Page 63 of Without You

The living room has been transformed into a safe baby space. The furniture has been pushed to the edges of the room, and the original plush, beige-colored carpet has been decorated with a lifetime supply of toys, books, and puzzles.

Deacon is lying on his stomach aimlessly lining up puzzle pieces, while talking to Hayden. Dressed in gray sweatpants that are stretched tight over his round ass, and a black t-shirt that tightens beautifully around his shoulders and muscular arms; he’s a temptation I never even saw coming.

My view of him is temporarily blocked when Vic sashays past me, and plonks her ass down on the couch beside me, holding a large mug of hot chocolate to her chest.

“You didn’t want to get on the ground and roll around too?” she asks, pointing at Hayden and Deacon.Well that’s an idea my dick just paid attention to.

Initially they were both on the ground to play some animal game with Lia, but she’s now moved on to bigger and better things, also known as sitting between her grandparents, watching her iPad, and enjoying the way they both sneakily give her candy.

“Were you as hungover as Deacon was this morning?”

“Huh?” I mumble mindlessly, too busy trying to covertly ogle her brother.

“When you guys went out?” she clarifies.

“Yeah,” I answer too quickly. “So hungover.”

It takes me a few seconds to realize she’s no longer speaking, which isn’t exactly the usual for Victoria. Cautiously, I turn to look at her, and she’s just staring at me pensively.

I squirm under her gaze. “What?”

She sips the hot beverage and shakes her head at me. “Nothing.”

My nerves feel like they’re about to shoot out of my skin being under the microscope like this. I should get going.

Before the excuse even leaves my mouth, Victoria is on to me. “Need to go home?”

For all the times I was grateful that Vic was my surrogate sibling, this isn’t one of them. She hasn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together, but she isn’t going to give up trying. Knowing it’s useless, I still try to appear aloof and untroubled.

“You know what? I think I might.” Lifting myself off the couch, I stand, and like my own personal shadow Victoria mirrors my movements.

“Julian’s leaving,” she purposefully calls out to the room.

Deacon’s head snaps up, oblivious to our audience, and directly asks me, “You’re going?”

“Yeah.” I tear my gaze away from his and answer him while looking at everyone else. “I’m beat and I’ve got a few things I need to take care of.”

“I’ll walk you out,” he says gruffly. Pushing himself up off the floor, Deacon doesn’t bother to excuse himself from the conversation. He’s a man on a mission, very much unconcerned with everybody’s sudden interest in our ‘friendship’.

“Sure,” I squeak out awkwardly.

I offer a generic goodbye to the rest of the family, and I’m thankful for their unusual laid-back mood. It makes escape happen that much quicker.

Deacon doesn’t just follow me outside, he practically stalks me. His steps so close to mine, his large body hovering, refusing to give me space.

He closes the front door behind him, and grabs my wrist before I have the chance to race down the porch steps.

“You’re going to leave, just like that?” he accuses.

Clenching and unclenching my fists, I try to give my body something to focus on instead of the firm grip he has on me. I know exactly what I want to say to him, but I can’t get those words out.

Not when everything around here reminds me of Rhett, not when everything around me is making me feel guilty.

“Just spit it out,” he demands. “Tell me how much you regret it.”

I spin on my heels, anger pulsing through me. “I can’t do this here,” I grit out. “Too many memories.”

My arm still in his hold, he turns back to the house, opens up the front door, and drags me up the stairs. Thankfully, a few well-positioned walls stop his family from seeing us, but at this point, it’s obvious Deacon doesn’t care.

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