Page 125 of It's About Time
Staring over at her, it dawns on me that she just put a name to exactly what I’ve been feeling for years when it comes to my mom and dad. “I keep asking myself what I’m going to do when Rhonan gets the information that I requested from him.”
“Have you landed on anything yet?”
“No.” I rest my hand on the armrest on the passenger door. “I guess part of me hopes he’ll find nothing, but I’m smarter than that.”
“You know, I offered to do some digging too not so long ago. My offer still stands,” she says. “I could get Tori alone somewhere and coerce some information out of her. I have plenty of tools I can use to persuade her as well, if you catch my drift.”
I twist to face her. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I need to wait until I have all of the pieces.”
She reaches for my hand and then pulls hers right back, clearing her throat uncomfortably. “Well, just remember I’m here to help.”
“Is that right?”
“Look, I know this whole fake engagement was my idea, but it was because the last thing I wanted was to see you be taken advantage of again. I hate seeing people hurt. Maybe it’s some subconscious flaw from my childhood,” she states with a shrug.
“And having me there when you see Vinnie helps you avoid hurt too.”
She nods, but inside, I think I just solved part of the puzzle that is Dilynne Marie Clark.
“Do—do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if your parents weren’t drug addicts?”
Her silence is earned from my question, but she finally answers after a minute. “I used to, but my therapist really helped me see that by doing so, I was living in a past that wasn’t a part of my future anymore.”
Looking out the windshield in front of me, I scoff. “Yeah, I get that.”
“And if they hadn’t left me and Henley, I think I’m more scared to find out what my life would have looked like if theyhadstayed.”
“What do you mean?”
She adjusts her grip on the steering wheel. “I never would have met Nick, he never would have introduced me to cars, and I never would have been forced to figure out who I was beyond my parents’ identity. I mean, I know I was young when they were still around, but our parents were known as druggies, Elliot. Henley fought to keep me shielded from a lot, but I wasn’t that naïve. Moving to Blossom Peak gave us a chance at a life where we weren’t their kids, a life that I’m so fucking grateful for. It certainly hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, and meeting you definitely has added to the irritation I feel on a day to day basis.” I reach over and pinch the top of her knee. “Hey! I’m driving here!”
“Watch that sass, woman.”
She peers over at me with a playful smirk on her lips. “This is who I am. Don’t act surprised.”
I smile back over at her. “I’m not. In fact, I think my surprise about this thing between us left my body the second I kissed you.”
She looks back out in front of her, avoiding my gaze. “Then that kiss affected you more than it did me.”
“You know, you’re a really bad liar.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just being honest, like you’re trying to be.”
“Yeah, well? We’ll see about that later.”
“And what’s happening later?”
But I don’t answer her question. If this woman wants to play stupid and act like she isn’t as affected by our connection as I am, then I guess I’ll be forced to use alternative methods to get her to see reason.
And I think I know exactly how to make that happen.
***
“I’m sorry. I—I booked a room with two beds.” Dilynne taps her credit card against the counter resting between her and the hotel receptionist.
“I can see that, but unfortunately, our system must have malfunctioned. We have rooms still, but only those with one bed.”
I slide my card across the counter to the woman standing behind the computer. “One bed is fine, thank you.”
