Page 118 of Coach Me
Tears prick at my eyes. “Will, I was doing so good.”
Will kisses the top of my head. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Go take some time for you, okay?”
I give him a thin-lipped smile because I know a nod isn’t enough for him as a response right now.
Will takes Callie’s hand, then stops in front of Dex. “I told you she’d find him.”
Dex looks at me for a moment—he’s got his stone walls back up, I can tell. “You did. I talked to Olsson. I'm taking Miles and Lucie back to the hotel, and I’ll be talking to him again tomorrow. Considering he asked Callie to help search, I think you both know you’re not in trouble for leaving, but I want you to know that it means a lot to me.”
Will shakes his shoulder. “I told you—important people needed me. Now they need you.”
Dex sighs with a slow nod. Oof, that’s not a good sign.
When Will and Callie walk out, Dex finally meets my eyes as I continue to hold Miles.
“Dex, I’m?—”
He holds up his hand, his tone clipped. “Lucie, are you okay?”
“I…um…” I’m not entirely sure how to answer that question. Physically, I am, but emotionally we’ve all been through the ringer and it’s not even dinner time.
Miles fiddles with my hair again. “Can we go back to the hotel now?”
I tighten my hold on him. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Dex doesn’t say anything as I walk past him. He doesn’t reach for Miles either, but as I reach the door, he’s there to pull it open. “Shuttle should be waiting for us out front. Heads-up, Kate’s coming too.”
“Okay,” I say softly.
Dex presses his lips together. Man, he really threw his walls back up fast. No matter, I think I’ve finallyfigured myself out. I know I’m capable of breaking them back down again if I need to.
Chapter 40
Dex
I’ve had many adrenaline rushes throughout my life—throughout my career, but not a single one of them has ever felt like this. I can barely form words, I feel so drained.
But then I look at Lucie. This incredible woman is just taking this all in stride. She’s, arguably, been through more emotional stress than any of us, and yet her light seems to shine even brighter.
Miles doesn’t let go of her the entire shuttle ride back to the hotel, and I don’t blame him. Hell, I want to hold on to her until I find my fucking bearings again. I want to comfort her about her dad. I want to kiss her for finding my son. I want to tell her I love her for every single moment of the day when she put Miles first. Over herself. Over me.
Fuck, I feel like I can barely breathe thinking back on it.
By the time we reach the hotel, Miles is out like a light. His crash hits him so hard he doesn’t even wake up when I take him from Lucie and carry him up to our suite.
Lucie doesn’t ask any questions when Kate follows us. When Kate asked if she could stay with Miles for a bitlonger, I could tell she needed it, and I understood that, but I told her we needed to have a conversation before she left.
I couldn’t really expand on it with Miles clinging to the both of us, but it’s happening.
I lay Miles down in the bed and pull the blankets over him.
“Dex,” Kate whispers. “Can I just lie here with him?”
I sigh, thinking over all my options. “Yeah, but you’re not getting out of us having a conversation before you leave.” I glance at Miles, still sound asleep. “I’m telling Miles about Lucie. I know we have a lot to figure out as co-parents, but Lucie is going to be a part of that. She deserves to be a part of it.”
“I know.” Kate gives me a thin-lipped smile. “I’m sorry for today.”
I only nod before I back out of the room and quietly shut the door.
