just break some shit and then drink a bottle of Jack until I’m numb. Antonia’s face comes to mind, and I try to hold onto her image. She needs me. I can’t do any of those things.
“What’s with Brad? I’ve hardly seen anything of him lately, and he never replies to texts, or when he does, it’s one word. He didn’t even stop for a chat when he left here just now.” Gavin voices what I was thinking earlier about him. He’s definitely acting differently.
“He’s busy running things at work while I deal with everything around here,” I say. I don’t want to rag on him after everything he’s doing for me, but I will be checking up on him to make sure he’s okay. I’ve been so caught up with Antonia and me, even before the baby, that I’ve been a shitty friend and don’t know if anything is troubling him.
“Of course. Well, you should come down to the club and take your mind off things. It’s not good for you to be cooped up in here with only your thoughts for company.”
He’s right. My thoughts are the enemy right now, and my prison. What I need to do is be with Antonia and try and find our way back to what we had. There’s this sickness constantly in my gut, an atmosphere surrounding me that’s daunting and tense.
“Nah. Antonia is expecting me back later, but another night. Thanks for coming up.”
He gets up and invades my personal space. His arms come around me, and he squeezes me to him, holding me there in a hug. Patting me on the back, he releases me and walks out.
I need to take a shower and go back to Antonia. I should ask her about the call, but I don’t want to start another argument, so I’ll let it go and pray she will find her way back to me.
GABY IS MY SISTER. All these years we could have drifted apart and lost touch, and we would have missed even more time together.
You always feel like your parents are the best parents there are. They appear to be this almost perfect being.
Knowing every answer to your questions, they soothe you in doubt and you put them on a pedestal, when in reality, they’re human. They were young, and had urges, and in