Page 38 of Without You

He doesn’t get the chance to argue with me because his dad is tapping his knife against his beer bottle, calling for all of our attention.

“I’m not a man of many words,” he starts. “But it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t thank you all for coming together today. I know it’s not easy.” Swallowing hard, his eyes well up with unshed tears, triggering the same blanket of heavy emotion around the table. “To have my family together, all under the same roof, is unheard of. It’s not easy remembering and it’s impossible to forget.”

He doesn’t stand as he talks or raise his voice. Somehow the noise around us fades into the background, the heartfelt message he’s trying to get across taking precedence, reaching all of us in different ways.

“I wish it didn’t take death, and anniversaries to unite us like this. We’ve all already lost so much, and we shouldn’t let the business of life get in the way of sharing it with one another. Life is short. Life is precious. And we owe it to Rhett to remember that. Honor his memory by living.”

Bill turns to Elaine, whose head is buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking in sadness. He wraps his arm around her, and we all individually fold into ourselves.

I mean, what do you say to the parents that lost their son? The grandparents that outlived their grandson? The brother and sister who are missing their sibling?

The busboy unknowingly disrupts the silence, packing up all the empty plates and dirty cutlery, getting the table ready for our dessert.

The lull in conversation slowly disappears, hushed whispers between everyone around me getting louder.

“Hey, Deac,” Victoria says over me. “We’re thinking of spending a weekend in Seattle, what do you say?”

“Well are you coming to visit Seattle, or visit me?”

“I guess we could fit you in,” she teases.

“You guys want to stay with me?”

“Um,” I hesitantly interrupt. “Do you guys want me to move? So you don’t have to talk with me in the middle?”

“No.” Deacon’s voice is calm and absolute, and the hand that lands on my thigh, stilling me, is a perfect match. The move doesn’t go unnoticed. Victoria looks down at his hand and then back up at him. He doesn’t back down from her stare or move his hand. “You’re perfectly fine where you are.”

9

Deacon

Ishould be freaking out about my constant need to touch Julian, but right now, I’m more scared of the inquisition I know is coming from my sister.

Her posture straightens, her body stiffening in shock. Her eyes are wide, the unspoken questions written all over her face.

She isn’t usually one to hold back, but the obvious clench in her jaw makes me wonder why she’s biting her tongue.

“So,” I drawl, bringing the conversation back. “Are you staying with me? I’ve got plenty of space.”

“I don’t think Josie would appreciate a screaming toddler in her space.”

Shit. I knew there was something I forgot to tell her.

“Oh,” Julian says, a little too enthusiastically. “They broke up.”

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out quickly. “I was waiting to see you to tell you.”

Her eyes narrow in on my hand; the one that’s still on Julian’s jean covered thigh.

“It appears that there’s a lot you still have to tell me.”

And there it is. The money shot.

“Hayden,” Julian calls out across the table. “I’ve got some questions for you about real estate. Let me pull up a chair beside you and Lia.”

Both Victoria and I give Julian the side-eye. “Don’t look at me like that. You two can get back to killing each other, I just have no plans to sit in between you when it happens.”

He stands, his long lean body moving away, forcing space between us. I watch him make his way to Hayden and let my eyes slowly drift back to Victoria.

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