Chapter 113: Back at Work
- RAYA -
Rory is getting ready to leave the deli, and we’re standing in the parking lot saying our goodbyes. Dex is taking me to work from here, and now that Laurel has seen us at lunch together and probably also Dex kissing my cheek, I’m a little nervous about what I’m going to be facing once we arrive.
"Let’s hang out this week please," Rory says, giving me a hug. "I miss you. Just having lunch together wasn’t enough. We should probably try to be good daughters and go introduce ourselves to dad’s girlfriend, too."
"Patty, yeah. That’s a good idea."
"Thanks again for taking care of my sister, Dex," Rory smiles.
"Of course." He holds out his hand for her to shake, and she hugs him instead.
"You’re a good man," she says, patting his back.
I can tell Dex isn’t quite sure what to say, and I just stand back and smile—appreciating this moment. Dad has already met Dex and obviously approves of him, but there’s something more touching about Rory accepting him. It gives me a sense of peace, especially because Dex and I have only known each other a short time.
"Love you," I tell her when she blows me a kiss and walks to her car.
"Love you back."
"Are you sure you’re ready to return to work?" Dex asks as we are walking to the truck. "I can just take you home."
"I need to go back eventually if I’m going to make money and move out of your place." I give him a teasing smile.
"That’s the goal, is it?" He chuckles. "To move out?"
"It is your father’s house." I shrug. "I doubt he will want me living there when he comes back."
Dex’s eyebrows pinch at the mention of his father. He obviously hasn’t spoken to him yet to find out about whether or not there is an update on his health.
"You’re right. We should probably find our own place," he smirks—the troubled thought of his father pushed aside.
Dex opens the truck door for me and holds my hand as I get in—winking before he closes the door. And a little niggling worry makes its way into my thoughts for the first time: Dex is avoiding talking to his father. He is avoiding the feelings associated with his father’s condition, and if that’s true... if that’s true, that’s not good.
Despite how real all of this is between Dex and I—because I don’t have any doubt about it now—he could still be using this relationship between us as a distraction so that he doesn’t have to face the fact that his father is unwell. And based on how he has described his reaction to his mother’s passing, not confronting his father’s illness may create an even more difficult time down for him the road.
Nerves begin tangling in my stomach at the thought, and it makes me even more concerned that I’ve realized something important. All of this drama surrounding us—the accident, the dreams, my creepy neighbor, the scheming Lawson—have provided a distraction for Dex. I don’t want to be a distraction.
"Can I ask you something?" I ask once he’s in the truck and we’re headed to the office.
"Of course. You know that," he smiles.
"Have you had a chance to talk to your father yet?"
His smile falls a little. "No, not yet. There was a lot happening this weekend."
I nod silently, staring at the city as it passes by. There certainly was a lot happening this weekend, that’s true. Dex grabs my hand on the seat and gently squeezes it.
"But I will," he says quietly. "If I don’t hear from him today or tomorrow, I’m going to check in with him."
"I’m surprised he hasn’t called you yet about Lawson. Don’t you think your brother will complain to him if he’s given a hard time about his legal stuff from your uncle Saul?"
Dex chuckles, his eyes focused on the stoplights that are dotting the road ahead. "I doubt it. If Lawson is smart, he won’t say anything."
I’m not sure what to make of that comment, so I don’t say anything. When the office building gets closer, I find myself worrying about something else entirely.
"What do you think Laurel is going to say about us having lunch together?" I bite my lip, thinking about how much she didn’t like me before.
Based on how she seemed to put even more effort into her appearance the day Dex was due to arrive at the office, I’m assuming Laurel has a thing for him. Who can blame her? Who wouldn’t have a thing for him? He makes my heart feel like wild, winged creatures inhabit it every time he looks at me. But if Laurel has a crush on Dex, that just means there will be all the more reason for her to act like she hates me.
"She will think whatever she wants to think, and there’s nothing we can do about it. I’m not worried about it, Raya. And you shouldn’t be either."
"But..."
He leans over and kisses me since we’re stopped at a red light, his hand coming up to cup my chin, and every worry that was in my mind flees. I’m honestly not even sure what I was about to say. Dex has stolen my words.
Dex’s lips, his touch, his smoldering gaze... they rush in and fill me with a warmth and comfort that I never knew before meeting him. And what else can matter other than that? Other than him?
"I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Raya," he whispers a breath away, and I can feel it against my lips. His gaze is so close... caressing my face like a gentle touch as I’m left staring back at him in a daze, speechless.
Someone honks behind us. The light has turned green without Dex noticing, and even now he remains looking at me for a moment longer—uncaring about the light, about the impatience of the car behind us—he is holding my gaze as if to assure me that nothing else matters but this moment we’re sharing. Then his lips tip into a crooked smile, and he looks back to the road, accelerating slowly, taking his time, in no rush.
I remain in that state of suspended, dazed reality where Dex is the one buoying me up as we walk into the office. He lets me walk ahead of him, but I feel his presence close behind—almost like he is a shield or a guard keeping watch. That’s the energy he projects, and I should tell him that it’s unnecessary--that I don’t need him to shield me from anything--but instead I smile dreamily, never feeling safer.
"Raya!" Cricket exclaims when she sees me, giving me a fierce hug and then quickly pulling away. "Oh no, was that too much? Are you okay?" She asks, looking me over like she’s expecting to see a wound. "I’m sorry. You look fine. Did I hurt you?"
"No," I giggle. "It’s good to see you."
"We were so worried," Cricket sighs. "Honestly. I can’t believe that happened."
A small crowd of people starts to gather around, welcoming me back and surprising me with their genuine concern. I didn’t realize so many of my coworkers realized what had happened or that I was even gone. Lawson brought that card to the hospital with signatures and well wishes, but for some reason I didn’t take it seriously. The card almost felt like a prop—just like Lawson’s demeanor felt scripted. It was all so unreal.
"Raya!" Jay says, cutting through the crowd and echoing Cricket’s enthusiasm at having me back. "You look so good." He hugs me, too, and when he pulls away there are tears in his eyes that for some awful reason make me laugh.
"Jay, don’t cry," I chuckle, leaning in and squeezing his arm.
"I’m sorry. I know we were texting, but it wasn’t the same as seeing you here now," he says, wiping his eyes. "You look so beautiful."
"Jay," I whisper harshly, looking around embarrassed with my cheeks immediately flushing.
"What? It’s true," he says, and the mixture of sadness and joy in his expression makes my heart ache. He cares about me like a true friend, and I didn’t really see that until now.
"Thank you," I smile and hug him again. "But you can stop crying," I giggle.
"We are all happy to have Raya back," Dex says behind me—his voice elevated so that everyone can hear him. "This is a reminder for all of us to take precautions, to stay alert, to take care. We don’t want anyone else having a similar experience."
Jay backs up, wiping his eyes again with a teary smile. "Oh, Raya!" he says, suddenly appearing excited like a thought has just occurred to him. "Come here. You have to see the wishing tree that Chandra brought into the office. And Cricket and I need to catch you up on the gossip," he leans in and whispers.
I glance back at Dex who is smiling, apparently not bothered at all by Jay whisking me away to catch me up on what has happened while I’ve been gone. And as happy as I am to be welcomed back by my friends, my heart feels like it’s tugging me back toward Dex... not wishing to part from him.
"What are you looking at?" Jay scolds in his amusing way. It’s hard to take him seriously. That must be why I was surprised when he started crying. "What can be more important right now than this friendly conversation? Cricket and I need to tell you what everyone is saying about our scandalous boss, Mr. Lawson."
