“No, because nothing else makes sense. Rory and I have a past, but our past transgressions are mostly dead and the rest are in prison.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. The guys we put away got life sentences.”
She waited a beat. “So, how are you doing?”
The concern in her voice touched him. He didn’t know her that well, but what little contact he’d had with her had told Zeke that she was a caring woman. She let everyone think that she was a ball breaker but when she cared about someone, she was very giving.
“I’m doing okay.”
“Oh, it doesn’t sound like it. I take it that Rory and Maura have stuck you in the middle.”
He chuckled. “That’s not hard to figure out with those two. They have a do or die kind of attitude.”
“So, tell Auntie Jillian all about it.”
“Nothing much to tell. We got back to Miami, Maura shut us off, and Rory shut down. That’s where I am right now. I think she might need some counseling.”
“I have to agree with you there. And she has a therapist she can call.”
“Maura has a therapist?” He was stunned. She had never mentioned it to him. He had been pretty damned close to her the last few years and she never mentioned it.
“Oh, I thought you know. She keeps up with the therapist she had after the accident.”
“Since I didn’t know about the therapist to begin with, I guess I would have no idea if she was talking to him.”
“Her. And don’t get your feelings hurt, Zeke. She doesn’t tell a lot of people.”
“Including those she’s apparently just fucking for fun.”
The silence on the other side of the phone had him closing his eyes. Dammit, he didn’t mean to yell at her. Jillian wasn’t the person he was mad at. Hell, he didn’t know who he was mad at.
“Oh, sweetie, don’t be so hurt by it. She’s so private and it has more to do with impressing you than keeping you out.”
He opened his eyes and looked out of the apartment window. Usually the view of the Atlantic would calm him, soothe him. But, today, there was nothing. The two people he loved in the world were starting to come apart.
“What do you mean?”
“Maura has always tried to pretend that nothing is ever wrong. I have no idea why. Conner said one time that it wasn’t this bad until his folks died. Then, she became overly worried about perception.”
“She spent a week with...”
Jillian laughed. “Yeah, but that’s different. Sex is healthy and she understands that. If she admits she has a therapist though, she thinks it shows her weakness.”
“For being human?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what their parents were like, but you’ve worked with Conner. Is there anyone with a more disgusting work ethic?”
“You?”
“Pfft. Not me. He had strep a few weeks back and was trying to go into work. That’s just insane. Me, I know when to take a break. The Dillon’s...they don’t. They’re kind of freaks about it. And one of the things is that they can never admit they are weak. Talking to someone about nightmares or the fact you think someone is following you--”
“What do you mean?”
“Maura said she felt as if someone was following her. She’s had that feeling the last few days.”
“She said the same thing in Hawaii.”
“You all are following her, right?”
“We’ve been taking her to and from work.”
“That’s good.”
“So, I shouldn’t worry?”
“No, you should. You love her and she is shutting down. But it might be that she needs a few more days to deal with it. The most important thing you can do is be there when she falls.”
He heard the door crash open and closed his eyes. Rory was home and Zeke wasn’t in the mood for him.
“I’ve got to go.”
“Remember, Zeke, take care of yourself. Those two are a lot of work.”
“Thanks, Jillian.”
He turned his phone off just as Rory sauntered into the bedroom.
He was a fucking mess. He had been out riding on the bike. He hadn’t shaved today, but for Zeke that made him even sexier. Being so fucking drunk he could barely stand up sort of took the sexiness out of it though.
“Hey, lover,” he slurred.
“So, you’ve decided to drink again.”
“I can do what I want.”
He looked at him and his heart wept. Rory avoided alcohol and drugs. He hated it for the most part. Except when things went bad. He was hurting, thinking he’d been rejected by Maura. For a man whose mother committed suicide leaving him with his bastard father, rejection and abandonment issues were always there ready to fuck things up.