Page 77 of You Can Make Me
The love of my life.
The man who rescued me and kept me alive, who took care of me when I couldn’t get my shit together. He’d been my rock, always there. But now that I knew about his health issues, I would always worry about him. Life was fragile, I’d experienced that myself, but the thought of anything happening to him terrified me. And I hated being terrified. I’d had enough.
Dane seemed to have come to some understanding with fear after what had happened to him.
My God, his scars. I had so many questions for him, but maybe it wasn’t my place to poke at his wounds.
I climbed carefully from the bed, trying not to disturb Denny. He really did sleep hard when he allowed himself to rest. I thought about young Denny, sent to foreign lands to protect and serve, how frightened he must have been but determined to do his job. His determination to do right was one of the things I loved most about him, but it had taken its toll. I wanted to believe we had a long life ahead of us together, but we’d have to be cautious.
I may have been the one with the visible scars, but he carried deeper ones that I was determined to care for, the way he’d cared for me. And for that, I needed more information.
I found clean clothes and new toothbrushes on the counter of the bathroom attached to the bedroom we’d slept in. I thought about what I knew of Walter Muse. He was kind of a quieter, maybe sneakier version of Denny. Just as devoted to his work, just as caring of a man judging by how careful he was with Dane. They were so in love. Walter moved to meet Dane’s every need, almost like they had a telepathic connection. It was achingly beautiful. Aspirational.
But then I had that with Denny, didn’t I? He knew what I needed often before I did. He was so attuned to my moods, my stupid tears, that he magically conjured tissue every time I even felt them about to erupt. So how did I meet him in the middle and give back all that he’d given to me?
That thought was foremost in my mind when I left the bathroom in someone else’s Ryan Wells and The Travellers t-shirt and black cotton shorts.
Travelers?
The carnival?
I came around the corner, trying not tothunktoo loudly with my cane, and spotted Dane in the kitchen humming to himself. He wore an apron over a thin-strapped racerback white tank top and white pajama pants with pink and red lipstick kisses. Hislong hair was pulled up into a topknot. Deep scars were visible on his shoulder blades, like road rash or a burn. As he reached up for a top cabinet, I saw the scars on his forearms and hands once again, and I marveled at how they didn’t take away from his beauty. And hewasbeautiful.
I recalled meeting him the day of the interview and feeling a unique vibe from him. It was unusual, as if he were not what he seemed, but I’d been thrown by Denny’s appearance and hadn’t taken the time to analyze my observations. As he moved through the kitchen, it was almost as if the space were a greenscreen, orhewas the greenscreen. Not an exact match.
Not fully of this world.
He did a dance move and spun around, letting out an “eep” when he caught me lurking.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
He laughed and pointed to the counter with a spatula covered with batter. “Have a seat. You could have stomped in here like an elephant and I still would jump. I’m better, but I still spook easy. Walter gets me all the time because he moves so quiet-like.” He set down his spatula and wiped up the bit he’d flung onto the microwave. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
I managed to climb onto the stool and leaned my cane against the counter. I was extra stiff this morning and after the events of last night, I didn’t want to be without it.
“You didn’t. I can’t lay down for too long or I get stiff. Combination of my cuts and the time I spent in a hospital bed. Denny has been working out with me, which helps a lot. I was a damned skeleton when he helped me escape.”
“I’m so sorry, Cooper. Walter and I felt just awful. I know you needed the time to recover, but I’m really glad you’re here.” His friendly smile was shy but also confident. He was king of this domain, and I would imagine that Walter had done a lot to lift him up.
“I’m sorry that you didn’t have anyone when you were hurt, Dane. You were alone for so long.”
Dane’s smile slipped and those haunted green eyes of his rounded. “Well, for me it was only a few weeks, you know.”
“That blows my mind.” The carnival had to possess some strong magic to turn forty years into a few weeks.
“A guy named Pokey found me. He brought me food and water, dressed my cuts, but yeah. I spent a week or so in bed and then they put me to work when I couldn’t stand lying around anymore.”
“A week?It’s taken me months, and I’m barely upright and not acting like a caveman.”
“Caveman. I doubt that.” He pulled out a griddle from the lower cabinet and plugged it in on the island so he could work while facing me.
“Maybe more of a troll. Poor Denny had to deal with the worst from me.”
“I’m sure Denny didn’t mind. Hope you like pancakes?” Dane gave a hopeful smile. When I nodded my head, he continued. “Walter said Denny likes them. I didn’t get to cook much for Denny when he was at Scott’s house with us.” He flicked water on the surface, and it bubbled up, so he reached for his batter. “I learned how to cook from Tess. It was soothing for her. That kinda rubbed off on me, you know what I mean?”
“I do. My mom taught me to cook, but it’s a means to an end for me, not something I’ve ever put a lot of energy into. Denny’s a great cook. He…”Stupid tears.
Dane’s eyes widened and he hurriedly handed me a napkin. “I’m sorry?—”
