The Redemption(25)

I can’t hide my disappointment. “Oh yeah, that’s right.”

He steps back and looks down at the garden. The last time we were here was on that day I don’t like to think about. He says, “I knew it would all be okay.” Following his gaze, I see the sprouts of new lettuce growing there. “By the way,” he adds, tapping my arm. “You’re it.” Dex takes off running toward home base, leaving me standing there, my insides twisted in a new emotion, my body already missing his touch.

Instead of dwelling on the fact that I came up with this stupid square one idea, I run around and try to find my CJ. “Where are you, cutie pie?”

Giggles alert me to the corner bush, but the opposite one he ran for earlier. I hurry over and go to the back side, so he can make a break for home base, which he does. Thanks to my slow-motion running, he makes it safely there, grabbing onto Dex’s leg and laughing. Dex rubs the top of his head, and kneels down. “You’re safe, buddy. Your Mom’s still it.”

Breathless, I reach the patio. I think we have time for one more round before dinner, so I start to count and everyone else scatters. This time I tag Dex first, making him it, and I’m really starting to think he just might be it in more ways than one.





I always wondered why people drank coffee at night, until now. I don’t want this night to end. I don’t want to miss a thing, not even a moment, so I make us coffee to make it last.

Tonight, I don’t get the Dex who filled the tabloids with stories of drug abuse, legal issues, and a myriad of women. And it’s not the Dex I knew five years ago or even three. This Dex is attentive and considerate, quiet at times, and contemplative. Our conversations have been lively and his outlook on his life fascinating. He’s changed over the years. It’s been inevitable with the fame and the money, but he’s matured and has this gentle side to him that he’s showing me that I’m finding very hard to resist.

But even coffee can’t make the night last forever despite my best efforts. Tomorrow has requirements that come along with the new day that I can’t delay. Realizing the time, I say, “Wow, it’s getting late.”

“It is?” He says, looking at me. Dex is lying across the couch, his lids much heavier than they were an hour ago, his smile lazy, but so attractive.

“It’s just gone ten. It’s quite the life I’m living here in the Valley.”

“It’s a good life. I’ve had a good time.” He sits up and stretches and that V, the one that I remember so vividly from before, is exposed. “Hey, eyes up here.”

Busted. “Sorry,” I say, though I’m not really.

“It’s okay. I like the way you look at me.”

Tilting my head, I grin, feeling flirty. “How do I look to you?”

“How I look at you.”

And with that, silence infiltrates, leaving me speechless. I want to get up and go to him, everything about him draws me in, but I don’t because this is the first of many nights I hope to spend with him. I don’t want to risk the perfection of our time together.

Standing up, he says, “Thank you for dinner. I don’t think I knew you were such a good cook.”

“Sheer necessity.”

“You can afford a chef.”

“I like to cook for my family.”

“It’s a good skill to have.” Taking another step, he adds, “I guess I should get going.”

I don’t want him to though I know it’s the right thing to do. I stand up as well, and ask, “So the first half of the tour’s over. Got any plans for your month off?”

“Sleep.”

“Eh, c’mon, you get a ton of sleep.”

“I don’t sleep well on the road. I never have.”

I nod, and agree. “I never did either.”

“At least you had someone,” he says so easily.

I know he doesn’t mean anything more than the words themselves, but the reminders are hard to live with sometimes. “Yeah.”

Dex comes closer and tugs at my shirt. “Did I just make it awkward?”

“No… okay, maybe a little, but it’s real and I can’t deny a real moment. Cory was in my life. He’s not anymore. I didn’t have a say in the decision. But for the record, I still struggle all the time, but it’s good for you to see, to know who I am now. I’m not the same girl you met ten years ago.”

“No,” he whispers, pushing my hair back over my shoulders. “You’re not. You’re the woman that…” Looking away from me, he backs up suddenly. “I should go.”

“Dex?” I turn and follow after him. “What were you going to say?”

He scrapes his teeth across his bottom lip and it’s entirely distracting and more than a little teasing. “Square one, remember?”

“I’m beginning to hate square one.” I open the door for him, deflated, maybe defeated inside.

With a chuckle, he leans in and kisses me on the forehead. It’s quick and gentle, not illicit in the least, though I could use some illicit right about now. “Go to bed and get some rest. And before I go, how’s Thursday looking for you?”

“What time?”

“Five o’clock.”

“I’ll be here with the boys.”