Page 90 of Give In To Love
“It’s what I would have done.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
His shoulders slumped, defeated. “He’s not speaking to me.”
“Right. But also… You said earlier that Jimmy is fragile. I don’t think that’s true. Jimmy’s the strongest person I know. With everything you guys went through, he pushed through it. He survived. He got his degree. And when teaching English wasn’t a good fit, he got his second endorsement. He refused to give up. Yet he doesn’t see himself as strong. Why do you think that is?”
Sammy glared at me, then took a drink of his water.
“Look, I’m not saying it’s your fault. But Jimmy has been made to feel weak in one way or another his entire life. If I’d stepped in and fought his battle for him, I’d just be another person essentially telling him the same thing. He needed to do it himself. I had his back, and so did the rest of his friends. But Jimmy needed to tell that fucker off once and for all. And he needed to prove to himself that he could do it.”
Sammy’s expression transformed into one of grudging respect. “I’m a little jealous I wasn’t there to see it.”
I grinned. “I’m not gonna lie. It was glorious.”
“I’ll bet it was.” He smiled. “I was proud of him when I heard about it.”
“You should tell him.”
“Yeah, probably.”
Goldie’s head perked up moments before we heard the front door open and close. She gave a delighted yip, then hopped down from the couch and ran down the hall.
“You haven’t killed each other yet, have you?” Will called out. “TJ, cough two times if you need help.”
“I don’t think those signals work if the aggressor hears them too.”
Will appeared from the hallway and made a beeline straight for Sammy. “Are you behaving?”
“Yes, Dad.” They kissed briefly, then pulled away. “What are you doing out here? I was planning on meeting you at home.”
“I thought I should make sure you two weren’t killing each other.”
“You don’t trust me? That hurts, golden boy.”
I chuckled. “This feels like maybe a good time to head out. Are we cool?” I asked, looking at Sammy.
“Yeah, man. We’re good.” He slid a side-eye to Will, then back at me. “I’m, uh, sorry for being an ass the other night. You seem like a good guy.”
“Thanks. Maybe give Jimmy a call?”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as his face assumed a resigned look as if he’d just been caught stealing and was being forced to fess up.
I gave Goldie a scratch and then, with a little wave, headed out.
47
JIMMY
We pulledup in front of the little blue house on Saturday, and for the first time all week, I felt a positive energy thrumming through my veins. Since the fight with Sammy last Sunday, it felt like I’d been walking around under my own personal rain cloud I couldn’t shake. I knew TJ had gone out to talk to him on Tuesday, but I hadn’t heard from him myself, and it was bumming me out more than I expected. But today, standing in front of my new home, it felt like the clouds were parting and the sun was shining. It felt like a fresh start.
“You ready to do this?” TJ asked as he came around his car to join me where I stood, admiring the house. He’d spent the night with me at the apartment last night, helping me finish up the last of the packing. And when it was all done, he’d pulled me into the bedroom and worshipped my body until we were both sweaty and sated.
He’d been amazing this week despite my gloomy attitude, which made me love him even more. Maybe it was time I told him. Time to let go of the bullshit holding me back. Or push through it. Whatever it took. He’d shown up for me time and time again, each time in exactly the way I needed him. Perhaps it was my turn to show up for him. Not because he needed me to. But because I was making the choice to.
“TJ, I need to tell you?—”
