“I know you said you didn’t need help, but I’m here.”
It’s a perfect metaphor for everything that’s been going on in our lives lately, and I’m thankful.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me, Mandy. Whenever you need my help, all you have to do is ask. I wish you woulda asked before.”
It’s the first time she’s ever approached the subject like this.
“Don’t say anything.” She holds her hand up. “I know we’ll all talk as a group. I just wanted to get that out in the open.”
We’re still waiting on Drew, so I take a moment to ask her about something I know will make her smile. “How’s married life?”
Immediately she grins, a little bashful, a lot secretive. “It’s so much better than I imagined it would be. Waking up next to my husband every morning and going to bed beside him every night?” She shakes her head, letting out a sigh. “I finally get why y’all always wanted to be with Dalton and Charity all the time. Having those arms wrapped around you?” Her face flushes, her cheeks pink. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world.”
“Yeah.” I bite my lip as I think of my husband. “And when they’re taller than you, and they can put their chin on your head. Like when they can literally wrap themselves around your body?”
“Yes!” she screams. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I wish someone would have warned me about how obsessed I would get with my husband being shirtless.”
I giggle along with her, thankful she still feels comfortable enough to tell me these things. I’m incredibly grateful this is one relationship I didn’t ruin. A motorcycle pierces the quiet of the park, the two of us look at each other.
“Drew’s here.”
We say it in unison, knowing who it is before we even look at the parking lot. He parks and gets off his bike, looking a whole lot like Dad. Nerves make another appearance the closer he gets.
“Ladies.” He grins, having a seat next to Tatum.
He ruffles her hair, before setting his sunglasses down on the table.
“Stop.” She moves farther away from him.
“You got anywhere important to go after here, Bug?”
“You never know.” She flicks her straw paper at him. “Maybe I wanna go see my husband and I didn’t want you messing up my hair.”
“Your husband’s on my time clock. He’s working until at least four.” He grins.
“You can be such a dick.” Tatum makes a face.
This is new, she’s never called him a dick in my presence before. “Did something happen?”
“No,” he answers.
While she answers. “Yes, but we didn’t come here to worry about us, we came here to talk to you.”
“Yeah, Sis.” Drew helps himself to a piece of pizza. “What’s happening? I’m starving.”
I open the can of Coke, taking a straw out of the bag I brought, shoving it inside and taking a drink before I start to talk. “One of the things I’ve worked on in my recovery is telling people how I feel. I realized very quickly that I keep a lot in, and that’s one of the reasons I’ve not been able to get over some of the stuff that’s happened in my life.”
“We have to keep a lot in,” Tatum says softly. “Hardly anyone understands our lives.”
“Exactly.” I reach in to take a piece of pizza, mostly to give my hands something to do. “And to be honest, most of what I’m going to say is directed toward you.” I look at Drew.
“Somehow I figured that.” He adjusts in his seat, squaring his shoulders. “I can take whatever it is, lay it on me.”
My stomach is rolling, threatening to send the little bit I’ve eaten this morning up and out. “I need you to respect my marriage.” The words are said in a rush, and for a second I wonder if he realizes what I’ve said.
“I do respect your marriage,” he argues.
“No, you don’t.” He opens his mouth again, but I hold up my hand, staying strong in my feelings. “This is important to me, Drew. Please listen.”
“Okay.” But I can tell he doesn’t want to. His jaw works heavily, grinding his teeth together.
“Dalton and I moved as far away as we could and still be available to Heaven Hill so we could have some quiet. So we could have something that was ours, but it’s never worked that way. He’s your second-in-command, and I work for Charity. Dalton and I do a lot to take the stress off the