“In that case, can I have the seafood buffet to go too? And what about that three-tiered chocolate fudge cake?” It looks so good. I just want to nose dive into it like a toddler on their birthday.
“Ya know what, yeah, let's go tell the waitstaff to box it up. What would you like, Ry?” Len smiles and turns toward her as she scrunches up her nose.
“I would die for a double bacon cheeseburger with onion rings and barbecue sauce. Can we stop on the way home?”
She looks up at Teo, since he’s the one driving, and I can see how exhausted she is. Today really was a lot. I wouldn't mind a nap myself.
“Yeah, baby girl, you can have anything you want,” he says, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her toward the parking garage, while Colt and Len box up some goodies.
“Fuck, this is better than sex,”Rylee moans, taking another bite of her burger while Len massages her feet.
The moment we got back to the cheer house, we headed for our apartment, and Rylee stripped out of her dress and heels, grabbing a pair of my sweats and Colt's T-shirt.
I love how comfortable she is with us. I also changed out of my fuzzy onesie into a pair of shorts. Len borrowed something from Teo, and Colt is still in his outfit from the wedding—sweats and a T-shirt.
We really dolled up for the occasion.
A little BBQ sauce drips onto her chin, and I can't stop myself from leaning over and licking it off. Cobbler grumbles from my lap and jumps onto the floor.
“Mmm. Delicious,” I mumble and she swallows, her eyes wide.
Len and Teo are watching, but they don't say anything, and Colt is reading a book. I can't take this awkward silence anymore.
Leaning forward, I pat my thighs and Cobbler yips, thinking I'm about to play.
Peaches perks her head up from the edge of Colt's chair, finds me lacking, and goes back to sleep.
“Okay, I am over this shit. Time to drop some truth bombs. I'm dropping out of business classes and changing my major to psychology,” I confess, and everyone looks at me.
Rylee smiles and Teo shakes his head. Colt nods and Len shrugs.
“Donny, I think you would be great at that,” Len says, and I grin.
“I want to help kids like me. Ones that think they can't speak up, but are dying inside to tell someone their darkest truths.”
Rylee licks her fingers clean and Colt hands her a napkin. “I think that's an incredible thing, baby. They would be lucky to have you.”
She pauses, then looks at Lennox. “Okay, truth bomb, sleeping with you on Thanksgiving made me sick with guilt. I know you were never with Missi, but you made me feel like a cheater, and for a while there, I hated you.”
Len moves closer and nods. “I never expected things to go that far. I… Okay, truth bomb. Missi hurt me. Physically. And I know what you're thinking. She's much smaller than me, but with the pregnancy and the blackmail, I couldn't fight back. She would hit me, make me bleed from digging her nails in, and she kept me trapped in my house…”
He takes a few breaths, and I notice his hands are shaking. Shit. Things must have been bad. “Thanksgiving was the first time I managed to run away. I stole the maid’s car, and the first thought I had was to find you guys. I just wanted my family. I watched you all laughing, eating, just being happy…”
Teo stands up and grabs the bottle of wine. We decided to skip the whiskey. He takes a large gulp and then growls. “Thatmakes me so fucking mad. I get why you stayed. I do, but you could have just come to us. Told us. We would have done anything to help you.”
He drops down onto the couch and places his head in his hands. “Truth bomb, I almost killed myself.”
Lennox gasps and drops to his knees in front of Teo, placing his hands on his thighs. “What? Why?”
“You left us. You told us you were marrying Missi, and she was having your baby… Well, you didn’t exactly tell us, she did, but it didn’t hurt any less. This family broke apart that day. Rylee needed some space. Donny’s nightmares got so bad I’d find him in the living room, forcing himself to stay awake, so he wouldn’t fall asleep. Colt buried himself in cheer choreo… We were all fighting not to drown in our depression.”
Len looks at all of us and I shrug. I mean, what can I say. It's the truth. I was scared to sleep, and Rylee was struggling with her own things.
“Fuck, I am so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing,” he gasps, clutching his chest.
Rylee stands and puts her hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “We know now, baby, but I think hashing all of this out is what’s needed to move on,” she murmurs, then grabs her garbage and tosses it away.
She takes Cobbler’s leash off the hook on the wall, and the jangle has him rushing over to her. “I’m going to take him outside to pee,” she says, bending to reach his collar.
