Out of Nowhere (Balls and Brawn Bodyguard #4)

25. Chapter Twenty-five Dex

Chapter Twenty-five: Dex

D ex woke to a phone ringing. His phone. Leaning over, he grabbed it from the other side of the lamp and swiped up.

“Hello?”

“Hello? Is this Dex?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“This is Penelope Franklin. Did I wake you up? Sorry, I thought you’d be up and working by nine a.m.”

“I’m in California. It’s six a.m.”

“Oh, my God! I’m sorry! Please forgive me. Your mother gave me your number last week. I live in Nettleton, but I was going to drive to Redding today, and I thought we could meet up. But it sounds like that’s not going to happen. I’m sorry for waking you.”

“Mm. That’s okay.”

“Maybe we can meet some other time? Give me a call.”

“Mm,” Dex said again, and disconnected. When he put the phone back on the table and flipped over, Seo-jun was staring at him, dark eyebrow arched.

“Important call?”

“Oh, um. No. It was a friend of my mother’s.”

“A friend?”

Dex made a face. “That woman she wants me to take out. Penelope somebody. I told her I was out of town. I didn’t know what else to say.”

“Maybe that you’re taken?”

“Uh, yeah. I guess. I just thought then she’d wonder why my mother was trying to fix me up with someone if that was the case, and I didn’t want to start a whole conversation.” He snuggled closer to Seo-jun.

“Tell her it’s a new relationship that your mother doesn’t know about. I’m not sharing you, Dex.”

“I know that. I just haven’t worked out the details.”

Seo-jun sighed. “Hell, I’ll dress like a girl when your mom visits if you don’t want to tell her I’m a man. Won’t be the first time. Haru loved dressing me in girls’ clothes.”

A growling noise issued from Dex’s throat that surprised him. He wouldn’t have labeled himself as possessive, but—fuck it—he didn’t like the thought of Haru making Seo-jun do things like that. He bet he made a beautiful girl, though. For a moment, Dex allowed himself to image his mother meeting Seo-jun in a long wig and wearing a dress and a stuffed bra every holiday he spent at his mother’s house in Colorado. The knowing look Anna would shoot him and Seo-jun over the holiday ham. The thought was ridiculous, and he quickly dispelled it. He wouldn’t want to ask Seo-jun to be someone he wasn’t, and, ultimately, he wouldn’t like hiding their relationship from his family.

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “I’d never ask you to dress like a woman,” he said. “Although I really think you could pull it off very nicely.”

“Of course I could,” Seo-jun said. “And you hardly ever see your mother, right?”

“Right. But I don’t want our relationship to be a lie.”

“Maybe it would just be easier if you met this woman and then tell your mother you were incompatible. Put her off for a while longer.”

“She’d just keep fixing me up with more women.” He got out of bed. “I’m going to the bathroom, and then I’m going to brush my teeth. Then I’m coming back to bed and kissing you senseless.”

“If you get to brush your teeth, I get to brush mine,” Seo-jun said, then leaped out of bed and ran for the bathroom.

“No fair!” Dex called, running after him.

“I have to go see Anna at ten. She has a therapist appointment she wants me to participate in.”

Dex and Seo-jun were lying in bed, sweaty and tired from morning sex that had left Dex drowsy and sated. He wished he hadn’t promised Anna he’d be there.

“Okay. Let me know if you want to go to lunch afterward. What time do we need to be at the airport tomorrow?” Seo-jun asked. The way he was absently running his finger up and down along his sternum made Dex want to jump him again. He might if he had the energy, but he definitely did not.

“Uh, probably nine a.m. Just to be safe. I’ve missed flights if I wasn’t at an airport three hours before take off.”

Small frown lines formed between Seo-jun’s brows, and Dex couldn’t resist massaging the area with his thumb. “Don’t worry. You can take a pill before we leave. I’ll take care of everything.”

Seo-jun let out a breath, his dark eyes seeking Dex’s. “It’s been a long time since I’ve relied on anyone, and that person wasn’t someone I should have relied on. I have to admit it feels good with you. When it was Haru insisting on taking care of me, I felt suffocated. You just make me feel secure, like I have a safety net.”

Catching Seo-jun’s hand in his, Dex kept their gazes locked. “You can rely on me. I won’t let you down, I promise. I’ll always be your safety net.”

Seo-jun nodded slightly, and Dex’s heart flipped in his chest just knowing that this man who had seemed so unapproachable just months ago now trusted him so much. They were lovers.

Dex took a shower and ate a granola bar for breakfast on his way to the facility—a term that definitely didn’t fit the place. Resort would be more apt. This idea was underlined when Dex was told by an attendant that his sister had spent the morning by the pool and was in her room changing. She would meet him on the second floor.

Dex hadn’t been upstairs before; he’d only been told that the doctors’ offices and exam rooms were there, including those of the psychiatrists and therapists. When he reached the large oak door with Paula Carpenter, LCPC etched on a gold plate, Dex pushed it open and found himself in a small waiting room with a much less utilitarian vibe than most offices. There was no receptionist, but a moment later a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties walked down the hall and greeted him.

“You must be Anna’s brother,” she said after they shook hands.

“Yes. Dexter Price. You can call me Dex.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Dex. I’m Paula.”

Paula wore a tangerine-colored blouse and blue slacks with a colorful necklace with matching earrings. The frames of her glasses matched her blouse perfectly, and Dex wondered if she had a pair to go with every outfit.

“Please, come into my office. I told Anna to come a little late because I’d like to speak with you first.”

That surprised Dex. What did Anna’s therapist want to talk to him about?

“I’m afraid I don’t have Anna’s consent to be privy to her health information,” he said as they entered an average-sized room with a large window overlooking the tennis court and grove of trees beyond. Paula indicated for Dex to take a seat on the couch, which was dark gray and scattered with colorful pillows that looked a little misshapen, as though patients had clutched them while they tried to put their emotional distress into words. It was a little depressing.

“You do now,” Paula said, settling on a large chair upholstered in deep red corduroy.

“Come again?”

“Anna has given you consent.” Reaching for a folder on the low, square coffee table between them, she passed it to Dex. “HIPPA laws are a little different when it comes to mental health. A patient can simply verbally agree to a family member being privy to their information, but I like to play it safe and have written consent.”

Dex looked over the papers signed by Anna before passing the folder back to the therapist.

“I’m glad she changed her mind. I’ve been worried about my sister, and I ‘m not always sure what she’s telling me is one hundred percent fact.”

“I understand. Tell me about Anna from your perspective,” Paula said, leaning back in her chair.

Dex cleared his throat. “Well, she’s smart. And she’s usually pretty private. But, I think being pregnant has shaken her up a little.”

Paula nodded.

“Er, I would call her extroverted, unlike me.”

“Were you two close growing up?”

Shaking his head, Dex said, “I’m almost seven years older than she is, and a boy. We had nothing in common and were going through different stages when we lived in the same house.” He looked down at his hands. “I feel kind of bad about that.”

“Why?”

“Because Anna’s evidently been having issues for a long time, and I was clueless. I can’t help but wonder if I could have helped her if I’d been more active in her life.”

Paula looked at her tablet. “I understand that she became obsessed with your boss.”

Dex nodded. “Correct. She dated him—before he was my boss. The fact that I went to work for him was just a coincidence.”

There was a knock on the door. “That’s probably Anna now.” Paula called for her to come in. Anna entered, looking comfortable in a green one-piece jumper. However, when Dex looked at her face, he could see she was nervous.

“Paula told me you signed the HIPPA papers,” Dex said, smiling. “Thanks for doing that.”

Anna nodded and sat down next to him on the couch.

“I was just talking to Dex about your relationship with his boss, West Hammond.” Turning back to Dex, Paula said, “That must have been embarrassing for you.”

“Well, yes,” Dex said, looking at Anna. “It was a little embarrassing the way it all ended. But everything turned out all right.”

“Anna used you.”

Again, Dex glanced at Anna, who stared back at him. “Uh, yeah. She did.”

“Are you angry with her about that?”

Dex wasn’t sure why the therapist was asking him these questions. Weren’t they here for Anna?

“A little.”

“Just a little? Come now, Dex. Your sister manipulated you into spying on your boss and his boyfriend. When that all came out, it must have been extremely uncomfortable for you.”

Frustrated, and not getting any reaction from Anna, Dex said testily, “Yes. I was angry at Anna for using me against my boss. My friends. But that’s in the past. I’m here because I care about Anna and want the best for her, so can we talk about how she’s doing now?”

Paula turned her gaze to Anna. When Dex did the same, he saw a tear sliding down his sister’s cheek.

Angry, Dex swung back to Paula. “Why did you force me to say that?”

“Because Anna knows you’re angry at her. She knows you resent her. But she tells me you refuse to admit it, and, right now, that’s what’s hurting her.”

Dex stilled. “What?” He looked at Anna. “I don’t understand. If you think I’m mad at you now, I’m not.”

“Aren’t you?” Anna spoke for the first time since she entered the room. “You can’t have gotten over it. I know I’ve been difficult. I can’t really help it. I see someone I want and I just can’t stop thinking about them. I know I’m sick. But I didn’t mean to hurt you, Dex. I’m sorry.” More tears flowed down her cheeks, unchecked.

Dex reached for her hand, clasping it in his. “I know you can’t help it. I want you to get help.”

Anna sniffled and looked away.

“Anna?” Paula prompted.

“There’s something else,” Anna murmured. “I’m not sure I want to raise this baby.” Her lips trembled, and suddenly she began sobbing for real. “There’s something wrong with me if I don’t want my own baby. I really am fucked up.”

Pulling her into his arms, Dex stroked her hair while she cried into his shoulder. “Shh. It’s okay. Not everyone is cut out to be a mother. And you might change your mind when the baby comes, or you might not. Either way, we’ll make sure he’s okay.”

Sniffling, Anna said, “I’ve tried to be strong, but I can’t do this alone. That’s why I signed the papers. I need you to help me, Dex. You’re the only one I really trust.”

Dex felt the weight of that like a stone anchored to his heart. He understood it. Their mother would always be their mother, but she she wasn’t capable of being what they needed. And, for reason’s unknown to Dex, Anna’s father had never been someone she’d felt comfortable leaning on.

“It’ll be okay. I promise. I’ll be here for you, okay?” Anna nodded against his shoulder. “And we’re good…about the West thing. I forgive you and understand. And I’m sorry I lied about not being angry. I just didn’t want to put stress on you when you’re trying to get better.”

As Anna calmed, they began to talk, and Dex realized they were taking the first steps in repairing their relationship. Or perhaps they were finally building one.