Page 47 of Losing his Daddy

I pressed my hands to his chest to calm him down. “Preacher was very nice about the whole thing. He agreed to give them an update to say I’m alive and ok, but that he wouldn’t tell them where I was.”

“Did you say Preacher? What a weird name for a P.I.” He said carefully.

“I did. He was also looking for you too. Apparently, Robin wanted in on the investigation once he heard about it.”

Weston scowled. “Robin, as in my brother Robin, right? How could he be involved with your friends on the… holy shit. Is he working near the ranch?”

I chuckled at his shock. “Sounded like it. The job is with Griffin, who's dating Harlan, the cook on the ranch. I’m sure the group is all tangled up now.”

I wasn’t sure what kind of response I expected, but a grin and laughter weren’t it. With my hands still pressed against him, I tapped his chest.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

He shook his head. “It’s just ironic that they all overlapped. Seems like we’d have wound up together one way or another. If I hadn’t found you before, then my brother’s meddling definitely would have done it. Must be that you and I were destined to find each other.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I wasn’t all too sure just yet. How could I be granted another irresistible boss to tempt me after the heartbreak I’d been through?

Wes hummed as he pulled food from the bag I’d brought in. “Anything else happen today? Something you might want to talk about?”

A thought hit me at his words. One I hadn’t had since leaving rehab.

“Yeah, actually, only I just thought of it.”

He stopped what he was doing to turn my way. “What’s got that confused look on your face?”

I hadn’t realized I was so openly showing how I felt. I tried to school my features as I replied, “I was just thinking about group therapy. One of the docs from Sunny Shades recommended it to me. After my last… weak moment, I feel it’s probably time I put some effort into finding a group. Maybe actually talk about my feelings a little.”

Wes smiled at me then, his features softening in a way that stole my breath. “I think that’s wonderful. If you want, I can go with you to the first meeting. That way, you won’t be alone.”

At the suggestion, I felt a wave of relief. “If you’re sure, then yes. I’d really like to have some backup. Just in case.”

I didn’t have to explain what I meant. He and I both knew that I was still in a delicate state after the birthday debacle.It wouldn’t be anyone’s intention to upset me, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t. Even a simple “what led to your addiction?” opening question might be too much.

That didn’t mean I couldn’t try.

I had to. More so now than before.

The community aspect of group therapy was touted as being transformative for so many. There was no doubt in my mind that it was going to be part of my life, long-term.

“Do you have a meeting time in mind? I’ll make sure to block it off on my calendar moving forward. You have me for as long as you need.”

I knew Wes was talking about the meetings, but a tiny part of me wanted it to mean more. It wanted those words to indicate more than the friendly way he intended them.

Chapter Nineteen

Weston

In the daysafter Preacher’s sudden appearance, I kept a close eye on Gerald. I wanted to make sure I knew the moment he dropped from the interaction. Because it would happen. Whether it was conscious or not, he would relapse into thoughts of the ranch, and in turn, the man who hurt him.

While I waited for any type of reaction from him, I focused my attention on praising him for every ounce of service he sent my way. Each time he cooked me a meal, I sang his praises. The errands he checked off his list earned gold stars on the page when I arrived home in the evening. I commended him at every turn for making my life so seamless, which wasn’t an exaggeration.

Having Gerald in my life was like breathing clearly for the first time after living with sinus problems your whole life. I had no idea just how stressed I’d been in my previous existence. I wasn’t sure whether it was the farce of an engagement or the lack of stretching out my dominant side. I only knew I was happy to no longer be encumbered by the beliefs of my past.

It was a normal Friday evening when it finally happened. I’d been texting Gerald throughout the day with updates about his day and our plans for dinner. My gut had been so sure thathe was nearing the point of needing release. Whether it was to cry until he felt empty or to scream until his lungs gave out. Something was coming.

I realized when I entered the apartment that night that I had been right. While he wasn’t falling to pieces just yet, there was an obvious tension in Gerald’s body. His shoulders were nearly to his ears, and he couldn’t stay still for more than a minute at a time. I knew because I watched him for a full five minutes once I arrived, and he barely made it sixty seconds before shifting to another task.

Food covered the countertops, while several pots simmered on the stove. I could see Italian and Mexican cuisine, so I knew there wasn’t much rhyme or reason to it all. And when he turned at the sound of my keys landing in the bowl on the entry table, I saw the root of it all.

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