Page 7 of Fusion (Gravity #2)

Beau

Dallas, Texas

The to-do list that Dash and I created for ourselves was longer than I realized. A full page each, single spaced. We’d put pen to paper after he returned home. The list just kept growing as we talked about the future and moving across country. Currently, I watched from my perch at the kitchen table as he paced the living room, landline phone to his ear. The open floorplan of our Dallas home let me see and hear it all. He spoke to Dr. Harris. A lengthy conversation, much like the one a few days ago that lost my attention completely.

I palmed his cell phone, spending way too much of my free time playing games. The same thing happened this time that did the last. I tuned everything out as my thumbs worked the keypad until Dash’s shadow broke my tunnel vision.

“Video games while I’m talking to Dr. Harris. I’m beginning to see the pattern,” Dash said, grinning like the Cheshire cat. The call with Dr. Harris must have gone his way. He took my list and rapidly scanned the page. “Let’s call your mom together. That’ll remove something off both our lists. Then call Scott to see if he can ride with you.”

“I don’t need Scott. I’ll drive by myself,” I said. There were several points of contention between him and I regarding this move, and we ran smack into one of them right now. He was so damned hard-headed. “Drivin’s what I do for a livin’.”

“I don’t like the idea of you driving alone. Anything could happen. I’d be more comfortable if he were there with you.”

How was I only now seeing the old man who resided inside Dash? Everything we did was through the perspective of a risk manager.

“Sit down,” I said, nodding to the seat beside me. “Let’s call my mom. I haven’t told her anything. So, we’ll catch her up, but only hit the high points. Otherwise, she’ll worry.”

“We don’t have to tell her,” Dash offered. “She doesn’t need more stress. It’s turning out good for us.”

Yeah, right. My mom never let anything go. “She’s like a bloodhound. She’ll sniff out the truth. Just follow my lead,” I said. “Don’t offer anything extra.”

“Got it,” Dash said.

I placed the phone in the middle of the table and found my mom’s contact information. After another follow-my-lead stare, I pushed call while Dash grinned. Based on his smile, maybe my look didn’t convey what I wanted. Dash often gave that same expression during our sexy time.

“You like that phone, don’t you?” he asked. Adding a dramatic flair, I rolled my eyes. Of course, I liked the phone — who wouldn’t. I lifted a finger, silencing him.

“Hey, babe. I didn’t expect your call,” she said as if we ever had a plan to talk, and as if we didn’t say something to each other every day.

“Mom, it’s me and Dash, listen, we need to catch you up on what’s goin’ on now with us. He’s here with me.” Like a good boy, he stayed silent, listening until I gave him permission to speak.

“Hey, Dash. How’re you this evening?” she asked. My chin nodded, encouraging him to answer.

“Hi, Linda. Beau hasn’t given me permission to say anything more.” The way his eyebrows waggled had me upping my conversational game and my irritation.

“What?” she asked. Dash had garnered her full attention. The bloodhound began sniffing. “Dash, why can’t you speak?” The way my palm shot out, halting any response he had to give, caught us both off guard.

“I’m gonna bullet point what’s happened over the last week, then I’ll tell you the solutions we’ve found. You can ask questions after that,” I explained.

“Dash, does he do this to you all the time? Is my boy a control freak now?” Her tone held humor, and Dash grinned again. He and I both knew who the true control freak was, which was why I was handling the call. Otherwise, we’d be here until tomorrow, lists left undone. I shook my head. My mom and Dash liked each other so much.

“Here we go, Mom. Pay attention,” I said and had to look down to my hands to keep from losing focus. “We finally told Dash’s parents about us. Apparently, Dash’s dad worked with my father to break us up. Probably the reason for all the money he had.”

The interruption was immediate. “Beau, no. Are you certain?”

“He’s very certain,” Dash said. “My parents explained their actions in front of both of us.”

“Hang on. Stay focused,” I said, taking back control of this conversation. “The result of that discussion is that Dash has been cut off from his family. His father’s done a complete job of removin’ him from their lives, takin’ his car, canceling the utilities, turnin’ off his cell phone, just on and on.”

“Because he’s with you? They’d do all this to Dash because you returned?” she asked incredulously.

“Yeah,” Dash answered. “It was shocking to me. They watched the way I mourned for my guy…” Dash’s hand came across the table to cover mine.

“Mom, there’s more. His father had Dash removed from his law school. The employment contract he’d secured for after graduation was terminated too.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. What kind of parent…”

“Save it, Mom. Long story short, through Dash’s professor, he found a person willin’ to help him, but we have to move to Chicago for him to attend classes.” I ticked off the list inside my head, feeling like I was covering the basics. “Dash starts class on Monday. He’s flyin’ to Chicago in the morning.”

“Are you selling your house, Dash?” she asked.

“No. I’ve arranged for Amelia to stay here until I know better what our future holds. My father fired her to get back at me,” Dash said, squeezing my hand tighter. His stated devotion from moments ago was forgotten. This grip held frustration.

The way she gave a deep intake of breath, made me do the same. It was a lot. For a woman who’d lost everything fighting for me, this had to be hard to hear.

“But it’s turned into a positive. Dash is goin’ to the top law school in the country on a full ride. A guy that can’t stand his father is offerin’ help,” I explained.

“So you’re moving?” she asked. “What about your job? I know you like what you do.”

“There’s a UPS hub close by, a FedEx station a little further out. We think I have an in,” I said, glancing up at Dash for confirmation. He nodded. My main goal was to be supportive, not questioning how this was going to impact me. The hell Dash had been through meant a breakdown was coming. I’d give to him what he gave to me: a quiet, stable space in the storm.

“When’s this happening?” she asked.

“In a couple of weeks. I’ll pack up the truck with what we want to take with us and head up there. Amelia’s going to move into this Dallas home to keep an eye on the place. The Chicago home we’re stayin’ at is fully furnished. It’s not like I’m takin’ a movin’ van worth of stuff with me. And then we’ll stay until Dash finds a place to land.”

“I’ll probably fly home then ride up there with him,” Dash offered, exactly like he wasn’t supposed to do. Adding to the plan or the explanation was a previously stated hard no . How did he not remember since it was only moments ago?

“I’ll ride with you,” my mom suggested. “I want to see where you’re living. Make sure it’s safe, in a safe neighborhood.” The crazy-eyed expression and tilting head I gave to Dash better have conveyed my utter irritation with him. I mouthed, stick to the facts .

“Mom, I want you to come up there, but I think Scott’s gonna help us. Maybe you can come the next week. I’ll have time to show you around while Dash is in class. It’s different than SMU. He’s gonna be really busy.”

“Not too busy to explore Chicago with you, Linda,” Dash corrected, charmingly. "Beau’s going to try and keep me away from you, so you’ll like him more than me.”

“I have two sons now. I love you both equally, but I have questions. All this money your father had, did it come from Dash’s father?” she asked. Pretty much my most immediate thought too after learning the truth.

“Probably, but we don’t know,” I answered. Honestly, I knew her too well. She’d think this through and want to give the money back. Dash and I had talked about that possibility last night. The money needed to stay with her. She had also suffered mightily under our fathers’ cruelty.

“Linda, we don’t know, but I’ll say my father owes it to you and much more. He took everything from you. We want you to keep the money,” Dash said, and I gave him props for the warm reassurance in his tone.

Silence ensued for several long moments. “This is why your father turned to alcohol. He couldn’t bear what he had done,” she said.

“That’s our guess too, and ultimately, he might not like what he’d done, but he still did it,” I said. “I’m not givin’ him any breaks. He did this along with Mr. Richmond.”

“I know, son. And I agree.”

“We have a lot to do before Dash leaves,” I said, drawing the phone closer to me. “We should probably go. I gotta call Scott.”

“Son, if he can’t ride with you, I will. You don’t need to make the trip by yourself,” she said, mimicking Dash who nodded exaggeratingly. They were ridiculous. Like either one of them could protect me or themselves if things went south. “Then I’ll plan to be there for your birthday. Twenty-one is a big one. We’ll go have a drink.”

Dash chuckled under his breath. I’d never been the one carded. My resting bitch face scared people. Dash, on the other hand, had to show his ID everywhere we went.

“Sounds good, Linda. I can’t wait to see you,” Dash said.

I cocked a brow at him while understanding she was the only parent figure we had left, and Dash was buttering her up, because that was what he did.

“Mom, I gotta go. We have a million things to do before he leaves. I’ll call you next week,” I said.

“Dash, you call me too, honey,” she said. “I’m sorry for the trouble your parents have caused you. I’ll never understand being gifted such joy with your children then doing everything possible to tear them down.”

Dash ducked his head, probably not wanting me to see his vulnerability.

“I’m sorry for the pain it caused Beau,” he finally said. His words less forceful than moments ago as a well of emotion clogged his throat. Dash let go of an unsteady sigh, and continued, “But I’ve been given a gift with you and Beau standing with me.” Well, that might be laying it on too thick. I laughed but his hand reached for mine again, gently squeezing. “You know I feel that way.”

“I agree,” my mom said. “We’re family. I’ll always be there for both of you.”

“Thanks, Mom. Dash has turned into a crybaby. I see a tear forming,” I teased, giving Dash a minute to compose himself. “Bye, Mom.”

“Be careful, Dash. Text me when your flight lands,” she said in another turn in our relationship. Our family unit just grew stronger.

The following Monday evening.

Dallas, Texas

Who knew how much I enjoyed the quiet? And honestly, props to me over how far I’d come emotionally in the last five months. No matter how hard my dad tried, he hadn’t destroyed the inner fabric of my being. The negativity was gone. I was growing and developing into the person I always hoped to be. A good guy with values and honesty. Dash was the conductor, orchestrating the power of healing inside me. I truly hoped I was helping him in the same ways too.

Dash . His name echoed over all the restored spaces inside me. Since he’d made me believe that this was my home too, my soul found contentment by simply breathing in the Dash-infused scents surrounding me. From the front door, the closest entry from my parking spot in the driveway, to the kitchen stove where I stood right now, I was in a familiar, secure, loved territory.

I peeked underneath a foil-wrapped plate, still warm, so Amelia hadn’t been gone all that long. Tonight’s dinner, a plate of her homemade from scratch tacos and tamales. My absolute favorite. My taste buds watered at the sight. She was slowly bringing me into her native flavorings, which were spicy, earthy blends, something I’d never been exposed to before. I loved it so much, and Amelia was the queen of landing an excellent meal every single time.

After checking the refrigerator to see if she had left more, I pulled out a second plate, putting it close to the first. No reason for it to grow cold. I’d eat both of them soon enough. I went through my normal routine, stopping by the laundry room and undressing, then on to the bedroom to wash the day’s grime from my body. I stopped short when I saw a new box on my side of the bed. Based on size and shape, something I’d gotten very good at judging due to my employment, it was a cell phone.

I shook my head and grinned. My guy had to go big, hitting it hard right now, because there was no way he’d make it as a lower income individual. The box called to me like a siren, guiding me in that direction. A Sony Ericsson box. My ass hit the bedspread as I lifted the box, shimmying off the lid. Inside was a ridiculously nice gadget-filled cell with a full keyboard and camera lens along the back. There was no way this was a free-with-contract device.

The phone had some weight to it with a row of lenses along the back, a plastic flap covering them. What would I ever do with so much phone? Back inside the box, different compartments held earbuds, a charger, and an instruction pamphlet. A handwritten note fluttered from the folds. It held an easy-to-follow guide on how to start the device and what the different key combinations meant.

With a press of the power button, I started the phone and waited for it to begin. The charge was one hundred percent. Dash had thought of everything. Of course, he had, when didn’t he?

I tossed the phone aside and took a quick shower, letting my hair go wild, before grabbing my athletic shorts. The entire time, my thoughts remained on how much it cost. How long of a contract did he have to sign? Did it have the same video game options Dash’s phone had? I hoped it did. I’d enjoy that feature. Except the cell needed to go back. My old phone was good enough. It had a long life still to go.

As I pulled up my shorts, the musical ringtone startled the shit out of me. I’m ashamed to say it took a second to figure it out. My mind first went to a new fire alarm tone because Dash loved music. I feared for the tacos before my own life. Then, I was drawn to the bed on the second ring. I leaped there and answered on the third peal.

“Why did you get me this phone?” I asked in lieu of a standard greeting.

Dash’s immediate chuckle said everything I needed to hear. “I don’t know why, because you’re generally ungrateful for my efforts, and maybe that your old phone barely works. We’re going to need better communication while being apart like this.”

In theory, I agreed, but wasn’t willing to let my side of this argument go. “Then call me on the landline,” I suggested.

“No, it’s not my preferred way to communicate with you. I’d only have a few hours when you’re off at night.” The way he said those words made them sound reasonable and thoughtful, which they weren’t at all.

“Dash, this is too fancy and we’re on a budget.” I did my best to remind him gently.

“We’re in a better financial place now, and I miss you. I can’t believe how hard it was to leave you again. I think it’s easier if I just take a cab to the airport next time. I’m a big crybaby. Now say it back,” he explained. He had turned on the waterworks this morning when I dropped him off, but outside of that, I sensed the positivity, relief, and happiness in his tone. The first day of school had to have started off great.

“You’re a big crybaby,” I repeated, staring at the ceiling tiles that always drew my attention. They were pretty and mind occupying while following their paths.

“Ha. You’re not very good with the jokes. You need to leave that to me. Now say it back,” he teased. I could hear the smile in his tone.

“I love you. Is that it? Do I add I miss you?” I said.

“No, you did real good. I’ve learned more about my father’s practices. What happened in Sea Springs is my father’s normal business habit. Every time he builds, the trajectory of his business dealings end with the community’s destruction. It’s only gotten worse over time.” It was hard to believe that Jack Richmond’s company could be meaner than what he did to my grandparents’ lives and livelihood.

I didn’t voice my thoughts aloud. It’d bring Dash’s happy mood too low. Best to let him sift through the ugliness on his own. “Hmm, that’s too bad.”

“Joy says my dad heard about UC Law and Carter’s help. His face turned bright red. I guess all this worked out for Carter.” Again, another loop into a conversation we didn’t need to have now, or ever again for that matter. “Let’s change the subject. I’ve decided to come home Friday night to finish my to do list and talk to Amelia’s family about her moving into the house. And I’m coming home because I miss you,” he added, sounding like an afterthought. I could almost hear the cogwheels turning inside his head. “Did you find out about a transfer with work?”

“No, I only put in the request on Friday,” I said. “It’ll take a minute.”

“Can you go to my desktop computer in my office?” he asked. “We can Skype. I wanna see you. This is truly a beautiful home. The city has so much to do. I think I may want to live here forever, but the sparkle in my life is sitting at home in Dallas. I need you here with me.”

“Can I eat before we Skype?” I asked, stunned that those words left my lips. I liked my time with him too. “It’s just that Amelia made her tacos and tamales. They’re still warm, smell great, and look even better.”

“Oh, man, I’ll miss those things. We’ll have to request she make them when we come home to visit. It appears the only real flavoring they use here is butter,” Dash said with a chuckle. “Give me twenty minutes. I’m starving too, and I need to see what restaurants are around me. We can have dinner together. When we’re away from each other, I want us to keep our routines. Eat together, unwind from the day together, sleep with the phones on together. It’ll be what makes our separation bearable.”

“That sounds good. I need to put some clothes on and dry my hair…” I said, but he interrupted me.

“Don’t. I like you all natural and rugged,” Dash said. I guessed we were the same then. I liked him a little mussed-up, which he refused to be most of the time.

“Only if you do the same,” I said, knowing full well that was never going to happen. Dash gave a sudden bark of loud laughter as my answer.

“Twenty minutes. I’ll call you, or call me, I guess.” The humor was still in his voice. “I don’t want you to be lonely while I’m gone.”

“It feels like you’re here except I’ll go to bed earlier. Might actually get a full eight hours of sleep,” I said. Four-thirty in the morning came early when staying up late on the computer at his desk..

“Good. Can’t have you forgetting me while I’m gone,” Dash said, quietly, with meaning.

“You’re unforgettable,” I said to his tiny amount of insecurity. “Nineteen minutes now. Get moving.”

“On it,” he said and abruptly disconnected the call. I loved that silly man, and I was getting homemade tacos. I’d have the first plate gone by the time he called me back. Then the second plate would become my first, and we’d eat that together. Screw portion control.

My happiness was full-fledged back. My guy was being well taken care of, which mattered. I lifted off the bed and took the phone with me. We were going to be okay.