Desperately Seeking Epic(20)
“Seen anybody?” Marcus supplies.
“Yeah,” I grumble, hating the smirk on his face.
“No. Not one guy.”
My brows rise in utter shock, and relief runs through me. I know I’m a dick for finding relief in the fact she hasn’t been with anyone since I left, but I do. “Really?”
Marcus purses his lips and shakes his head. “No, Paul. Not really,” he snorts before he begins to chuckle. “Did you really think she was celibate for thirteen years?” And the bastard laughs harder.
I glare at him. “You’re a fucking dick.”
“Dude. She’s a beautiful, successful woman. Of course there have been other men,” he continues.
“A lot of other men?”
He grins widely and chuckles some more. “Wow. Back one day and you’re already jonesing for her.”
“Fuck off. Just answer the question, Marcus.”
He slides out of his chair and starts collecting his papers. “Only a few over the years. None since Neena was diagnosed.”
I feel guilty for even asking. “How long ago was that?”
“Four years.”
I nod; unsure of how to feel about that. On one hand, I’m glad she hasn’t been with a lot of other men. I know I’m asshole for it, but it’s true. On the other hand, she’s been taking care of our sick daughter. I never meant for her to be alone.
“Why’d you stay, Marcus?” I finally ask. “You hated her when I left. Now you guys seem like best friends.”
He looks up at me and sighs. “I stayed because she asked me to.”
I want to ask more questions, because frankly, that wasn’t an acceptable answer. Clara asked Marcus to do lots of things and he never listened. At least he didn’t back when I was around. But before I can delve in, Neena comes barreling down the hall and flings herself on me. “Paul!” I like her spunk.
“Hey, kiddo.” I laugh as I hug her. The warmness spreading through me is foreign as she squeezes me. How can I already feel so connected to someone I just met? “You ready to hang out today?”
“Definitely!” she beams.
After we say our good-byes and Clara gives me a thousand instructions of which I’ll never remember, Neena and I head out.
“Be careful,” Clara tells me in her typical serious tone, as we’re about to exit the building. And I know the words mean more. She doesn’t mean just be careful while I’m out with Neena. She means to be careful with Neena, period—don’t hurt her, inside or out.
“I will,” I promise. And I mean it.
I’ve been home since five, waiting for Paul to bring Neena home. He’s texted me several times throughout the day, letting me know Neena was good and they’d be back around dinner time. It isn’t until seven that I hear the front door open and Neena yells, “Mom!”
“Kitchen,” I yell back, as I put the last dirty plate in the dishwasher.
A moment later, Neena comes strolling into the kitchen, her face lit up with a huge smile. Seems today was a good day. I love seeing her excited like this.
“Can I use your laptop?” she asks.
“For what?”
“Paul and I want to watch some of his stunts on YouTube.” That’s when Paul enters.
“I told her it was getting late and tomorrow might be better.”
“Please, Mom,” she begs.
Closing the dishwasher, I laugh. “Sure. I guess.” Neena sprints away, leaving me and Paul chuckling. “I think you have a new fan.”
“My only fan these days,” he jests. His gaze moves to his side and his eyes narrow as he looks at the door frame leading into the kitchen. He glides his finger down the panel of would, a sideways smirk on his face. He’s noticed I kept the engravings, but doesn’t speak a word about it. Silence falls between us, before Paul moves to the fridge and squints as he bends down, looking at the pictures Neena has taped to the doors. I stand beside him and when he points to the photo of Neena and Marcus dressed up as Bonnie and Clyde for Halloween, I laugh.
“I bet she had to beg him to do this.” Paul snorts.
“Actually, she didn’t. To the rest of the world, he’s still a grumpy little asshole, but he’s different with her. They’re like two peas in a pod.”
Paul gives a small half nod, his gaze falling for a moment, before rising again. This time, he points to a photo of Neena and me. It’s a selfie Neena took one night when we were lying in bed together watching The Vampire Diaries. Personally, I think the show is okay, and she loves it, so that’s all that really matters to me. “She really is beautiful, Clara,” he notes. Then, moving his dark gaze to me, he adds, “Just like you.”