He nods, and walks back over to the chair and sits down, jumping right into the conversation again. Maybe we should have brought him here sooner. He looks happy.
I find someone to let me out of the front door and head to the car. Hazel will be happy to hear about this.
When I pull out of the parking lot, heading east toward the house, I call Hazel.
“What’s up?”
“Dad’s enjoying himself. You might not hear from him tonight. He’s gabbing with a bunch of ladies about mom. He didn’t even want to stay and visit. Can you believe that?”
She laughs. “Are you offended, Jer? That’s good. He’s making friends. He’s only had us for a while now, remember?”
Hazel’s right. After our mom died, he dedicated his life to raising us and never went out and made any friends. If we weren’t around, he was at home, all alone.
“Okay. I get it. Talk to ya tomorrow then,” I say, before hanging up.
The dread of going back to the empty ass house and sleeping tonight makes my stomach tense. I should’ve taken my sleeping pills hours ago, but it slipped my mind. I didn’t think the visit with him would be so short.
I leave my truck on and sit in the driveway for a bit, thinking about everything. My new job. Raquel. My dad. Maybe this is when things start to look up for me.
Me: I am sorry about what I said to your brother. You shouldn’t be involved. Do you hate me?
She has every right to be upset. I need to think before I open my damn mouth next time. Obviously, Eli is going to run and tell his sister. We have enough things keeping us apart without helping the cause. From now on, I’ll steer clear of her brother. It’s in both our best interests. If we do get to take a chance on us down the line, it’s not going to help if her brother despises me.
Raquel: No sex jokes to my brother, especially involving me. I don’t hate you, just a little caught off guard. Friends don’t make sex jokes about each other.
Doesn’t she understand that I want to be more than friends? The lingering eyes she has when I’m around and her deliberately staring at my ass-- I know she wants more, too. She is just afraid. I can’t forget that she is only recently divorced, and with the way that ended, she is probably guarding her heart like Fort Knox. I just need to make her realize that I would never hurt her like Dean did.
I take the keys out of the ignition, walk to the door, and step inside. When it’s just me, I can hear every little movement, and it just makes the environment that much creepier. The keys are set on the table and I head upstairs to get ready for bed.
Maybe the thoughts of Raquel’s silky skin against mine will help me fall asleep tonight.