Page 26 of Deking
I move and sit down on the couch, as close to his chair as I can.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir, I’ve heard a lot about you,” Wyatt tells him as he holds out his hand.
It’s a lie. I never talk about my dad to others. They don’t understand what it’s like to watch a man you love and admire wither away in front of your eyes.
“Nice to meet you as well. How long have you two been together?” Dad asks.
“Not long,” I tell him, saving Wyatt from having to figure out what to say.
“Tell me about yourself, Wyatt,” he demands, much like the authority figure I remember from my teens.
Wyatt sits down on the couch next to me and turns his body toward my dad. “Well, I’m a senior like Lyla, and I’m a goalie on our college hockey team.”
Dad’s eyebrows wing up. “You’re an athlete.”
“Yes, sir,” Wyatt confirms.
Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changes. I see the moment Dad starts to slip. It happens more than I like to admit these days.
Dad looks over at me with confusion. “Agatha, when did you get home?”
“A little while ago.”
Dad’s eyes dart to Wyatt and then back to me. “You need to get your boyfriend out of here before Daddy finds him. Otherwise, he will chase you with his belt. You know better than to bring your suitors home unless it’s serious.”
“Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.” I choke out as I stand. “He’s leaving now. I’m just going to walk him out, okay?”
“Okay, but hurry,” Dad urges.
I grab Wyatt’s hand and pull him toward the kitchen. When I turn to face him, I find that he’s looking over his shoulder with a crease between his eyebrows.
“Lyla…what was that?” he asks hesitantly.
“My dad has dementia. Will and I are his primary caregivers. That’s why I can’t just do whatever I want at the drop of a hat. I have to plan everything ahead of time so that way I don’t have to worry about him.”
He rubs his hand over his jaw. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”
I run my hand through my hair. “Look, Wyatt, if you want to walk away and pretend like you don’t know me on campus, I get it. My life is really complicated, and it doesn’t just affect me. It affects those around me. It wears on all the relationships in my life, so if you want to cut your losses and walk, do it. Hell, I won’t blame you.”
Wyatt’s eyes soften, and he steps forward and pulls me into his arms.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmurs against my hair.
I close my eyes and sink into his hold, wrapping my arms around his waist.
As fucked up as it sounds, it’s nice being held with no ulterior motives. I don’t remember the last time that someone other than Will hugged me just because we both needed it.
“Hello? Anyone home?” Dad calls out.
I rest my forehead over Wyatt’s heart and take a deep breath.
“He’s reset,” I murmur against his chest.
Wyatt runs his hand over the back of my hair. “Do you want me to leave? Will that make this easier?” he asks quietly.
“You can stay, but only if you want to.”
“I’d like to stay.”
