The Gritty Truth

by Melissa Foster

  Roni looked down at her outfit and said, “These are the sweatpants Quincy lent me the first night I stayed over, and this is his softest T-shirt, and…” She reached up and touched what had been a bun last night but was now a tangled mess hanging off the side of her head, and she and Angela both laughed.

  “Aw, Roni. I’m sorry he’s not here.” Angela hugged her. “I’m sorry. I know nothing can replace Quincy, but at least you have the world’s greatest best friend, who made you cinnamon buns.” She took off the top of the container, releasing a mouth-watering aroma.

  “You are a goddess. Thank you.” Roni reached for one. She took a bite, and the sweet treat was exactly what she needed. “Mm. These are the best.”

  “I made them with extra love, which means extra cinnamon and frosting.” Angela took off her coat and said, “Aren’t you going to see Gemma and the kids this morning to open presents? I’m not sure they’re going to appreciate your new look.”

  “I have a few hours before I need to be there.” Roni grabbed plates and napkins, and as they sat down, she said, “Shouldn’t you be with Joey celebrating Christmas?”

  “I loved him up and he went back to sleep. So here I am, with my girl.” She pulled a small gift out of her pocket and set it on the table. “Merry Christmas!”

  Roni popped to her feet, feeling happier already, and went to the tree to get Angela’s gift. “Merry Christmas to you, too.” She handed it to her and said, “It’s for you and Joey.”

  “Count of five?” Angela said as Roni sat down.

  Roni nodded. They’d been counting to five instead of three since they were little, though neither could remember why. They counted together, “One. Two. Three. Four. Five!” and tore open their gifts. Roni watched Angela open hers rather than taking the top off the gift Angela had given her.

  “Whoa.” Angela withdrew the red-and-black Leather and Lace camisole and panties from the box. “Roni, I can’t accept these. I’ve seen their stuff online. They’re really expensive.”

  “Dixie and Jace hooked me up with a huge discount. I even got something for myself, for when Quincy comes home.”

  “In that case, I love it. Thank you.” Angela leaned forward and hugged her. “Open yours.”

  Roni opened the box and withdrew a key chain that had half of a best-friends heart. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  Angela reached into the pocket of her sweatshirt and placed an identical box on the table. “This is the other half. It’s for Quincy. We’ll always be besties, but with love comes another type of best friend, and I want you to know that I love you guys together, and I will happily share my bestie status with your man.”

  “Oh, Ang.” Roni hugged Angela, tears stinging her eyes. “I love you so much. Thank you. This means the world to me.”

  “I’m glad you like it. Listen, Roni. We both know you’re not telling me everything about how you feel with Quincy being in rehab and finding out the bullet was meant for him, and that’s okay. Gram grew you up tough, and I know you like to hole up and process grief in your own way. You tried to do it after your accident, and again when Gram died. I totally get it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roni said softly.

  “Don’t be. Every friendship has some sort of push-pull. You’re the pull-away girl, and I will forever push my way into your life, even when you tell me not to, because even though you have lots of new friends and a man who adores you, nobody can take the place of the girl who gave you your first pad when you got your period during dance class.”

  They both laughed.

  “I can’t believe you brought that up,” Roni said as another knock sounded on the balcony doors. She got up to answer it and said, “Is Joey meeting you here?”

  “Nope.”

  She moved the curtains and saw Truman on the other side, a black hat pulled low on his brow, the collar of his coat up, his beard tucked against his chest. “Hi,” she said as she pulled the door open, a gust of cold air sweeping in. “Come in.”

  “Hi, Roni.” He nodded to Angela and said, “Hey, Angela. Merry Christmas.”

  Angela smiled and said, “Hi, Tru. Same to you.”

  Truman turned a serious gaze on Roni and said, “I’m really sorry to interrupt, but I need you to get dressed and come with me.”

  The tone of his voice sent panic spreading through her. “What’s wrong? Is it Quincy?”

  “Yeah, it’s Quincy.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  ROUTINE WAS ESSENTIAL to Quincy’s recovery. The first time he’d gone to rehab, he’d had to figure out what routine even meant. Now he knew all about routine, but creating one that didn’t include time with Roni or a video message from her was agony. He took advantage of just about every therapy the center offered, from twelve-step yoga and emotional regulation to music therapy and gym time. Some days he’d hit the gym twice. He was using the bench press when he was called to meeting room number three.

  He knocked, and someone said, “Come in.”

  Quincy opened the door, staggering at the sight of Roni standing a few feet away, gorgeous in a red sweater and black jeans, tears visible behind her glasses. “Baby…?”

  They ran to each other, and she launched herself into his arms, their mouths crashing together. Their salty tears slipped between their lips. His heart felt like it was going to explode.

  “How did you get in here?” He looked around the room and saw Truman standing by the door with so much happiness in his eyes, it was palpable.

  “Biggs pulled a few more strings,” Truman said.

  With one arm around Roni, Quincy went to him, embracing both of them, because there was no way in hell he was letting go of her. “Thank you, man. For everything. Those pictures are…” He tried to find the right word and realized he didn’t need to. Truman had been there every step of the way, just as he was now. His childhood stronghold and straight arrow to follow, the boy-turned-man who had taught him how to love, protect, and lead himself and others. He may not need to follow Truman any longer, but he was damn thankful he’d stuck by his side so they could enjoy the future they both deserved.

  “Merry Christmas, bro,” Truman said. “They’re giving you half an hour, so I’ll give you two some privacy.”

  As he left the room, Quincy wrapped his arms around Roni again, holding her tight. “God, I’ve missed you.”

  “Me too,” she said through tears. When he tried to lean back so he could see her face, she held him tighter, whispering, “I’m not letting go.”

  “Neither am I, babe.” He sat in a chair with her on his lap, and they held each other for a long time without saying a word. But Quincy was aware of the minutes ticking by, and he needed to see Roni’s eyes to know if she was really okay.

  He drew back and framed her beautiful face between his hands, wiping her tears with the pads of his thumbs. A knot formed in his gut at the sadness storming in her eyes. “I love my gift. Thank you for having Tru draw the pictures and write the stories, and for putting it in the book. The last picture is my favorite.”

  Her lower lip trembled, but she drew her shoulders back, making a valiant effort at producing a smile, the fakeness of it tearing at him.

  “Mine, too,” she said softly.

  “You should open the gifts I put under the tree.” When she lowered her eyes, he lifted her chin and said, “Talk to me, baby. How are you doing? Are you going to work? Spending time with Angela or the girls? Do you need anything?”

  “I’m okay. I’m going to work and seeing people for dinner.”

  “Truth, baby, remember? We made a promise to be honest.”

  Tears flowed down her cheeks, and a sob burst out. She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. “I’m not okay. I miss you, and I have so much anger and hatred inside me for Puck and all the things he’s done to you, to me, to that poor man he killed. I don’t know what to do with it. I’m scared I’ll never let it go.” She gasped and said, “And now I’ve spilled my guts when I should be asking
about how you’re doing. I’m sorry.”

  Her confession left him raw, heartbroken, and determined to help her. “Look at me, beautiful.” She leaned back, and he dried her tears. “I’m fine,” he reassured her. “I’ve got this, Roni, and I would worry about you whether you told me what’s wrong or not, because I see it. I feel it. You’re a part of me, babe, and that doesn’t stop because we’re miles apart.” He pressed his lips to hers, thinking about the ways she relieved stress and remembered how she’d said she’d danced late at night after her grandmother had passed away to push through her grief. “Are you dancing after work?”

  She shook her head. “There’s no time. Everyone’s being so nice and supportive, and I thought you’d want me to be with them, so I usually go right to someone’s house when I get off.”

  “Listen to me, baby. I love that you’re seeing people because you know I don’t want you to be alone, but that’s my selfish desire to fill a gap for you while I’m in here. But it might not be the right gap. I need you to take care of yourself first and foremost while I’m in here taking care of myself, and if that means that you dance instead of seeing friends, then do it. Don’t let that bastard’s ugliness eat away at you and destroy your beauty. You need to get that anger and hatred out of your system, and dancing has always been your outlet. Promise me you’ll make time to do that.”

  Nodding, she inhaled deeply, letting out a long sigh as she took his hand and pressed it to her chest. “Feel how fast my heart is beating?” She held it there as her heartbeat calmed, and then a genuine smile appeared, and she said, “You knew exactly what I needed. How could I have forgotten about the one thing that I relied on for so long?”

  “Because we haven’t been stressed the last several weeks, and your extra time spent dancing has been for fun. But you’re in recovery again, babe. You relived the accident when the police questioned you, and I could see how it dredged up all that hurt and anger. When you pile that on top of the fact that your boyfriend is on day six of his recovery, that’s a lot for you to deal with. You need to dance and use that outlet as much as you can.” He rubbed her hips and said, “And be sure to pamper yourself afterward—take warm baths or get a massage. I’ll pay for it.”

  “I’ll dance, but I only want your hands on my body.” She hugged him again and ran her fingers through his hair.

  He closed his eyes briefly, reveling in her touch. “Babe, it might also be a good idea for you to talk to someone. A therapist. Did you talk with anyone after your accident?”

  “They had someone at the hospital, but not really.”

  “I know from how you kept to yourself after your Gram died that you like to handle things privately. But some knots are too tough to unravel alone. Are you open to talking to someone?”

  She met his gaze and nodded. “Yes. Thanks to you, I’m learning about how important communication is.”

  “We’ll get the name of a therapist that’s familiar with grief and recovery before you leave here.” He glanced at the clock, and his heart sank, but he tried to keep that disappointment out of his voice as he said, “Our time is almost over. Take lots of pictures for me when you celebrate Christmas with the kids, and at Jed and Josie’s wedding tonight. Who’s stepping in as best man?”

  “Actually, they postponed the wedding. Jed said he can’t get married without his best friend there.”

  Quincy hated that he’d screwed up their wedding, but he loved Jed’s commitment to him. “Fucking Jed.”

  “They’re doing it the day he proposed.”

  “Which time?” He told her about Jed’s first spontaneous proposal, and the second, planned one.

  “The first time. They’re getting married in February.”

  “Okay, well, it sucks that I ruined their wedding, but I’m glad I’ll get to see them get married. Have you heard anything about Simone or Penny? Are they okay?”

  “Yes. Diesel’s flying with Simone out to Redemption Ranch tomorrow, and Penny and I talk every day. She’s worried about you, but like the rest of us, she has faith in you.”

  “I appreciate that. I hate that I put everyone through this. At least I’ll be out in time to see you perform in the Winter Showcase.”

  “You aren’t putting us through anything, Quincy. You didn’t take those drugs. Puck did this, and they’ve arrested him.” She filled him in on what Truman and Biggs had told her. “And you know what?”

  “I know a lot of whats. The most important being that I love you, beautiful.”

  She pressed those gorgeous lips to his. “I’m glad rehab hasn’t dimmed your melting powers. It’s only twenty-four more days. They’re important days, and yes, they will be treacherously hard, but I’ll see a therapist and get back to dancing, and you’ll work on your recovery, and after twenty-four brutal days, we’ll be even stronger. That’s a small price to pay when we have forever to look forward to.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  NEW YEAR’S DAY brought eight inches of snow and ice, and winter remained in full force throughout the month of January. But like a beacon of things to come, as Quincy walked out of the rehab center after completing his thirty-day program, the sun was shining, his girl was smiling, and the brisk winter air had never felt so good. They made their way to Roni’s car, and he tossed his bag in the back seat and hauled her into his arms, lifting her right off her feet and kissing her as deeply and as passionately as he’d been dreaming about for too damn long. She made those sinful sounds he loved, touching his arms and back.

  She tore her mouth away, her eyes dark and hungry, and said, “Your muscles are so big.”

  “I guess those twice-a-day workouts paid off.”

  “They sure did. I can’t wait to get your clothes off.”

  God, he adored her.

  “Let’s get out of here, beautiful, and spend the next twenty-four hours naked in each other’s arms.”

  They settled into their seats, and as they drove away, Roni talked at breakneck speed about how happy she was that he was coming home, how great therapy had been, and how excited she was about dancing for him in the showcase.

  “Angela and I took Kennedy and Lincoln out for two dates, and the kids and I had a slumber party one night so Tru and Gemma could have a break. We had so much fun.”

  She glanced at him, her brow furrowing, and he realized he was staring, but he couldn’t look away. He squeezed her hand, sure he was grinning like a fool.

  “Am I talking too much? I’m just so happy you’re out, and I want to fill you in on everything.”

  “You could never talk too much.” He lifted her hand, kissing the back of it. “I’ve missed your voice as much as I’ve missed everything else about you. You’ve gotten even more beautiful, babe. I just can’t stop looking at you.”

  She blushed and turned down a side road.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I need to make a quick stop before we go home,” she said. “It’ll only take a minute.”

  When she turned down Dixie’s old street, lined with the cars and trucks of his friends and family, he realized something was up. “I guess Tru and Gemma bought Dixie’s house after all, huh? Leave it to Jace to get her to sell and speed up his baby timeline.”

  “Speaking of babies,” she said, parking behind Bullet’s truck. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you that Bullet and Finlay had a baby girl. She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” They got out of the truck and headed up the walk. “Her name is Tallulah Wren, and they call her Lulu. She’s got a shock of black hair, like Bullet, and Finlay’s big blue eyes. Bullet never puts her down. I think he’s more of a baby hog than Jace is.”

  “I can’t wait to meet her,” he said, drawing Roni into his arms. “Babe, before we go inside and get sidetracked with everyone, I want to thank you for believing in me and sticking by my side. I wish I could have been there for you this last month while you were dealing with all those bad feelings. I will do everything within my power to be here for you from now on. You�
�re my other half, my love, the face I see when I close my eyes, and the only person I ever want in my arms at night. I adore you, beautiful, and I hope that when we’re old and gray, you look back on our life together and have no regrets, because I sure as hell won’t.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, and as she swiped at them, she said, “The only regret I’ll have is walking in there with smudged eyeliner.”

  She went up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. As soon as they walked through the door, everyone yelled, “Welcome home!”

  Quincy was passed from one set of loving arms to the next as everyone congratulated him and said how proud they were of him, sending a rush of emotions through him. The last time he had gotten out of rehab, he’d barely known these friends who had become family, and now he couldn’t imagine a life without them. Everyone was talking at once. Several of the kids piled in for a group hug. The girls said they missed him, and the guys joked around and talked shit. It was great to be back with everyone, even if they still had him cornered in the foyer.

  Bullet held baby Lulu in one arm, adorable in a pink sleeper. She had so much black hair, it looked like a wig, and the way Bullet was holding her made it clear she wasn’t leaving his arms even as he hauled Quincy into a one-armed embrace and said, “Love you, dude.”

  “You too. Congrats on this adorable little one.” Quincy tickled the baby’s feet. “Tallulah, huh? Great name.”

  “Yeah, Kennedy came up with it. I’d have called her anything that little sweetheart wanted. We’ll catch up,” Bullet said as Penny pushed past him and plastered herself against Quincy.

  “I’m so glad you’re back,” Penny said with tears in her eyes.

  “Me too, Pen. You and Scott good?” He looked at Scott standing at the edge of the foyer with Truman, Bear, and Bones, all of them grinning.