Page 43 of Cross My Heart
“Hey, buddy! Did you have fun with Lanie?” He asks with a lightness about him.
When he replies, “Yes,” I watch the tension in Dexter’s shoulders relax a little. Just one word, but I know he’ll take whatever he can get.
“Hi, Dex. How was your trip?” I ask, making my way around the kitchen.
He sets Tate down and stalks towards me. I back up until I’m against the sink and look around nervously. Tate has gone back working on making his Crescent rolls while the girls are having a conversation in their own language.
“My trip?” he asks. “My trip was very…enlightening.” Something about the way he says it makes my spine tingle in anticipation, or fear…I’m not sure which.
“And you, Lanie Heart. How were you while I was gone? Did you miss me?” The gleam in his eye has me stammering.
“Ah, I-I-I know the kids missed you very much,” I answer unsurely.
“I’m sure they did, Lanie. However, I’m asking about you? Did you miss me?”
Not sure how to answer that, I duck out of his arms that had caged me in without me noticing. I scoot to the other side of the island so Tate is between us now. Like a tiger stalking his prey, he comes to my other side and turns my face to look at him.
Just above a whisper, he says, “Lanie, did you miss me?”
I bite my lip before realizing what I’ve done. Before I can release it myself, he has my chin between his thumb and forefinger, releasing my lower lip from my teeth with a growl.
“I-um. Yes, I guess you could say I missed you too,” I whisper.
“Hmm, I like that answer, Lanie. I like it a lot, but next time you won’t have to guess because you’ll know!” He takes a step back and I feel like I can breathe again. My panties are soaked, my head is spinning, and my hands are shaking.
Dexter notices and wraps his big hand around mine. “Calm down, Lanie, I won’t hurt you. Ever. Please don’t be scared of me, let me look after you, just a little.”
With no answer for that, I drop my head and slip my hands from his. “Dinner is ready. Tate, why don’t you go wash your hands while I set the table, huh?” I ask him, entirely off my game.
“Okay, Lanie!” Tate’s response was so strong, so happy and natural.
I could see it confused Dex, though. “He has been talking a lot today,” I tell him. “He has been really happy and is starting to come out of his shell. Even his new teacher said she saw such a difference in him when we talked yesterday.”
Before I can say anything else, Dex catches my face between his hands and kisses me, not frantically like the last time, but gently, almost lovingly. After a few seconds, he places his forehead on mine so we are nose to nose. “Thank you…for everything, Lanie. I don’t know what any of us would do without you in our lives.”
Trying not to make eye contact for fear of what I would uncover there, I quietly whisper, “You’re welcome.” Deciding to go for a little humor, I add, “Remember, Mr. Boss man, don’t fall in love with me.” I go to give him a saucy wink and am startled by the emotion I see in his eyes.
“It might be too late for that, Lanie Heart. It just might be too late,” he admits.
I make it through dinner, barely looking at Dexter from across the table. Luckily, the girls keep us so busy feeding them it’s not uncomfortable. Surprising us all, Tate was a chatterbox, telling us all about school today and how he played with Connor at recess. The expressions of pure joy, relief, and happiness I witnessed on Dexter’s face the brief moment I spared a glance at him cut right to my heart. That’s the way a parent should look at their child. Something I never had until Mimi and Pawpaw. The thought makes me sad.
“Uh, Dex? I forgot I planned a facetime with Julia and her parents, will you be okay to clean up or should I text to postpone it?” I ask him.
He stares at me for a minute and I know he can see right through me. “I can handle it, Lanes, but just so you know, we are your family too now that you're here, you can always come to me. For anything.”
I note the seriousness of his tone and am grateful, except I can’t exactly talk to him about him. As I’m walking up the stairs, I realize he called me Lanes. Weird. No one but Julia calls me that.
* * *
Dexter
Dexter:I messed up and kissed her already. I know, I know, I fucked up within the first 5 min of being home, but Christ, this is going to be hard. Help!
Julia: Seriously, man! Check yourself. If you want the girl, stop being a tool and get your shit together. Our plan is good. She is facetiming me now, I’ll try to do damage control but she is going to hate us both if this backfires. I am ONLY doing this because I want her to be happy, and for some God-forsaken reason, I think you might be the one to do it. So, MAN THE FUCK UP!
Dexter: Will do.
Jesus, that girl has a mouth on her. I know from my research that she is obnoxiously smart, although a bit socially awkward…kind of like Trevor, I think to myself. I can’t help but laugh at what a pair they would make. Now I just have to hope that Julia is right and this all doesn’t come crashing down.
