He half smiled. “That’s not going to happen.”
Slow Recovery
I couldn’t believe the drama that happened during Dean and Melissa’s visit. Hell, I’d only suggested they come out here together because I wanted them to finally get together. I guess that backfired. And now Dean was hurting and I didn’t know what Melissa was feeling, but I somehow feel responsible for it all.
Dean refused to sleep in the guest room last night, so he stayed on the couch. I tried to get him to stay in our room with Jack and I’d sleep with Melissa, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Just go stay in our bed. It’s no big deal, Dean. I’ll go stay with Melissa,” I offered.
“No, thanks. I like couches,” he said with a wink as his gaze looked past me to something over my shoulder.
I turned around and noticed Jack standing behind me. “What were you doing?” I asked him.
“Me? Nothing? Just staring at your ass,” Jack said and I laughed.
“Liar!” I smacked my palm against his chest.
“I just told Dean that if he said yes to sleeping in a bed with me that I’d smother him with a pillow and throw his dead body off our balcony. I’m not f**king sleeping with my brother, Kitten, when I can sleep with you.”
I tapped my foot against the tile flooring. “You said all that from behind me?”
“Not with words. But the message was conveyed.” He ran his finger across his neck like a sinister throat-slasher.
“Dean, I just want you to be comfortable on your last night here. Please let me know if I can do anything for you.”
“I’m fine, Sis. Really. Stop worrying.”
It was only after his insistence that I finally left him alone and went to bed with Jack. Melissa had fallen asleep pretty soon after our post-fight chat, and both times that I checked on her, she hadn’t moved.
She confessed to being rattled by Dean’s explosion of emotions and she cried on my shoulder. A lot. But she wouldn’t really admit to anything. I kept asking if she liked Dean and she would nod her head, but she wouldn’t say much else. Honestly, I was still just as confused now as I was six months ago. Something was preventing Melissa from letting go and loving Dean, but I had no clue what it was. And she wouldn’t tell me.
The next morning we all got ready in silence. I insisted that Jack come to the airport with me because I didn’t want to deal with the two of them by myself. I had no idea how things would go and I needed all the support I could get. Plus, Jack would be able to tell them to go f**k themselves when all I’d want to do is superglue their body parts together.
Forever.
Dean avoided Melissa entirely. He refused to look in her direction, sit near her, or even acknowledge her existence. One look at her and I could tell it was eating her up inside. She looked like she was breaking. When we got to the airport, the four of us walked together toward the check-in counter. Jack stopped for a couple of pictures, reminding his fans that he couldn’t sign anything with his broken hand, as the three of us took care of getting them checked in.
“Dean,” Melissa whispered in his direction, but I heard.
“What?” he responded without turning or moving toward her.
“Can we talk?”
“Nope.” He turned his head and met her gaze straight on, and my heart cracked in that instant for them both. I hated what they were going through and longed to take their pain away.
“You seriously won’t talk to me right now?” Melissa asked, her voice small.
“No, I seriously won’t talk to you right now.”
The lady at the ticket counter shouted, “Next,” and Dean walked up alone. I squeezed my tiny best friend and pulled her head against me. “Thanks for coming out. I really do miss you.”
“I miss you too. I hate that you’re so far away,” she complained.
“I know. Me too. You need to fix this thing with Dean,” I suggested and she sighed.
After getting her bags checked, we met the Carter boys in front of the security line. I hugged Dean tightly. “I love you. I’m going to miss you. Thank you so much for coming out. Come out more, okay? We miss you.”
He gave me a big smile. “I will. I’ll miss you guys too.”
“Tell Gran and Gramps hi for me please!” I added before I forgot. I missed them all the time. I’d never had a couple who were as wise about life as the two of them. They knew what truly mattered in life and they never hesitated to make it known. I had so much to thank them for.
Jack squeezed his younger brother and patted his back so hard it sounded like he broke him. Dean turned toward Melissa and said, “Enjoy your flight.”
“What does that mean? Aren’t we on the same one?” She looked at me, uncertainty written all over face.
“Not anymore.”
Her mouth dropped completely open and mine followed. “Seriously?” she asked.
“Seriously,” he deadpanned.
“What flight are you on?”
“Not yours, so don’t worry about it.” Dean entered the security line and I stood there completely stunned.
“Holy shit,” I said to no one in particular.
Melissa’s eyes teared up, but she sniffed them back as I gave her one last hug. “I’ll call you later.” She sucked in a breath and entered the line by herself, now separated from Dean by numerous people.
“Are you going to be okay?” I asked, the shock still overwhelming my senses.