Page 92 of Fight For Us
“Before class is over we’re going to practice a tough drill, but it’s so important. What do we always want to do first, before anything else?” She pointed at a young boy who raised his hand. “Yeah, Tyler?”
“Be aware of our surroundings?” he answered.
“Very good,” the instructor said. “Oliva and I are going to go through some drills to show you how being aware of my surroundings helps me stay safe.”
I watched them role play a few different scenarios while the kids watched with rapt attention. Then they finished the class with a fun obstacle course game. Alex was chomping at the bit by my side, more than ready to jump in, too. Oliva had told him at his six week check up she’d talk to his doctor. We were both eager for him to start classes almost as much as he was.
We took two cars over to Sal’s pizza for dinner before heading home. Like the past few nights, Olivia showered first and retreated to her side of the bed, phone in hand while I contemplated our situation.
“Want to play Spades?” I asked. Games always broke us out of any awkward tension.
“No, thanks. I think I’m going to finish my audiobook and go to bed.” She reached for her earbuds on the side table.
“Okay, I guess I’ll leave you to it then.” I went to double-check the kids were all good and ended up sitting outside on the porch with a beer, listening to the waves.
Whenever I felt shitty, I turned to Dylan. He couldn’t answer me. But it helped to pretend.
“I’m fucking up man. God, I wish you were here to kick my ass and make me a better man.” I swallowed a swig of beer. “It’ll be eight years soon. Can you believe that shit? How the hell I’ve made it this long is beyond me. There were more than a few times I was sure I’d be joining you up there. I guess that wasn’t in the plans for me, though. And I know you’d be pissed if I left Lilly like that. It’s just, shit… So many nights I lie awake thinking how it should have been me that night. I was the one fucking around. I was the drunk one.”
I finished my beer in two more swallows. “Don’t worry, I’ll have a bowl of Cheerios and beer for you, you weird bastard. And brother, if it’s possible, can you help me out with Olivia? I’m trying, but fuck… It’s difficult to let her in.”
I heaved in a breath, feeling it lodge in my windpipe. The air never quite reached my stomach when I thought about that night. With one more look at the charcoal sky, I headed into the house, feeling lower than I’d felt in a long time.
Chapter 36
Olivia
Wes woke up evenmore distant than usual. He’d barely uttered a word to me the entire morning and I didn’t know how to feel. In truth, I hadn’t been a peach either lately. Stress was getting to me. Every morning for the past week I’d woken up at three in the morning in a sweat with my heart racing. It seemed like we were clashing on so many small things, too. Obviously, the phone situation was a biggie and it was looking like that wasn’t going to change. He’d actually stopped carrying it with him all together. He’s been leaving a mess in the house, going out without letting me know when he’d be back, and has even been distant toward Lilly.
Something was going on with him. That much was a given. I’d bet it was the stress of Regina coming by today. I wasn’tworried though. Clearly, Lilly is happy and well cared for. What could she hold against us?
Wes worked for a few hours that morning while the kids and I cleaned, making sure the house was spotless. When he came home, I initiated the conversation.
“How was work?”
I followed him into the bedroom to change. “Fine. Same old.” He glanced around the bedroom. “Looks great in here. Thanks.”
“The kids helped,” I said.
I wanted him to come to me, wrap me in his arms, call me Tiger, and kiss me like he’s missed me all morning.
But he went into the closet to get dressed without another word. I took the cue to give him space. I checked in with the kids, who were both feeling the tension in the house.
“Be yourselves guys,” I said. “It’ll be okay.”
“My grandmother isn’t very nice,” Lilly said. “I’ve only seen her a few times, but I remember that she always yelled at me for touching her stuff.”
“My grandma used to do that, too,” Alex said. “I wasn’t gonna break anything.”
“No one’s yelling today, I promise. Come on, let’s fix your hair, Lil. We should clean your ears too.”
The doorbell rang right on time. Wes took a deep inhale beside me and opened the door.
“Hello, Wesley,” Regina said with an air of superiority. Everything about her screamedI’m better than you, from the way she sounded to the thousands of dollars of designer clothes. Little did she know, I grew up with people like her. Not only my parents, but everyone they surrounded themselves with.
“Regina,” Wes said curtly. “Come on in.”
She lifted her chin and stepped inside. I know I only saw Savannah for a few minutes the day she dropped Lilly off, but I couldn’t help but wonder how someone like her came from a woman like this.
