“What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“Hey Sean, how’s it going?” I stare at him confused and a little annoyed.
“Dillon, so good to see you again.” Ava walks over to hug him as he smiles his goofy smile at me over her shoulder.
“I’m good, thank you. I thought I would come see the new addition and I must say he is one good looking boy. Obviously gets his looks from his mother.” The bastard said, winking at me.
“Thanks for stopping by Dillon, it will save us the time in sending you an announcement but I am sure you have a flight to catch?” I wave him on.
“Nope, I’m good,” He said, sitting back comfortably.
“Well then you must stay for dinner,” Ava said as I glare at her.
“I would love to,” Dillon said happily, nodding in my direction.
“Wonderful. Now if you will excuse me I need to go feed my son before he goes.” Ava said before leaving the room.
“Sure,” Dillon watches Ava walk off until he finally meets my eyes, smiling at me a little too much.
“Sean, let me go get Lillah ready to go while you spend time with your friend,” my mother said as she picks up Lillah from my lap.
“He’s not my friend,” I said after her. “Did you tell her we are friends, is that how you got in here?” Dillon puts his hand over his heart, seeming shocked by my response. “Don’t play that game with me.”
“Damn Sean, I make an effort to stop by and see you and this is how you treat me? You really need to work on your friendship skills,” Dillon said, continuing to munch and relax.
“We are not friends!”
“Sure we are, with everything we have been through together. You like me. Don’t lie, I know you do.” I cringe, rubbing the sudden pain in my head. “So does Ava breast feed?” My eyes narrow at him. “That’s hot,” he nods, smiling.
“Do you want me to hurt you?” I asked him.
“I’m just saying. And damn Ava got her body back quick, well except the,” he makes a motion toward his breasts. “They seem a lot bigger, that’s got to be a plus, huh?”
“Are you suicidal Dillon?”
“No, why?” His confusion makes me worry about his sanity.
“Don’t you have a girlfriend or something in New York to annoy? Why are you here bothering me?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No, I mean I …” He sighs, looking perplexed suddenly as he leans forward and hangs his head. I hesitate to say anything, not knowing if I really want to know or not. “Sean, I …”
“What?” I finally said, impatiently.
“Damn your worse than a girl, just spit it out already,” I said, checking behind me to make sure I don’t get myself into trouble.
“I need your help, Sean.” I look back at the suddenly intense form avoiding my eyes.
“What did you do? Do you need a lawyer? Because you can’t afford the ones I know.”
“No, I don’t need a lawyer.”
“You got Taylor pregnant, didn’t you?” I assumed.
“Who? Oh, no. I just…” He stands up, pacing around the room, gripping his head and sighing. “Hell, I don’t even know why I am here. This was a stupid idea. I’m sorry Sean, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He grabs his coat and starts out the door.
“You already told Ava you would stay for dinner. If you leave now, she’s going to think it’s my fault. So, at least stay until after that so you don’t get me into trouble.” He nods and sits back down, silently and solemnly.
We all said goodbye to my mother and the kids… even Dillon. I suddenly feel like I have adopted him or something, the way my mother fussed over him. Dillon makes polite conversation throughout dinner but is noticeably stressed. I get many concerned glances from Ava, but all I can do is shake my head as I study him for any clue as to his problems.
“Well, how about I clean up so you boys can go and talk in the living room?” I shake my head at Ava, dreading that possibility.
“Thank you, but I really should probably get out of your way here. Thank you for dinner. Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up?” Dillon asked.
“No, I’m good, but Dillon if you don’t have a flight out tonight you are more than welcome to stay here.”
“Thank you, but I really need to go,” he said.
“If you need to,” I said rushing Dillon out of his chair.
“At least let me wrap up some food for you to take with you.” Ava insists.
“Okay.” Dillon halts instantly at the offer of free food.
Ava jumps up smiling as Dillon leaves to wait in the other room. I help her clean up and then feel a smack to the back of my head. “Ow! What was that for?” I asked her as she gives me a dirty look.
“Go talk to him,” she said.
“I tried, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“Yes, he does Sean.”
“What do you want me to do Ava, beat it out of him? Although, I wouldn’t mind trying,” I laugh but she doesn’t. “I’m just kidding.”
“Go!” She points in Dillon’s direction.
I let my head drop back as I reluctantly go find the young annoyance. I walk in on him standing around with his coat under his arm. I walk up behind him and grab hold of the back of his neck. “Come with me.”
“Hey, what the hell?” Dillon cried out as I drag him into my office.
“Sit down!” I point to the chairs in front of my desk as I shut the door behind him. “Now talk.”
“What do you want me to talk about?” He asked.
“Dillon, I am not going to play games with you. Now tell me why you are here or I will kick you out and deal with the wrath of my wife later.”
He instantly sits up and takes a breath, “My father is real sick. I had to move back to North Carolina to take care of him and his business.” Dillon suddenly jumps up with excitement. “I came up with this really great product Sean. I think you will love it, and with your new son it will be wonderful if you could … well, if you could endorse it for me. I have a sample in the car. I can leave it with you and Ava and you guys can try it out. I know you will love it, too.”
“You know I don’t endorse products Dillon. No matter how great it might be, I don’t want to get into that business.”
Dillon sits back down, defeated. “Sean please, I am begging you to consider it, just consider it. You are my only hope right now, otherwise I have to lose everything to a man I hate.” Fisting his hands, he fights for his words before looking back up at me, “My whole world depends on this product succeeding Sean. Please.”
“You obviously want me to help you with something Dillon, but I’m not even going to consider helping you until I know everything.”
He hesitates, again struggling with his words. “It is really a long story Sean.” He said. I huff, letting him know I am not budging until he talks. With a long sigh, he sinks down into his chair. “Do you remember that girl? The one I told you about … Dani?”
Dillon causes me to sit forward when his eyes rise to meet mine. He looks scared and worried for the first time since I have known him. “She is the girlfriend you never saw again, the one whose father took her away in the middle of the night?” I asked, recalling his broken-hearted story.
“Yes, her … I found her again, or rather, she found me. And now I need your help … we need your help.”
Reckless (Finding Ava) Page 28