by Alex Wolf
I glance back at Mom and she has a hand over her mouth like she can’t believe she’s seeing what’s taking place in front of her. Dad’s smiling, like he can relate to Dexter’s predicament. He’s clearly been in that position a time or two in his life. It makes me smile on the inside. What would their life have been like if my mom hadn’t forgiven him over and over? Dexter is a good man. I know it in my heart. I know he means what he says. I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him, and when I picture it, I’m always happy. It’s the best life I could hope for and I really want that. I really want him. My life is also gray without him in it and I hate wallowing in all this pain nonstop, and it doesn’t feel like it will ever go away.
“Abigail Whitley, come back. We want you to move in with us.”
My head whips back to Dexter. “We?”
He gestures toward the puppy. “Me and Max.”
My face softens when I see the dog, because how can it not? “You named him Max? After the dog in the Grinch?”
Dex nods. “Yeah, but we can change it. You can name him whatever you want…”
I shake my head. “No!” More tears stream down my face. “No, it’s the perfect name for him.”
“Abby, please. Just give me one more chance.” He stands up and holds my hands in front of him. “Take a leap of faith with us. We won’t disappoint you.”
I glance back at Mom and she has tears in her eyes. She’s snuggled up with Max and nodding her approval. I glance to Dad and he’s practically a mirror of Mom.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, take him back before I do,” hollers my sister. It’s one of the few sentences she’s uttered since I’ve been home.
“Hey! Language! There are children out here.” Mom scowls at her.
I can’t fight the smile that spreads across my face.
I turn back to Dex and rush into his arms.
I think it takes him by surprise because he almost stumbles backward, but his big, strong arms wrap around me and for the first time in weeks, I feel safe again. I feel like I have a body of armor around me and nothing in the world can hurt me.
His hand caresses my hair and he pulls my face into his broad chest. “Thank God, Abby. Just, thank you.” He kisses the top of my head, over and over, then puts his palms on both my cheeks and angles my face up to his. “You won’t regret this.”
Before I can say anything, his lips meet mine. He doesn’t overdo it. I assume it’s because we’re in front of my parents and he hasn’t even formally met them yet, but I can tell he doesn’t ever want to let go.
And I don’t want him to. I lean into him and resist the urge to melt into a puddle on the ground. After a few long seconds, he pulls back a few inches and smiles so damn big it could light up the whole block. “Good to have you back, Christmas clown.”
I want to give him a smack to the chest, but I can’t fight back my smile. “I haven’t been much of a Christmas clown lately, but I’m sure I’ll turn it around soon.”
“Abby?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll always do my best for you, I promise. I’ll give it everything I have.”
I nod. “So will I. Promise.”
“I guess I’ll let go of you now.”
“What? Why?”
He tilts his head toward Mom. “I know there’s someone you want to meet.”
I immediately jerk away from him once I remember. “Max!” I rush over to Mom and snatch my new puppy out of her hands so hard she gasps. “Oh, how’s my new big boy?” I shake my head at him and do the silly baby-talk faces at him. His head tilts to the side like is this lady serious? Is this my life now?
I hug him close to me and pepper his snout with kisses, then bury my nose in his fur, all the while grinning up at Dex. “Bribery won’t work on me again.”
“I know.” Dex smirks as he pulls out his wallet and hands a twenty-dollar bill to each of the kids standing around.
They all take their money and take off running to their parents out by the road.
He turns and grins. “Totally, can’t ever bribe you again.”
“Oh, it’s like that?” I laugh. “Good to see you’re still as cocky as ever.” My eyes widen when I remember I’ve forgotten my manners. Mom is going to kill me later. “Crap, I’m sorry, Dex. This is my mom and dad.” I glance back. “And my sister.”
Dex walks over and shakes hands with Dad. He holds his hand out to Mom and she yanks him in and wraps her arms around him. Dex’s eyes widen, but he quickly reciprocates. She leans up and whispers something in his ear that sends pure panic across his face. Then she says something else and that mischievous grin of his appears.
“Yes, ma’am.” He nods.
Holy cow. I’ve never heard Dexter say “ma’am” before, like ever. He definitely learns fast. He starts toward my sister and she immediately backs away like don’t touch me.
“Uhh, nice to meet you.” Dex holds his hand up in an awkward wave.
“Good job with all… that.” She waves her arm out at the scene in front of her then takes off back for her room.
Dex mumbles, “Um, thanks, I think,” to her back as she walks away.
“Come on. Come on. Let’s get out of the cold.” Mom ushers us in.
“Give me just a second.” Dexter walks out to what must be a rental car. He turns back and sees us waiting on him. “Go on inside and get warm, I’ll be right there.”
I walk in next to Mom, hugging Max so hard to my chest I worry he can’t breathe but I don’t care because I already love him so much. He’s the best dog in the world. I keep him away from Dad since he’s allergic, but Dad doesn’t complain. He just keeps smiling at me.
“Well, I like him. The boy grovels like a champion.” Mom laughs and gives Dad a pat on the back. “Could give you a few pointers.”
“I’d take ‘em. No stranger to screw-ups. It’s why you love me.”
“I don’t know if I’d go that far.” Mom scoffs. “Best just stay out of trouble, mister.”
Dad holds up both hands and goes back to his recliner.
Max and I sit down and he sprawls out and rests his head on my lap. When I stop petting him to adjust myself on the couch, he whines and shoves his snout back into my hand.
“Aww, are you co-dependent on mommy already? That’s a good thing, because I love you so much. Yes I do.” I scratch him behind the ears.
“God, what have I done?”
I look up and Dex is standing there, staring at Max like a jealous lover, probably wondering if he’s ever going to get any attention. He has a bag of dog food cradled in one arm and some puppy toys in his other hand.
It’s so freaking adorable how sad he looks.
I pat the cushion next to me. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of me to go around.”
Dex doesn’t hesitate and rushes over to sit down next to me.
Max glares right at Dex the second he slides a hand on my thigh. He even growls a little while he does it.
Dex’s eyes go wide.
“Someone’s protective already, isn’t he?” I scratch behind Max’s ears to show him I approve of his behavior. “Such a good boy.”
“Third wheel Dex. That’s my new nickname. I can see it already.”
I reach up and scratch behind Dex’s ear with my other free hand. He makes a show of closing his eyes and leaning into it the way a puppy would.
Everyone laughs, even Dad. “Know your place in the pecking order, son. That’s what I always say.”
I scratch a little harder behind Dex’s ear and he starts kicking his leg out in the air.
Mom dies laughing.
I look around the house, and it just feels like Christmas again.
It’s perfect.
My two boys, my family, and the holidays. What more could I ask for? It’s the perfect happy ending.
I glance over at Dex. “Hey, remember that time you asked about my wish? After I blew out the candle at the restaurant?”
“Yeah.”
�
��It came true.”
He smiles for a brief moment, then stares blankly. “Wait, that we would end up together, or you would get your dog?”
I scratch Max behind the ears and pet his sweet little head. “Guess you’ll always wonder about that, won’t you?”
Epilogue
Dexter
Three Months Later
“You excited?”
Abigail nods, practically bouncing in her seat. “Freaking giddy.”
We’re on our way to Six Flags Great America for Employee Family Appreciation Day. The firm does it every year and it really is a lot of fun. They rent out the whole park and we get it to ourselves. Abigail hasn’t shut up about it since she found out about it last month.
“I can’t wait to ride Goliath. I looked all of them up online. It reminded me of the Texas Giant back at Six Flags Over Texas. That one was always my favorite when I was a kid. I like the wooden roller coasters the best. They have this vintage feel to them and really toss you around.”
I shake my head at her. “Just glad you’re excited.”
I love going fast in my car, but heights aren’t my thing. In fact, I’m terrified of them. I’ve ridden a roller coaster once when I was about eleven, and that was enough for me. It was the worst experience of my life.
My stomach has been in a knot for days, actually, but I don’t have the heart to tell Abigail I don’t want to ride roller coasters with her. Plus, I’m no pussy. I’ll never tell her that. I just have to man up and do it. Hopefully, my brothers don’t say shit to her.
We arrive and pull into the private parking lot up close. For once in my life, I wish the place was packed with people, so we’d have to wait in line and wouldn’t have time to go on that many, but only the people from the firm and their families are here.
I park the Chevelle and we walk in holding hands. To take my mind off the damn roller coasters, I focus on the past few months with Abigail. It’s been fantastic. Her and Max moved into my place and it’s awesome. Max is a total mama’s boy. He’s always crawling up in her lap and nudging me away from her. I still take his ungrateful ass for walks in the park sometimes. He’s a really good dog and we’ve bonded some, even if I do have to fight for Abigail’s attention on occasion.
Work was the one thing I was worried about, but it’s actually been great. Since Abigail does mostly research stuff, we’re always working on different cases. She always has the craziest stories. There’s not a lot of weird shit when it comes to finance, unless Decker is looking into Covington’s sex life.
We’re still on a trial run with Covington and I’m taking care of his legal needs for a few of his smaller entities. It looks promising now that Donavan is a managing partner too. He’s not nearly as conservative as Decker. He doesn’t give a shit about the firm’s image, just the bank account. The situation with Covington will change soon. I can feel it. I’ve been knocking shit out the park and already restructured his companies and saved him seven figures in income and capital gains taxes. He knows what that means if he gives me the reins on all his holdings. Bennett Cooper is about to eat a dick, and then I’m coming for the rest of his big-name clients.
“About time!” Decker glances at his watch and shakes his head.
I can’t tell if he’s just giving me shit or serious, probably a little of both.
Tate nudges him with her elbow, telling him to knock it off. “Hey guys!”
Abigail walks straight over to her and they start talking about the Six Flags back in Arlington and how Jenny already ran off with her boyfriend, probably to make out somewhere.
Decker glares right at them when they bring up Jenny.
“You look nervous as shit,” says Deacon.
Quinn walks over to the girls to get away from us. I don’t blame her. I’d do the same probably.
Mr. Richards wheels himself up. “Lucky sons of bitches, I can’t ride shit. Anyone wanna take my seat and let me have theirs? I used to love roller coasters.”
“Shit, I would if I could,” I say to him.
“Sure you wanna go through with this?” Decker gives me a sly grin.
I slowly nod.
“Way to sell the jury. Let’s go, pussy, before you change your mind.”
I gesture toward Goliath, the big wooden fuck towering into the sky. “She wants to ride that one. Better make it that one.”
Decker and Deacon both look up at it as Donavan walks up.
“He’s really gonna do it?” says Donavan.
“That’s what he says,” says Deacon. “We’ll see.”
“Anyone tell Abigail about the last time he rode a roller coaster and pissed his pants, then had to walk through the crowd?” Decker’s about to die laughing.
I wheel around on all of them. “Nobody is saying shit, assholes. It’s not gonna happen this time. I was like eleven.”
“Sure, maybe we should grab you one of those souvenir drinks to take with you. You can ‘accidentally’ spill it in your lap, Miles Davis.” Deacon’s cheeks are at full capacity and pink as shit, like he might explode any minute.
“Probably the best plan on short notice. I doubt they sell Depends around here,” says Donavan.
My middle finger comes up before I can stop it.
“You guys coming or what?” Abigail hollers from twenty feet in front of us.
“On our way, babe.” I turn to my brothers. “Do what you’re told and keep your mouths shut. Got me?”
“Yeah, yeah, little bro. We won’t let you down.” Decker throws an arm around my shoulder, and the rest of us follow suit.
Other than the gigantic roller coaster in my future, this day is perfect, this moment right now. It’s like we’re kids again, arm in arm, walking through the amusement park. I’m so glad Decker and Donavan put their shit aside back at Thanksgiving. Life has been a million times better, once Abigail took me back anyway.
We get to the roller coaster and the girls walk up to get on.
I take a deep breath and try not to look up at the fucking thing.
“We’re all set. You sure you’re good?” says Deacon.
I nod.
I’m not fucking good at all. I should’ve eaten a goddamn Xanax earlier. I want my mind to be clear, though.
I walk in front and the guys fall in behind me. Abigail is in the front seat waiting. Perfect.
I climb in and hear the muffled laughter behind me from my brothers, but my stomach is in my throat and my palms are sweaty as hell. Front seat. Front row view, all the way down.
Abigail’s hand slides into my lap and she squeezes my leg. “You okay? You look really pale.”
“I’m fine.” I do my best to smile at her. I really am excited about today, but roller coasters are like my biggest damn fear. I really should get off this thing.
Abigail looks so carefree and happy, though. I’d never ruin this for her. She’s ecstatic, practically bouncing up and down in her seat.
The worker guy walks up to the platform and he looks nothing like an engineer or someone who would be qualified to work this thing. He’s a fucking pimple-faced teenager. My fingers grip the bar in our lap so hard my knuckles turn white. My whole body is tense.
You can do this. You can do this. God, you’re such a bitch, saying you can do this over and over.
“So, uhh, yeah dude, keep your hands in the car and hold onto the bar at all times. Here we go.”
That’s it? What the fuck? I’m going to die.
My body involuntarily starts rocking back and forth and it’s like the sky is falling in on me, like I’m in the trash compactor in Star Wars. Black spots dance in my vision like I’m about to black out.
“Enjoy the ride.” The kid hits a button and a buzzer sounds.
Bolts retract and we start rolling.
“Oh shit.” Fuck, did I just say that out loud? “Oh shit.” Yep, definitely said that one.
“Babe, are you okay?” Abigail leans over and puts a palm on my forehead. “You’re sweating, like bad.”
I nod furiously. “I’m fine, babe. I promise I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. I’m going to holler for them to stop this thing. Look at you.”
I grip her forearm. “No!” I nod again for the thousandth time. “I’m fine. I promise.”
“Babe, what’s going on? You keep saying you’re fine. Over and over.”
Deacon leans forward from the seat behind us. “He’s scared shitless of roller coasters. It’s basically his biggest fear in life.”
We go around a turn and a chain jerks us up the steepest fucking hill I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Oh, Dexter.” Abigail wraps me up in her arms.
I feel like the biggest bitch in the world right now, but I don’t give a shit what I look like. It feels good when she squeezes me into her. I didn’t realize how bad I was shaking until she hugged me. I turn into a stuttering asshole and I can’t stop myself, no matter how bad I want to. “I-I-I’m okay. I promise.”
“Stay away from his lap.” Deacon laughs from behind, then says, “Ow!”
I assume Quinn smacked the shit out of him.
“What?” says Abigail.
“Nothing.” I glance over at her. “If you don’t know how much I love you, now you do.” I shoot a glare back at Deacon and see how far up we’ve already gone. “Oh fuck.”
“Look forward. Don’t look down, Dex.”
I glance over to make sure she’s looking straight ahead, and I turn back and raise my eyebrows at my brothers. We’re almost to the top of the hill.
They all flash me a thumbs up.
“It’s all good, brother!” Decker hollers.
Okay. It’s gonna be worth it. Another five minutes and it’ll be done.
We start to crest the hill and Abigail looks over at me. “I’m so sorry. I would’ve never asked you…”
I shake my head. “Don’t be sorry. Don’t worry about me. Just enjoy this. I’m serious.”
She gives me a worrisome nod, then holds her hands up.
And fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, we’re at the top.
The roller coaster stalls out for a split second. I look around and the view would be gorgeous from an enclosed room or an airplane, but not with my torso hanging out in the damn open.