Page 64 of Entangled
“Goodnight, Rowan.” I end the call and flop backward onto my mattress. I can’t handle the thought of her crying herself to sleep, but she’s right. I have family visiting from out of state. My sister deserves some of my time.
After a few minutes of pulling myself together, I head back into my kitchen. Dahlia is busy whipping up another batch of sugar cookie dough. I have no idea who she thinks is going to eat six dozen cookies, but I’m not stupid enough to stop her.
“How’s your girlfriend doing?”
Is she my girlfriend? Maybe. I never considered labeling our relationship, but somehow, the word girlfriend falls flat. Rowan feels like more to me.
Sighing, I lean against the counter. “Not good.”
“What’s up?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Um, yeah, I do.”
“Fine.” I quickly fill Dahlia in on my conversation with Rowan, watching her face morph into a mask of horror.
When I’m done, she settles on a stool and taps the counter with her wooden spoon. “Wow. Just, wow.”
“Yup.” I rub the back of my neck. “Told you it was bad.”
“That poor woman has carried this on her shoulders for over fifteen years?”
I nod because there’s nothing I can say that will change the reality of what Rowan’s family went through.
“I have a question.” Dahlia pokes me in the center of my chest with her spoon. “Why the hell are you still standing here?”
“Huh?”
“Go comfort your woman, dumb-dumb.”
“But you’re here.”
“Your point? I’ll still be here whenever you get back.” She motions to the front door. “Now get the hell out of here, so I can eat my raw cookie dough in peace.”
I wrap her in a tight hug. “I love you, Dahl.”
“Love you too, Buzz.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later,I knock on Rowan’s door. Her lights are out, so she’s probably sound asleep. I should’ve called instead of just showing up. Remembering she probably can’t hear the front door from her bedroom, I scoop up a handful of snow and roll it into a ball.
I hurl the snowball at her bedroom window, then quickly roll another. It takes three hits to get a reaction.
The window flies upward, and she pokes her head out. “Henry! What are you doing here?”
“I, uh, thought maybe you needed a hug.”
I will never forget the way she comforted me after my nightmare. How she forced her affection on me and held me close despite my attempt to push her away. I don’t think she will ever understand how much her kindness meant to me, or how deeply I needed her comfort, but the least I can do is return the favor. Right now, I’d do just about anything to ease her pain.
“I’ll be right down.” She closes the window.
I wait by the door, which opens a minute later. “Hey, Princess.”
“Hi,” she whispers, peering up at me with reddened eyes and tearstained cheeks. “Thank you for coming. I’d love a hug.”
I haul her to my chest and tighten my arms around her as she dissolves into tears again. “C’mon. Let’s go inside,” I whisper into her hair.
