Page 53 of Stables

Having a goal gives me purpose, and I can’t think of anything else in the world that would be more of an achievement than her happiness.

Chapter 15

Dixon barely closes thedoor behind him before Libby begins bouncing up and down next to me on the couch.

“Oh my god, Char! Did you see him? He’s like that guy from the show my dad used to watch.” Her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. “It’s, um, the one with the mustache and the Hawaiian shirts.”

I look at her blankly. I didn’t watch a lot of shows growing up. If the TV was on in my house, it was always whatever my father wanted.

“Come on, you know, don’t you? There was a helicopter.” Her face scrunches as she concentrates, then shrugs. “Maybe I’ll remember later. But for now, he’shot.How have you not done anything about that?”

“I’ve been a little, um, busy?” I point emphatically at my lower lip that’s still swollen from Matt’s grip last night, then sling my arm out to gesture at the giant piece of wood that covers half of my sliding door.

Libby raises one brow. “Yea, but if he had been in therewithyou, I bet Matt wouldn’t have laid a hand on you.” She nods triumphantly then turns to Paisley. “Tell your mommy you want Daddy Dixon. Can you say that? Daddy. Dixon.”

Paisley nods seriously. “Daddy. Dixon. Dixon. Daddy.” With a shriek, she sits on her heels and starts clapping her hands. “Da. Da. Da.”

“Great. Thanks for my future embarrassment.” My cheeks are scorching preemptively.

Libby giggles and pushes me lightly on the elbow. “Ah, it’s all in fun. Besides, you said there’s nothing going on, so it’s just teasing.”

Except the image of him reclining on this very same couch just a few hours ago with all of his humongous gloriousness hanging out is forever etched in my head.

And my lip burns with the memory of his thumb tracing it last night.

“You’re right. Nothing going on.” I parrot her words, but wonder if there’s any truth left in them.

He saved me, helped me, all while asking nothing in return.

For the first time in a long time, I feel valued.

I don’t know why he’s chosen me. There’s a piece of me that’s terrified because of it.

Mostly since I don’t deserve it.

I’ll never live up to whatever expectations he has.

Matt made it very clear that I was a bare minimum.

Worthless.

When my phone pings, it startles me out of my spiraling train of thought.

Dixon: Steak sound good for dinner?

Me: Sure, that would be amazing!

Dixon: Great, grab a few to thaw. Got a grill?

I don’t want to tell him I had to get rid of mine after Matt threw it off the porch because he couldn’t get it to light.

Me: No, but I can put them in the broiler?

It’s so rare I’ve had them, I’d be worried to screw them up.

Dixon: I got it. Libby staying to eat?

When I look up at her, her forehead looks like a Shar Pei butt, it’s so wrinkled.

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