Page 76 of Our Long Days
“Does this explain why I’m such a screw up? Yeah, Pat, it does.”
“That’s not what I mean.” He leans forward.
I don’t break eye contact. “What did you mean then?”
“You’ve always been a little spontaneous. All I’m saying is this explains it.” He grimaces at his choice of words when I blink at him silently. “Okay, maybe not the right way to describe it.”
The ring on my finger works overtime. “Not everything about my personality is associated with my neurodiversity. Maybe that’s just me.”
He glances down at his plate, and I feel bad for chewing him out—until Graham decides to chime in.
“There’s also a shortage of medication at the moment, something you need to consider,” my middle brother adds.Quinn nudges him with her elbow—he doesn’t get the hint. “And what about therapy, have you considered that? You’re not obligated to inform Dex, but it might help if he’s aware.”
This is exactly why I kept it under wraps. They have a long list of questions, and because of my procrastination and avoidance, I’m without the answers.
Too overwhelmed to remain sitting, I push back, the legs of my chair screeching across the floor.
“This is why I didn’t want to tell either of you.” I wave my hands above my head. “You’re suffocating me. I’m twenty-four years old. Trust me to handle my life. And for your information, Dex has known for months, and the last thing he did was berate me. So maybe he’s the one who needs to have a conversation with you, Pat.” I point between the two of them. “Neither of you asked howI’mfeeling about this, you just presumed the worst as usual. Is it really any surprise I kept it a secret? Booth isn’t innocent, but at least he listens to me. Do you know how hurtful it is every time you roll your eyes at me for being late or chastise me for speaking without thinking?”
They both recoil.
“Yes, I’m spontaneous, flaky, unreliable, whatever you want to call it, but I bet you’d struggle to cope a day in my shoes.” I tap my temple. “It’s a hot mess up here, and I’m working really hard to understand it. Be my brothers, not my keepers.”
Mom nods in approval. Johanna appears impressed. Quinn gives me a thumbs-up. Lottie glowers at her dad. Girls supporting girls.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need the restroom.” And to perish from shame.
I dart out of the dining room, down the corridor, and into the guest bathroom at the back of the house.
Safely inside, I stare at my reflection. Then, I let out an almighty belly laugh. Tears line my eyes. I’m hysterical, but shit,it feels good. I’ll apologize to my brothers eventually, for now, they can stew in guilt.
It’s not how I planned it, and maybe the reveal could’ve used more tact, but it’s out in the universe now, and already, my shoulders feel lighter.
There’s a knock on the door.
“Occupado,” I call.
Another knock, louder this time.
There is zero privacy under this roof. I swing the door open, ready to fire my rebuke. It dies on my lips when a large body hustles inside, sealing our fronts together and kicking the door closed without a backward glance.
“Dex,” I gasp. “What are you doing here?”
He doesn’t utter a word. Smoke swirls around his blown-out pupils. The air around him pulsates, luring me in until I’m balanced on the tips of my toes, desperate for a hit of his scent. Patchouli and campfire linger on his clothes, mixed with the smell of fresh sawdust.
Large hands white-knuckle the counter on either side of my hips, and an unmistakable bulge throbs against my belly.
Home would’ve been his first stop before driving here, perhaps to his bedroom, meaning he found thegiftI left for him.
A sly smile tilts the corners of my mouth. “You were missed this evening. Have you said hi to everyone?”
The staccato of his breathing increases, jaw clenching. His words snake around me, manipulating my senses. “No one saw me come into the house. I did catch the end of your speech, which leaves me in a dilemma, Florence.”
I love the way he drawls my name, like sinking into sweet molasses. Never Flo. Always Florence.
Nobody knows we’re together, a detail that shouldn’t thrill me.
“What’s the dilemma?” I bat my eyelashes.
