by Deb Rotuno
I’ve read so many books that describe sex and love like the universe shifted with the power of it all, and I know it’s not TRULY like that. I’ve read romances with candles and flowers and beautiful words said, and I know it can’t always be like that, either. But I’m a man too, so I’ve seen porn. I’ve even read some of my mom’s old romance novels, which is probably the furthest from the reality of it all. But the daydreamer in me, the part of me that I’ve lost to you, makes me want all of the above and more. FOR YOU.
I want it all with you, Dani.
I’m writing this as you sleep next to me in my bed at your house. I look over at you, and my chest hurts with everything I feel. I want to give you all I just mentioned (the romance and candles), but I want the universe to move too. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.
You’re leading us, pretty girl. And I’m perfectly okay with that because each step we take is better than any book or movie. When we finally take that next step, Dani, I’m pretty damn sure it’ll blow my mind.
Evan
I closed the leather-bound book again, wrapping my arms around it against my chest as the plane touched down on the runway. The book was a poor substitute for the real thing—the real, warm, strong arms that held me close, that always touched me like I was made of fine crystal or spun glass. It paled in comparison to his voice—that smooth, calm, velvety sound that made me melt into a puddle of goo no matter if he was just talking about school or reading from a book.
“You ready, Dani?” Mom asked softly, tucking my hair back. “We’ve got a bit of a drive…”
I nodded, looking over at her. “Yeah, I know. Evan told me he’s like forty-five minutes from Missoula.”
I pulled out my phone, turning it back on now that we’d landed. It took a minute to load up, but as soon as it connected, a voice mail alert bleeped. My hands shook as I looked at the number I didn’t recognize, but I called to retrieve the message, sagging in my seat when my favorite voice met my ear.
After listening to the message, a soft sob left me, and I looked to Mom. “He’s okay. He’s okay. Thank God.”
There was a beep, and another message came over as I took my bag Dad was handing me.
“Dani, it’s me. I just…I needed to tell you. This is my sister’s phone, and she’s okay if you call. But I can’t…Why aren’t you answering?” he asked a little impatiently, but then I could hear his sister in the background reminding him that it was, indeed, Christmas Day. “Oh yeah. Sorry. Anyway, I promise I’m okay. And baby, they’ve…they’ve arrested my dad. Apparently you guys called the chief, and…Wes called Tyler and…Are you flying here? Never mind. I just…I really need to talk to you…” He sighed deeply. “Dani, call me…please?”
My mouth gaped because I’d thought I’d heard wrong, but no.
“Holy shit,” I hissed, and my whole family stopped to look at me. Turning to my cousin, I asked, “You called his brother?”
Wes pulled me out of the way of all the people getting off the plane, saying, “Hell yeah, I did! I’ve had Tyler’s number in my phone since Thanksgiving. It’s the only contact Evan would give me on his application. Tyler said a bunch of shit was goin’ down with their dad, but he and his fiancée were trying to catch a flight out of La Guardia as soon as they could. Why? What’s Evan saying?”
Nodding, I had to lean against the wall and listen to the message again. “They…William’s been arrested!” I whispered to them.
My dad stepped closer, his own phone to his ear as he nodded. “Yeah, Chief Clark left me a message. They arrested Evan’s father on an assault charge.”
“Good. Fucker.” Wes grunted but then added, “Is Ev okay, though?”
“Yeah, but he sounds so…lost. I have to call him,” I said, saving the phone number under Faith’s name, just in case.
“Dani, wait until we’re in the rental car, okay?” Dad requested. “You’ll have better reception.”
I gripped my phone like a talisman because as soon as I was able, I was calling Evan. We wound our way down to the car rental place, and my patience unraveled as the damned pimple-faced kid behind the desk took his dear, sweet time.
“Fuck this,” I practically growled, stepping out into the very cold, very damp night. I dialed the number.
I heard a girl’s voice answer, and she sounded relieved. “Dani!” I recognized Faith instantly from hearing her in the background of previous calls. “Oh my damn, Evan’s been pacing the floor. I kept telling him to calm down, that it’s Christmas or that you were probably already in the air…He’s not believing a fucking thing I say until he talks to you.”
I had to laugh. I couldn’t help it. She rambled a little like me, maybe a bit more frantic.
But my laugh died quickly. “Faith, is he…Are you guys okay?”
“Oh God, he’s…Dani, he just…snapped on our dad! Just lost it completely. Are you here? Because, fuck me, I think…I just…He needs you,” she whispered.
Tears started anew at that statement coming from his sister—the same girl Evan called the strongest person he knew. So if she was telling me he needed me, then the cross-country flight we’d just flown was well worth it.
“Yeah, yeah, we just landed, and we’re getting a rental car.”
“Thank God!” she sighed with relief. “Who’s with you?”
I snorted and sniffled at the same time. “My whole family, Faith.”
“Why? What are all of you doing here?” she asked, sounding completely confused.
“Because we love him,” I answered immediately. “Can…Can I please talk to Evan?”
“Shit! Yeah, sure…absolutely.”
I heard the opening of a door, then the thump of feet on steps, and then finally a knock on the door. “Big brother?” she called to him, knocking again, and the phone shifted when the door opened. “For you.”
“Is it Chief Clark again, ’cause I dunno…” I heard his voice, and my sweet Evan sounded so damned tired and lost. My need to wrap him up just increased by tenfold.
“No, silly…It’s Dani!”
I heard his exhalation over the line and smiled.
“Dani! I’m sorry. I know I probably scared you. I’m okay. And…”
“Evan,” I sighed in relief and worry and to get him to calm down. “Shhh, baby. We’re here. We just landed in Missoula. Give us a bit, and we’re on our way to you.”
“You’re really here?” he asked softly.
“Yes, handsome. All of us. I know it’ll be really late, but…”
“I don’t fucking care,” he practically sobbed into the phone. “I don’t give a damn how late it is. I can’t believe you really came.”
“I love you.” It was my only reason to give, and it was a damned good one as far as I was concerned. And I’d keep giving that reason.
“I love you too, Dani. So much. And I miss you like fucking crazy. I…They…They want me to press charges, and I…I…I don’t know what to do,” he rambled, and I knew him well enough to know that he was probably pulling at his hair. “If I…Jesus, all hell will break loose if I do that, Dani.”
“Is this something we can talk about when we get there?” I asked him. “What I mean is, baby, can it wait a few hours? Or does this decision have to be made like now?”
“No, it can wait. The chief said he’s keeping him overnight, due to the holiday.”
“Okay, then…First things first, baby. Let me just get to you.” I urged that last sentence, flinching when a warm hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up to see my dad silently asking to speak to him. “Evan, Dad wants to talk to you, okay?”
“Okay.”
My dad took my phone, putting it to his ear. “Son, you all right?” he asked and then listened to Evan for a moment. “Damn, kiddo…” He groaned, rubbing his bearded chin. “Okay, well, we’re heading your way. Give me your address, buddy.” He scribbled down an address on the receipt from the car rental and then asked, “Evan, is there some sort of hotel or…or…” He huffed a laugh.
“We didn’t exactly plan, but we knew you might need us.” He frowned a little. “What did I tell you at Thanksgiving, son? Exactly. That hasn’t changed. And if you’re sure you have the room…”
“We’ll make room,” I heard Evan urge over the phone, and I grinned.
“Fair enough. Here’s Dani back, and we’ll see you soon.”
“Baby?”
“Pretty girl, it’ll take you almost three hours to get here, but…I can’t believe you all came,” he mumbled that last part, and I swiped at the tears that fell. “Faith and I will get places for you guys to sleep.”
“I don’t care if I’m on the floor somewhere,” I teased him, smiling when he huffed a light laugh.
“I’d never do that to you. I’ll give up my room for you, and I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“I’m hugging and kissing you to pieces when I get there. We’re leaving the airport now,” I told him, glancing up when Aunt Tessa pulled the car to the curb.
“Please be careful, Dani. The snow is light, but it’s still tough to drive in, okay?”
“Okay.” I ended the call and dove into the back seat of the SUV they’d rented, my family already loaded up.
“How is he?” Wes asked, draping an arm around me.
I looked at him and then to my mother, who was waiting for the answer. “He needs us,” I told them, and my aunt nodded and pulled away from the airport.
Evan
I leaned against the door of my mother’s office, my sister’s phone still in my hand. Tears burned my eyes as I absorbed the fact that not only was Dani here in Montana, but her whole family had come with her. I knew they’d welcomed me into their lives with open arms—that was just the type of people they were—but knowing they’d shoved Christmas Day aside and jumped on a plane…There weren’t any words.
Hearing Dani’s voice telling me she was here was one thing, but hearing Daniel remind me of our conversation at Thanksgiving, where he’d essentially called me family, was something completely different. Despite how hard I was trying to stay calm, stay strong, I needed them. And the fact that they knew that enough to fly across the country meant more to me than anything.
“Big brother?” Faith asked, tapping the door tentatively. “You okay?”
I wiped my face on my shirt sleeve, taking a deep breath and pushing away from the door. When I opened it, she looked me over, but she didn’t say anything, simply took her phone back.
“They’ll be here in a few hours,” I told her, swallowing thickly. “We need to get places for them to sleep. I dunno how long…”
“Okay, well…you know them best, so you tell me.”
Nodding, I pointed to the stairs. “Leanne and Daniel can have the guest room. We just need to make the bed. Aunt Tessa can take Ty’s old room. Wes can take Mom’s office—either the sofa, or he can open it up. I…I don’t know about Dani…Maybe in your room?”
Faith got a wicked gleam in her eye. “Why can’t she shack up with you?”
Snorting into a laugh, I said, “’Cause her parents are here?”
“As many times as you’ve stayed at their house, they don’t know about the two of you? I call bullshit, big brother!” she sang teasingly, poking my stomach. “C’mon. We’ll get to work. I’ll handle the guest room and Ty’s room.”
“Okay.” I pointed to the shattered windowpane at the back of the library that had broken when Dad threw Faith’s phone. “I’ve got to cover that up. And I’ll build the fire. They won’t be used to the cold, so…” I shrugged, and Faith nodded.
We got to work, which helped the time fly. As exhausted as I was, just knowing that I was minutes away from seeing Dani made me wide awake. Using some cardboard and tape, I sealed the broken windowpane and then set about cleaning up the broken glass my dad had thrown, shaking my head at the liquor that tainted a few of my mother’s books. Quilts and blankets were taken down from the attic, sheets and towels from the hall closet, and more firewood was brought in from the back steps.
As I glanced out the window, my worries kicked up a bit as I saw a light snow falling, and I wondered if I’d ever be comfortable with cars and bad weather or if I’d always stress about everyone I cared about behind the wheel of a car. Hell, I hadn’t driven a car myself since before I’d left Key Lake for Glenhaven.
I was stoking the fire when the headlights of a car flashed in through the front window. I tossed a log into the fireplace and stood up straight, brushing off my hands.
“Faith, they’re here.”
“Okay!” she called from upstairs.
I walked to the front door and opened it, shaking my head at the loud voices and teasing tones. Knowing Wes, he was doing it to give Dani something else to think about.
The back doors of the SUV opened before the front, Wes laughing as hats and gloves were thrown at his head. “That’s it! I’m calling Santa. Only coal for you, little elf!”
“Shut up, asshat. That stopped working when I was like nine,” she grunted, stepping out onto the snow. My girl shivered in the cold, giving a slow gaze around her, but she took off in a run when she saw me. “Evan!”
“Dani, don’t run,” I tried to warn her but then caught her at the bottom step just as she slipped. It took all I had not to collapse to the steps with her. I wrapped my arms around her. “You’ll slip, baby,” I whispered sarcastically too late, but the feel of her, the smell of her—I’d needed it and missed it so badly that all I could do was bury my face in her neck. “Fuck, I missed you. I can’t…You’re here and…”
“I was so scared for you,” she mumbled into my neck. “I didn’t know…I was just…I love you.”
“I love you too, pretty girl.”
I pulled back, cupping her face and kissing her briefly. Grimacing when her gloved hands touched my face, I let her look. I’d pushed the cuts and the bruises out of my mind for a bit, but watching my girl start to lose her shit brought the reality of it all back to the forefront.
“I’m okay, Dani.”
“No, you are not! He did this?” she practically growled. “Then it serves him right that he was arrested. I hope he…he…”
“Dani-girl, that’s enough.” Daniel’s calm tone always seemed to catch more attention than anyone yelling.
Seeing the rest of Dani’s family standing there was surreal. My two polar-opposite worlds just came slamming together, and I felt awkward and strange, but God, I’d missed them all. I started to speak, my mouth opening and closing, but it was Aunt Tessa who broke the silence.
“Jesus, son,” she whispered, pulling me in for a hug, and soon she and Leanne were wrapped around me.
It was the latter that I’d unknowingly needed. There was something about Leanne’s hugs, something healing and nostalgic about them. I remembered the first time I met her, she’d hugged me, and I’d thought at the time that they weren’t exactly like my own mother’s, but I was so very wrong. They were identical, and I melted into it. I needed every second of it. After having been in my dad’s home for two weeks, I needed to feel something besides anxiousness, fear, and hatred.
“Oh, my sweet boy,” she crooned in my ear as she ran her fingers through my hair with one hand and wiped the moisture from my eyes with the other. “I’m sorry. We shouldn’t have let you come alone—or at all.”
“I had to come.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “I had no choice,” I told her softly, shrugging when I pulled back, and I looked to Daniel. “I found out things I never knew. C’mon in and warm up.”
“No, no…don’t mind me. I got this!” Wes stated sarcastically, slamming the back of the rental car, but he was draped in bags.
I couldn’t help but laugh, and I walked to him to take a couple from him.
“All right, Ev?” he asked, the grin slowly slipping off his face as he looked at the cut on my forehead.
“I’m okay. Thanks for coming. You didn’t—”
“Oh, hell yes, we did!” he grunted, and as I led everyone inside the house, setting the
bags down in the living room, he followed suit. “You’re lucky my cousin wasn’t on the plane right after you.”
Smirking at my girl who walked into my arms, I said, “Then it would be me down at the police station and not my dad.” I shrugged again. “If he’d said what he did to her face, I would’ve done more than punch him.” I held up my bruised hand, which made Dani gasp and take it gently.
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “Do I wanna know, son?”
“No, sir, you don’t,” I replied, shaking my head, and the sound of footsteps on the staircase caught my attention. “Faith, come meet everyone.”
My sister stepped nervously into the living room, which made me smile. My very vibrant Faith was now suddenly shy, but as she caught sight of Wes, I understood why. Chuckling, I walked to her, pointing to everyone.
“This is Professors Daniel and Leanne Bishop. This is Theresa Harper, Daniel’s sister—she prefers it if you call her Aunt Tessa. Her son is Wes.” I held out my hand and pulled Dani closer. “And this is Dani.”
Finally my sister found her voice, and she rushed at Dani, wrapping her in a fierce hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person!” She pulled back. “All of you. I…” She paused for a second and then looked to me. “Ty’s old room and the guest room are done, big brother. Did you find sheets for the pull-out sofa?”
“Yeah,” I told her with a nod but looked at everyone else. “There’s room for everyone.” Then I looked to Dani. “My sister has a pull-out…”
“I want to stay with you. I don’t even care if it’s out here. I just…Please.” Dani’s voice was firm, and Wes snorted, but it also didn’t seem to faze her parents or Aunt Tessa, either.
Faith giggled, breaking the silence.
Smirking, I hugged Dani closer, telling her, “We’ll figure something out.” Dani nodded, and I turned to everyone else. “Tomorrow, I’ve got to go down to the station. The chief wants my decision on whether I’m pressing assault charges. I don’t…I have to…”