Page 123 of Between Desire and Denial

“She’s in denial a lot,” he responded immediately.

Knox laughed at us both, then we all laughed together, like we didn’t have a million other problems to solve that day. Whenwe sobered enough, Knox murmured. “I’m probably going to fuck up a lot, guys.”

“Great. You and your sister can both sit in this house and think about your fuckups at the same time since her ass was down the street fighting with her childhood bully out in public for all to see.”

“Am I missing something?”

“Please shut up.” I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Now is not the time, Dimitri.”

He started to laugh and then turned to my brother and put his arm around his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll tell you all about it.” And he proceeded to walk Knox into the living room, telling him all about my temper tantrum at the salon.

Knox’s laugh boomed throughout my house so loudly I couldn’t help but snicker. Then he looked over at me and said, “Mom would have been proud of you, Olive Bee. Sticking up for yourself and being dramatic. It’s what she loved most about you.”

I turned away fast before they both saw me tearing up and rushed around the kitchen to whip up some dinner.

That night, we talked about where Knox would stay, how he could pick out his own furniture for his room, and how we’d look into therapy and rehab together. Later, when Knox went upstairs, I turned to Dimitri and said what I should have a long time ago. “I’ve been in denial about falling in love with you, but I’ve fallen all the way down the tunnel now. I’m not sure I’ll be able to climb out of this one.”

“Thank fuck.”

“What?” My mouth dropped.

“You heard me, I’m happy.”

“You’re happy? And thankful? That’s it?”

“Well,I’vebeen in love with you practically this whole time, so I’m happy to hear you think you’re almost all the way down that rabbit hole with me.”

My stomach got butterflies as I giggled at his confession. I dropped my head onto his shoulder as we sat there. “You’re taking in my brother,” I whispered.

“Who’s also going to be my brother.” He kissed me then and I cried in his arms. I didn’t hold back. I let it all out. Knox was right. My mother would have been proud.

Everything had been going so well, so perfect. I shouldn’t have jumped out of the bed when I heard a car door slam outside. I shouldn’t have snuck down the stairs to get a closer look at the dark shadows moving over on Lucille’s driveway.

And I definitely shouldn’t have gone out the front door into the night when I saw Jameson and Lucille putting something very large into a man’s car.

Chapter Forty-Six

OLIVE

I pushedLucille’s lawn mower over as an excuse. I mean, it was midnight. I didn’t really need one. They knew I was being nosy, but I waved at them both and shoved the mower hard toward her garage just as Jameson tried to step into my way.

“What the fuck are you doing outside?”

“I could ask you the same,” I whisper-yelled as I peered around at Lucille who was shaking her head at me with wide eyes.

“You need to go back into your house and act like you never—”

“Is Earl in that car?” I took a deep breath. “Dead?”

“Oh, Jesus,” Lucille said as Jameson slammed the car door shut.

Jameson glared at me. “What the hell would make you think that?”

“Earl started all this—”

“He was always disloyal.” Lucille harrumphed and crossed her arms. “And violent, Olive. Don’t forget.” Lucille didn’t look remorseful at all.

“We’re helping Lucille with a few things. Earl has beenout of town.”