Page 69 of Cross My Heart
I fall asleep with a smile on my face with that thought running through my mind, holding the most incredible woman I’ve ever had in my life.
* * *
MLM Tactical Group
Julia: alert*alert*alert* Dexter got laid this weekend!
Dexter: Jesus, Julia! I don’t kiss and tell, wtf (angry face emoji)
Trevor: No, you just give us every. Single. Detail. About everything else.
Preston: Way to go, asshole.Was It everything you hoped it would be? Fuck, man, I’m with Trevor on this.We have to listen to DAILY updates, sometimes multiple times a day, and you were going to leave out the good stuff? Not cool, man.Not cool.
Dexter: You’re a real piece of work, Julia, you know that?
Julia: *Takes a bow*
Lanie
Chapter 28
Our weekend on theboat,as Dex continues to call it, was the start of me sleeping in Dexter’s arms more times than not. I know I shouldn’t do it, I remind him every chance I get that I have to leave when our contract is over. I can’t admit that it's getting harder and harder for me to remember that myself. I’ve never slept so peacefully as I do in his arms. I’ve never woken with such hope and happiness.
Tate has become a different child right before my eyes, he is now, I believe, the kid he was always meant to be. I still don’t know what Anna did to him, but I’m done asking questions I’ll never get answers to. My job is to help him move on, let him feel love, and I do that every chance I get. “Tate,” I yell up the stairs, “we have to get going, or we will be late.”
“I’m coming, Lanie, I want to make sure I look good,” he says, flying down the stairs.
“Whoa, whoa, hey, kiddo, the last thing we need is for you to break a leg before your big night,” I smile at him.
“Lanie,” he draws out, rolling his eyes in the process, “it’s not just my night, it’s the end-of-year school party, that means it’s for everyone. Everyone graduates to the next grade today.There’s going to be popcorn and pizza and cotton candy, Lanie. Cotton candy!”
“I know, I know! So exciting,” I laugh. “So, what were you working on up there?” I ask, eyeing his hair suspiciously.
“I wanted my hair to look cool like Dad’s,” he admits shyly, and I notice his hair is gelled in all the wrong places.
I try not to laugh again. “Can I help you? I think we just need to comb out a few places and you’ll be all set,” I tell him, trying to pat down the piece standing straight up at the back of his head. “All set, buddy. Daddy will be here in five minutes. Let's start packing the girls up in the car so we can leave the second he gets here.”
“I’m so happy you’re coming, Lanes, I made something special I can’t wait to show you,” he beams.
I crouch down to his eye level. “I can’t wait to see it, Tate. Do you know how proud I am of you? You have come so far these last few months, I hope you’re proud of yourself too.You’ve done all the work, your dad and I just supported you. This is your night, Tate. We are all going to celebrate you, little man.”
He smiles, loving being called a little man.
Shortly after we load up the girls and all the supplies they require for two hours outside the house, Dexter pulls into the driveway. We try really hard not to show affection in front of the kids, but the longer this thing between us goes on, the harder it becomes.
Dexter: Day 86, Tate’s school show, then fire pit under the stars.
Lanie: Dex, are you seriously still sending these text messages to our friends every day?
Dexter: Fuck!
Lanie: (Laughing tears emoji)
* * *
Walkinginto Waverley-Cay Elementary feels so much different today than it did a few months ago. I no longer feel the need to keep my wits about me, peering around every corner for Tate’s bully. Even though Jake is still in the school, they have made every effort to keep them on opposite sides of the building. According to Tate, he has only seen him once, and Jake never looked in his direction.Hopefully, the little shit learned his lesson.
We all gather in the gymnasium, where the principal will give a short speech. When he is done, we will be free to explore the school and Tate can show off all his work before ending in the courtyard for food and games.
