Page 100 of Fight For Us
“I’ll meet you over there.” As the words left my lips, I remembered what my father said earlier and met Olivia’s gaze. She rolled her lip between her teeth and cast her eyes down, arm still slung around Alex.
“I meant my old place. Sorry, I just need time.” I nodded and bit my tongue. This wasn’t a conversation to have in front of Alex.
“Nothing to be sorry for. You’ve haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Let me get settled in for a bit. Call me later, okay?” I nodded and watched the other pieces of my heart walk away from me, knowing there was nothing I could do.
I must have stood there for ten more minutes staring off into the nearly empty parking lot, listening to birds chirping and cars driving by. I’d known rock bottom. I’d lost a brother and lived through hell. But this ache in my chest, so heavy it could drag me down into the dirt, was unlike any of those feelings.
When my leg and hip pain cranked up, I finally moved, getting into my car. The need to find the nearest bar and drink myself stupid was strong. I was tired of thinking and planning and getting nowhere.
Maybe Dylan was with me since it felt like I blinked and found myself back at home. The bastard knew I needed to stay in my right mind.
The house was empty and too quiet. Everywhere I looked reminded me of Olivia. Her smell even hung in the air. I pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and collapsed on the couch totake off my prosthesis and take some pressure off my hips. What the fuck was I going to do?
I didn’t even have a cellphone, thanks to my outburst. Olivia must have forgotten, since she'd asked me to call her. This had to be the worst possible time to be without a phone. I’d have to call my lawyer and see if she’d be able to move our appointment up, too.
After going through different plans in my head, I remembered my laptop, sitting dead in my closet and pulled it out to charge. It was my only form of communication. Driving to my lawyer’s office unannounced seemed a bit too much and Olivia obviously didn’t want me at her place.
I’d send Olivia a message first. Luckily, I had her email saved in my inbox from work related stuff. I clicked and sat back, head in my hands, trying to figure out what the hell to say. After staring at the blank screen for fifteen minutes, I typed a quick message.
Hey,
With everything that happened this afternoon I forgot I didn’t have a phone. I’m sorry, Tiger. I miss you and I hope you’re both OK. I’ll let you know when I pick a phone up tomorrow. Can we sit down and talk then… about us and Lilly and everything? I don’t even know if you’re scheduled to work tomorrow, but maybe I’ll see you there.
-Wes
As I shut the screen I realized this was the first time in months that I was truly alone. There’s always been someone, either at work or my parents and more recently, Lilly, Alex, and Olivia.
I laid back on the couch for fifteen minutes but my body vibrated with restless energy. Unable to sit around and do nothing, I put my prosthesis back on and drove to my parents house.
My mom set a bowl of pretzels in front of me at the table. “I can’t believe this is happening. What can we do?”
My parents were the quietest I’d ever seen them as they processed what had happened. My dad went for a walk to clear his head.
“I’m sure I’ll need you with all the legal stuff but as of today, I don’t know. I’ll have to move up the appointment with my lawyer but for now, I can’t sit at home, it’s too quiet.”
“I understand.” She sighed and put a warm hand on my shoulder. “The timing couldn’t have been worse, what with yesterday being…” She hesitated, but I didn’t need her to finish, I knew what she meant.
“Yeah…”
She studied me with watery eyes. “What happened with Olivia? Did you tell her about Dylan?”
I knew this conversation was coming. “Not as much as I should. I pulled away like an idiot.”
She tapped her nails on the table, thinking. “Maybe you should go to her. Did you apologize?”
“I have other things to worry about right now, Mom. Plus I think she needs time.” I grabbed a pretzel and took a bite, chewing slowly. My parents didn’t see how I’d acted. They didn’t see the look in her eyes the night before when I absolutely lost my shit. Of course she needed time, anyone would.
“Or maybe she wants you to fight for her. She’s been through enough in her life and I can tell you’ve been her rock. It’s probably been hard to see you pull back this way. And I know she loves Lilly. I’m sure she’s upset too and wants to help. We should all be together, we’re a family.”
My mother's words took root in my mind.
We’re a family.
She’s my wife.
What the fuck was I doing sitting here wallowing?
