Page 29 of Regret Me Not
Hal started to laugh, all evil. “Throw pillows. Get it? They’rethrowpillows, and I’m throwing them.”
Pierce stared at him. “Oh dear God.”
He repeated his evil cackle and sailed the next pillow across the room like a Frisbee. The next one went too far, and Pierce stuck his hand up and caught it before it could hit the refrigerator.
They both stopped and stared at Pierce’s game hand and arm in shock.
Pierce met Hal’s grinning countenance with fierce triumph of his own, and then Hal pumped his fist, dancing on the hard tile of the living room with undisguised glee.
“Iam going to be the best massage therapist/personal trainer on theplanet! I’m rehab therapyking of the frickin’ world!”
Pierce dried his good hand at the sink, then grabbed the pillow to chuck it at Hal’s head. Hal didn’t even duck, he was enjoying his celebration too much. And why not? Pierce grinned at him, not quite ready to mambo—or so he thought.
“You don’t get out of this that easy,” Hal told him, dancing into the kitchen. “Here—turn toward me—conga line! You’re the big spoon!”
Oh wow.Hands on slim hips, Bugs Bunny moves ready! There was only the music in Hal’s head, and he slowed it down enough for Pierce to keep up.Bum-bum-bum-bum-ba-BUMP, bum-bum-bum-bum-ba-BUMP, together they conga-trained into the living room. Hal grabbed his hands and turned them around so Pierce’s back was toward the couch, and Pierce, caught up in the madness, wrapped his arms around Hal’s waist as he fell backward, pulling Hal down on top of him.
He turned at the last moment, depositing Hal sloppily next to him, while the two of them laughed like children. Then they both seemed to take a breath at the same time, and the moment grew long, stretched breathlessly between them, a taffy moment with no end.
Pierce broke first, biting his lip and looking down at Hal’s chest, heat stealing over his cheeks.Kiss me, Hal. Please.Hal leaned forward, and Pierce looked up into his eyes. For a moment, while his heart beat in his ears, they stared at each other, and Hal’s plush mouth pursed, came closer, and…
…veered to the right to gently buss Pierce’s cheek.
Come on!
Hal pushed himself up to his feet, bouncing like the moment never happened.
Oh. Maybe last night was a fluke. Maybe he’s just really kind and doesn’t want me after all. I’m older and have scars, and I was pretty fuckin’ average anyway. Maybe he just wants to be friends.
Heisa pretty amazing friend.
“Are you ready to do the Lego thing?” Hal asked, and Pierce nodded bemusedly, trying hard to keep his disappointment to himself.
THEY WEREdeep into the intricacies of making rectangular Legos turn into a round shape when his phone buzzed with Sasha’s nightly text—and then rang, because apparently the text was a warning shot.
Pierce answered the phone saying, “Hey, Sasha, what’s up?”
“You sound happier,” she said, butshedidn’t, and Pierce’s antennae went on high alert.
“I am. What’s wrong?”
“They’re coming,” she said, voice crumbling. “Pierce, I didn’t know what to do. They called up and said they were coming for Christmas—they didn’t ask or anything. I mean, I don’t even know how they knew my number. I wasn’t even living here the last time I talked to them.”
Pierce blinked, trying not to freak out. “Wait. You mean—ourparentsare coming?”
“Yeah. What am I going to do?”
Oh Jesus.“Do you want them in your house, Sash? Be honest. I was the bastard who told them not to talk to you at all if they couldn’t be nice. If you want them back in your life—”
“No!” Her voice cracked into tears. “No. Pierce, I can’t even…. My kids just watched me cry, and Marshall had to help me breathe after they hung up, and he was going to call them up and tell them to go to hell but… but he’s not a… awarrior, Pierce. You are.” And now she sounded like she was crying quietly, like when they were kids. “You are. Please, I know you’re mad at yourself now, because you got mad because you were hurt. But… but that’s just because you’re used to being on the making-it-right side of things. That’s why you and Cynthia, I think—I mean, for all her faults, Pierce, she kept trying to make the world better.”
“Don’t worry,” he said grimly. “Sasha, don’t worry. Where’d they call from?”
“I’ll text you the number,” she said, sniffling. “Please don’t let them come to my house on Christmas. I’m sorry I’m such a… a fuckingmouseabout this—”
“Stop,” he said, making sure his voice was firm. “Sasha, you are strong. You walked out of their lives and you… I was an asshole when I was there, but evenIcould see what a good life you made for your kids. So don’t… don’t be mad at yourself because you don’t have the asshole gene, okay? I guess it’s all I’m good for.”
“No,” she protested. “No—that’s not why I asked you.”