Page 74 of Pin-up Girl

“Can I stop you?” Dee asked from the other side of the door.

“You know you can tell me no.” I didn’t let Dee decide everything in her life—there were rules—but I gave her full autonomy over who she allowed in her space.

The knob twisted, and the doors swung open. She was already turning away. “You know that when you and Mom whisper, it’s as obvious you’re fighting as when you yell, even if I can’t hear the details.” She sat at her desk.

“I know.”

“Come in,” Dee said.

I knew Regina was around the corner, listening to the exchange. That was fine with me.

I sat on Dee’s bed, facing her. “Mom isn’t going away to get away from you.” As much as I loved a good dig when it came to Regina, this wasn’t the time. “There will be chances for you to visit her, and to see her company dance. San Francisco is pretty and a lot of fun, and the three of us can hang out there. You can go there to hang out with her.”

“But she’s leaving us.”

“And that’s her decision. It’s not your fault,” I said.

She fell silent and slouched in her chair, staring at her hands. Several minutes passed without her saying anything.

“Dee?”

She pushed out a noisy breath. “The shirt is still ugly. I’m not wearing that to dance.”

“I bet Aubrey can help you fix that.” I wasn’t certain, but from what I knew it made sense that the clothing could be altered.

Dee looked up, but not enough to meet my gaze. “Do you think she would?”

“We’d have to ask her, and to do that, you can’t stay in here forever.”

“But you’re still staying divorced from Mom.”

“I am. She and I don’t love each other, but I do love you, Dee.”

She crossed her arms and gave me a scowl. “I know.”

“Spend the rest of the week with her, like you planned. And I’ll see you Sunday?”

“Okay.” Dee pushed out of her chair to give me a hug. “Don’t leave me and move somewhere else,” she said so softly I barely heard her.

It broke my heart. “I promise. Never. Do you want to come home tonight?”

Dee shook her head. “I want to see Mom.”

“Okay. You call me if you need me.” I spent a few more minutes making sure Dee was all right, and headed out.

On my way out, I fixed Regina with a deep glare, but I was out of words for her.

As I drove home, the rain started. Huge drops pelting the roof of my truck, and adding to my hammering thoughts. The dreary chaos matched my mood.

I was worried about Dee, I was furious at Regina, and how much of an asshole was I that I wanted to deal with both by seeing Aubrey. Or Brodie.

Dee’s questions from before and during dinner had me thinking about the past, but not with my ex-wife. “Hey, Xerxes, call Aubrey,” I said to my phone.

The ringing filled my car, but after several of those, Aubrey’s voicemail picked up..

I bit back a sigh. “Hey. It’s me. Call me if you want to hang out.” I paused. “I need to see you.”

I reached to the device, where it sat in a cradle attached to my dashboard, and hung up. It was probably a good thing I didn’t have Brodie’s number.

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