Cross My Heart: A Waverley-Cay Novel

by Avery Maxwell

  He takes a few minutes to first read Trevor’s letter then my reply. When he looks up, his face has softened. He lays the shotgun down beside him.

  “Well, I never have been one to interfere with the girls' love interests, but I think it’s safe to say you’ve got me rooting for you as long as you don’t hurt her. I’ll be honest with you, it’s the two McDowell women you have to win over,” he tells me with a wicked grin.

  He stands up and yells through the door that it’s safe to come out. I brace myself for whatever comes next.

  Whatever I was expecting was not this pixie of a girl standing in front of me with a baby on her hip, who she eventually hands off to her dad. Her son is oddly familiar. While I’m staring at him trying to place the familiarity, I realize I missed a question from who can only be Julia.

  “I’m sorry, your son is adorable, I missed what you said,” I tell her.

  Her lip twitches like she is trying not to smile. “His name is Charlie, and he is, thank you. What are you doing here, presumably behind Lane's back?” She makes a strange little clicking in her mouth, something I come to find is a nervous tick of sorts, but right now, she has her hands balled into fists appearing ready to strike.

  “Julia, just calm down a minute and let him explain. I think you’ll be happy with his answers.” Mr. McDowell tells her.

  I give him a grateful smile.

  “Just because you pulled the wool over my dad’s eyes, with lawyer-speak I would imagine, does not mean I will automatically trust you. I have facetimed Lanes every single day since she has been there. I’ve said hi to your children multiple times, and they love her. If you’re here to try and send her packing or something, you’re making a huge mistake. I have the money and resources to make sure you regret it every day of your life.”

  I should be pissed. No one threatens me, but it warms my heart to see how much these people genuinely love my Lanie. Their Lanie too, it seems.

  “I’m not here to try and fire her,” I say slightly offended. “I’m man enough to do that to someone’s face, not run to their family to do it,” I inform her indignantly.

  Julia puffs up a little at my acknowledgment of her being Lanie’s family.

  “I’m here for back-up as strange as that sounds. I want to have a relationship with Lanie. Whatever she can give me and I know it’s going to take work and a lot of convincing. I’m committed to that. My kids are committed, but I know I need more. I’ll need all your support when she comes running home because I do think she will fight it. Fight it until she can’t face it anymore and comes home to you,” I say this because it’s the truth. “I’ll be honest though, I want her with me always, and I need help to make that happen.”

  Julia speaks more softly than before, “You sound like you love her already? You haven’t even been on a date yet. One kiss cannot have you head over heels already.” She turns bright red when she realizes what she said.

  “Well, it was a perfect kiss.” I give her a wink, and I think she is ready to implode. “Look, I know I haven’t taken her on a date yet. However, I know how I feel. I know how hard it is going to be to convince her to give us a shot, but I’m committed. I’ll put in the hard work, will you help me?”

  The smile that takes over Julia’s face is pure trouble. “On one condition,” she says.

  “Anything, name it!” I answer before I can think better of it.

  “Tell me what you’re doing to keep Bitchzilla away from our Lanie?” Julia asks with an expression of a true troublemaker.

  That is when I know this trip was a success. We spend the next day and a half concocting plan after plan then back-up plans for our back-up plans. By the time I land back in North Carolina, I feel ready to take on the world.

  Lanie

  Chapter 18

  Dexter’s recent trip was unexpected. Luckily, he said it was a very short trip and his last one for a while. When he texted an hour ago to say he had just landed, I felt a sense of relief I wasn’t quite ready for. Tate and I are finishing the last of our preparations for dinner. The girls for once are sitting happily in their highchairs at the island.

  A few minutes later, the front door opens and Tate goes barreling towards Dex, who picks him up quickly, swinging him upside down in a fireman's hold.

  “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 Jul
ia 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.

  Lanie

  “Jules, I can’t see your face. What are you doing?” I ask, trying to figure out where the hell she has the phone pointed.

  “Sorry, Lanes, I just had to finish up a text. What’s up with your Irish face?” She asks, winking, finally angling the camera so I can see her.

  My laugh is instant. “I’m just missing your Irish face, I think. Oh, and Dexter kissed me again.”

  Julia makes a surprised face that, after fifteen years, I know it is totally fake.

  “Okay, Jules, spill. You’re a terrible liar. How did you know he kissed me when it only happened an hour ago?” I command.

  “Well,” She looks totally uncomfortable.

  “Spill it, Jules,” I say, leaving no room for argument.

  She tries another tactic, “I hear Charlie crying...do you hear him? I’ll have to call you back.”

  “Don’t you dare. I’ll get GG to your house before you can even blink.” She knows I would too.

  “Fine, but you have to promise not to be mad. And not to leave your room until morning so you don’t say something you’re going to regret. And promise not to be mad at anyone,” she begs.

  “Julia! You are scaring me, what the ship are you talking about?” Anger and fear are taking over.

  “UGH! This is not supposed to be how you find out. We had a whole plan. An awesome plan, Lanes. It would have worked too if I wasn’t such a shit liar,” she admits in defeat.

  “God, Julia, why would you lie to me and WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I’m totally freaked out now.”

  She lets out a huge sigh, which I know is to stall for time. “Well, you know how your boss just got back from a trip?”

  “Yeees?” I answer nervously.

  “Well, did he ever actually say it was a work trip?” She asks, not making eye contact through the phone.

  “Holy hot pocket, just spill it, Julia!”

  She slaps her hands to her head then slowly peeks into the camera between her fingers. It’s like she has diarrhea of the mouth, and I can’t even be sure I understand everything.

  “Well, he came here,” she begins, “to Burke Mountain. He stayed at the Wagon Wheel, THE WAGON WHEEL, Lanie. He met 80% of the town in Dunkin’ then came to Mom and Dad’s house. He wasn’t trying to betray your trust. We honestly think he cares about you. He wants to date you. Weirdly, he wanted Mom and Dad's approval, and I guess their support because he knew it was going to be hard to get you to agree. He cares about you, Lanes.” she finally sucks in a breath.

  I’m pacing my room. Swinging my arms wildly.

  “Lanie, for fuck's sake, stop swinging the phone around before I hurl all over my room.”

  I stop and glare into the phone. “Why, Jules? Why would you all gang up on me? You’re supposed to be MY friend. MY family. Were you even going to tell me?” I ask, fighting back the tears.

  “Lanie, I’m sorry. Yes, I was going to tell you but not right away. We had a plan. Mom, Dad, me, and Dexter, who is as hot as you fucking said he was,” she says with a grin.

  I roll my eyes and am shaking with fury.

  “Listen to me very closely, Lanie. We love you, but you have had a fucked-up life. My parents always wished they could do more for you, but your douche-canoe of a mother wouldn’t give up her parental rights. We have always felt like we failed you in some way,” she pauses to collect herself.

  “Then, well, then Zachary happened, and none of us were there to protect you. You almost died, Lanie. I promised myself the second we found out you would pull through that I would find a way to help you heal, to have a happy, whole life. I think if you find a way to give Dexter a chance, you could have all that and more...with him,” she says, her love for me written all over her face.

  Through my tears, I stare at my best friend. “Julia. How can you even stand me? It’s because of me you left that conference in Boston without getting that guy's name. For crying out loud, we call him Boston because you never had a chance to find out his real name. It’s my fault Charlie will never know his dad. So much is my fault, how can you care so much about me being happy? I ruined your happily ever after by being there the night Zachary attacked me,” I cry.

  “Now you listen here, you asshat. You did not ruin anything. There is no way of knowing if Boston would have even given me his real name after the game we had been playing all week, let alone his number. You know I’m not an easy person to get along with sometimes, Lanes. And I don’t know how else to tell you this, but what happened, happened to you, not because of you. No one is to blame, but Zachary,” my best friend exclaims, imploring me to finally believe her.

  “I don’t know if I can tell him, Jules, about the attack. I’m no good for anyone. If I can’t tell him about my past, how can he ever really know me?” I state quietly.

  “Honey, I know you’re hurting right now, and it feels like we all betrayed you, but trust me, it wasn’t like that at all. We all, Dexter included, just want what’s best for you. I spent only one day with him, and I think you need to give him a little more credit. I think you’ll find out under that alpha male thing he has going on, he isn’t that much different than you. We all have scars, Lanes, some are just better at hiding them. Now, promise me you’re not going to go barreling out of your room and spew venom all over Dexter?”

  I give her my best angry face, “That I cannot promise. I’m also mad at you guys, too, you know?”

  “I know, but we’re family, real family. You can’t be mad at us forever, and to hear Dexter talk, it sounds like you just might be part of his family as well. Get some sleep, Lanes, okay? I’ll talk to you in the morning?”

  “Sure. Night, Jules. Luvs.”

  “Luvs you too.”

  I throw my phone on the bed and start pacing. I’m spitting fire. What was he thinking, inserting himself into my life like that?

  Oh God, what if someone told him about my attack? Julia is right though, I can’t go out guns blazing, not just yet. I have to get my thoughts together, so I continue to pace.

  Dex

  Chapter 19

  Julia: Abort! Abort! Abort mission, for now. Sorry, dude. She dragged it out of me. I can’t lie for shit. She is pretty pissed, but I think she will calm down. Wherever you are, hide. Now. I don’t think she will come out of her room for at least an hour. She is probably collecting her thoughts, but you do not want those conversations right now. The morning is better. Hide.

  Dexter: What the actual fuck, Julia? I thought you were rooting for me, then you go and sabotage me the first chance you get? This isn’t a fucking game to me, Julia. I want a real shot at this. If you ruined this, I-I don’t even know what
I’ll do. FUCK!

  Julia: Calm down, asshat. I’ll help you fix it. But for tonight, lay low. I’ll help smooth it over in the morning.

  Dexter: Fucking hell.

  Julia: Double fuck, but we’ll fix it.

  I grab the baby monitors and head to my room. Thankfully, it’s already pretty late. I cannot believe I am fucking hiding like a little boy. What else can I do, though? Julia does know her best, even though this is all her fault. I roll my eyes and hear Lanie in her room, mumbling and…pacing? Yup, definitely pacing. Holy hell, this is going to be a long night. I lean against my door just as my phone rings.

  Julia.

  "Hello?"

  "Listen, I know I am breaking all kinds of girl code here, but I have to tell you something." The way she says it gives me an immediate sense of dread.

  "What is it?" I ask, trying to calm my breathing.

  "Well, here's the thing. For the last year or so, Lanie has been having nightmares, usually only when the power goes out, which happens a crazy amount here in the mountains. I have to tell you now because you have to look out for her. When she is stressed or overwhelmed, they tend to happen too. I'd say finding out about your little excursion is overwhelming her."

  I'm about to tell her that it is, in fact, her fault that Lanie knows I went to Vermont, but she rambles on.

  "The problem is, you won't hear her. She always leaves her door open, and the light on so it should be easy enough to peek in on her," she explains.

  "Julia," I say sternly. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

  "Listen, jerk off. I am not there, so you have to do it. If Lanie has a bad one, it will be tough for her to wake on her own, but whatever you do, don't put your meaty paws on her. If she feels your giganotosaurus sized hands, it will be even harder to bring her out of the nightmare. Just walk into her room and loudly but kindly tell her who you are and that you need her to wake up. Keep saying it over and over again until she comes to. Kindly though...got it?"