Page 29 of Reclaim

The connection between us is nowhere to be found, and I’m regretting my decision by the second. Whatever this is, it’s stale and detached. My only purpose is to get off and go home.

“If you don’t want it in your mouth, stop,” I warn.

Ignoring me, she moves her head faster, and my spine begins to tingle with that addictive feeling. I sink into the wall and let my release course through me.

“Fuck,” I hiss. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

10

Jagger

“Dad,” Dakota calls out from the kitchen. “Close your eyes; we have a surprise for you.”

“Did the pizza come when I was in the shower?”

“No, the delivery guy hasn’t come yet.”

“I’m coming to the kitchen.”

“No,” they both call out.

I fall onto the couch and wait to see what Dakota and Drix have up their sleeves. We usually have dinner together every few nights, but both Drix and I said we had good news to share, and we wanted Dakota to be here.

The bond between them surprises me each day. On more than one occasion Dakota reveals how Hendrix has spent years telling her stories from our childhood and making sure she knew everything about me, even if I wasn’t here in the flesh.

“Okay, we’re coming. Close your eyes.”

I entertain the charade, and wait for them to give me more instructions. I feel the couch dip, and the shuffling of Dakota settling near my feet. “Okay, Dad give me your hands.”

She places a box the same size as my hands in my open palms. “Can I open my eyes now?”

“Yep. Uncle Drix give me my camera, quick.”

Dakota is obsessed with photos, but not just with the social media aspect of it like most kids her age. She loves capturing the moment. And she does it well.

“Ready? she asks, excitement in her tone.

I nod.

“Now open.”

My eyes gravitate to the box immediately. It’s a new Apple iPhone. Sitting up properly, I swing my legs off the couch, and Dakota rushes to be by my side. I wrap my arms around her shoulders. “This is too much.”

“Can we open it?” she asks, ignoring my statement.

I look up and see Drix watching me with trepidation. “Dakota wanted to be able to contact you at all times, and to teach you to take photos.”

“So, it’s all your fault is it?” My head tilts in her direction.

“Absolutely. Can we stop the chit chat and open it now?”

“You’re going to have to show me how it works. It looks ridiculously complicated.” The doorbell sounds. “But first, pizza.”

We sit around the dining table, a box in front of each of us. There’s no sharing food in this house.

“I have some good news,” I announce. “You know I’ve been looking for jobs, and a few recruitment places finally got back to me.”

“What will you do? When do you start?”

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