“Smart guy,” Kieran comments. “Why can’t he take care of him? You said he’s relocating here anyway.”
“Temporarily. And he’ll have his hands full with the company and the lawyers and the police.” Dawson still feels bad for dumping all that on him. Technically, Ellis chose to do it, but still. “I have to do this. Ineedto do this.”
He needs to feel at least a little useful. He isn’t good at anything, has one good friend and a sister who acts more like his mother and father combined. He’s a nobody, so the least he can do is make a difference for someone who needs it. Even if that someone is the one person who’s made his life miserable.
“Are you sure it’s safe to be with him on your own?” Kieran asks.
“He just had a surgery. He’s harmless.”
“And after he heals? What will you do?”
What will he do?
He ponders it carefully. Even if Cal never remembers, the bottom line is that neither of them can change the past. It would hang over them like the Sword of Damocles, always there. Dawson would never feel safe. He hasn’t in a long time, if ever. Maybe happiness isn’t in the cards for him, but safety…yeah, he wants that.
“I’ll finish what I started.” He’ll wait until Cal is better, until he doesn’t need Dawson anymore.
Kieran gives him a long look, maybe gauging if Dawson means it or if he’s just placating him.
“I really hope you will, Dee. I really do.”
Yeah,Dawson thinks.I hope so, too.
Chapter 11
“Youcan’tbeserious,Dee!” Olivia shrieks, making Dawson pull the phone away from his ear. Dealing with Kieran was a walk in the park compared to breaking the news to her. “I thought you made up your mind about the divorce.”
“I did,” he says slowly, pacing around the living room. “But forgive me for not predicting that Cal would end up in a car crash and get his brain wiped like a memory stick.”
“Not your problem,” Olivia grunts.
“I made it my problem. I’ll deal with it and move on.” That’s what he needs to keep reminding himself. Once this shitshow blows over and Cal is a little more self-sufficient, he can bid him farewell and go on his merry way.
“I’m coming down,” Olivia says.
“What? No!” He loves his sister, but Jesus, she can be a controlling maniac.
“You clearly can’t be trusted to act in your best interest.”
Dawson bristles, short of hanging up on her right then. “Back off, Liv. I’m not a child you can boss around anymore.”
“You certainly act like one!”
Shaking with indignation, Dawson closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “You know what’s funny?” He doesn’t wait for a response. “For all your complaining about Cal controlling me, you sure like to do the same.”
It’s not the same thing, he knows, but he can see some of the same patterns there. It’s always been like this with them. On a more logical level, he understands why Liv had to be in charge at all times, making sure all the bills were paid and that they didn’t live off junk food. It was a necessity when he was growing up. But now he’s an adult, and he doesn’t need babying.
“I can’t believe you just said that to me,” Olivia says, her voice quivering.
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. You don’t have to take care of me anymore.”
“Of course I do! You’re my baby brother!”
Resigned, Dawson collapses on the sofa and rubs his forehead. The last thing he needs is a headache. “Your kids need you more than I do, Liv. I promise, I’ll be fine.”
Whether she’s as tired of arguing as Dawson is, or she hears something in his voice, she finally lets it go. “You better be, or I’m going to whip your ass.”
He snorts. “Duly noted.”
