Page 89 of Dreamboat

Our address doesn’t matter to me. What does matter is that we journey through this life together.

I push my plate aside and glance at her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“You didn’t know me sooner.”

I smile at that. “You know what I mean, Delia.”

“I know that you’re a good man and sometimes shit happens.” She runs her hand over my shoulder. “I have three brothers so I understand how strained those relationships can be at times.”

The difference is that she is close with all of them. Matthew has told me as much.

I had the same bond with Victor until our parents’ marriage imploded. Our father forced us to take sides. Neither of us wanted to but I stood by our mom. Victor felt compelled to do the same for our dad.

The argument that ensued between the two of us was laced with accusations and punctuated with actual punches.

We never spoke again after that day.

Twenty years is a hell of a long time to hate one of the people you love most in the world.

“We said things to each other that can’t be forgiven.”

“Words are words,” she whispers. “They sting. They can fucking destroy people, but there is almost always a way back if both people want that.”

“He doesn’t want it,” I assume based on the fact that I’ve never heard from Vic.

My mother hasn’t either.

“Did he tell you that recently?” she studies my face.

I see the moment realization washes over her. “Does he live in Boston, Donovan?”

“Yes.”

“You went there to see him,” she says with a finger pointed at me. “That’s why you went. It wasn’t to fuck Carolyn’s friend.”

I can’t help but laugh at the audacity of that. “I’ll never fuck another woman, Delia. You can count on that.”

“I know.” She pats her chest. “I feel that here.”

“I went to spy on him,” I admit. “I’ve done that for years. Jesus, this is so fucking embarrassing.”

Her hand finds my cheek. She guides my face so that our eyes can meet again. “Never be embarrassed to tell me anything. Ever. You miss him, don’t you? Your heart is telling you it’s time to put the past behind you.”

That’s exactly what it’s been telling me for the past two years, but I’ve never found the courage to approach my brother even though I’ve trailed him through the streets of Boston for hours on end. I even followed him out west when he was attending an awards dinner.

“I have no idea what to say to him, Delia.”

She pats my cheek softly. “Hi is a good start.”

“Hi?” I chuckle. “It can’t be that easy.”

“You won’t know that unless you try,” she tells me. “If you want me to go with you, I’m there, but I’ll understand if you need to do it alone.”

The offer to accompany me on a trip that may change my life forever means more to me than she can know. “Thank you.”

“I’d do anything for you, Donovan,” she whispers before she leans close to kiss me. “Anything.”

“That works both ways.”

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