I want this woman. I refuse to screw this up anymore than I already have. Somehow, in some way, I have to make this work and build us a foundation that will protect us when the truth finally hits. I can lie and hide and be a fucking bastard, but eventually the truth will surface. I will not lose her.
***
I didn’t go to her last night and she didn’t come to me. I stayed on the couch with Sterling. I dreamt of Katie—she was smiling and laughing, as she always did. Nothing significant happened in the dream—she was just there with me, happy. I tell myself this is a sign from her, maybe even a visit, to let me know that she’s okay.
FedEx comes while I’m making coffee, delivering six boxes of various shapes. I carry them all to the guest room, put my coffee on the dresser, and start cutting the boxes open. I’m glad she’s still sleeping so I can prepare everything for her and hide what I’m not ready to use yet in the closet.
I have everything spread out on the bed when my cell phone beeps with a text message. I pull it out of my pocket.
Sydni: I’m back home. Can you come see me? We should talk.
Shit. Fucking bad timing.
Vandal: Kinda busy. Maybe next week?
Sydni: It’s important. Please come today?
Vandal: You’re a pain in my ass. I’ll need about two hours to get there. At the lake now.
Sydni: K. I’ll be here. Just come in. Door’s unlocked.
Pocketing my phone, I step out into the hall, closing the door behind me, and run right into her. Her hair is rumpled and her eyes are rimmed red.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey,” she replies, not meeting my eyes. “Is there coffee?”
“Yeah. Come on, let’s talk for a few minutes.” She follows me to the kitchen and stares out the window as I make her a cup of coffee.
“Can we get some vanilla coffee?” she asks when I hand it to her. “That’s my favorite.”
“Yeah, make a list and I’ll go shopping tomorrow. I have to go out for a few hours, so I can’t go today. I’ll be back around dinner time.”
“Again?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“You were gone almost all day yesterday.”