Take Me with You (Take Me #2)(66)
Author: K.A. Linde

“I love you, too.”

“I wanted to say…I’m glad that you didn’t try to shut me out yesterday,” she whispered. “It used to be that way, you know? So, I’m happy that we were able to be together…that you didn’t have to go through this alone.”

I kissed the tip of her nose and squeezed her against me. “Me, too, Ari. Me, too.”

We stayed like that for a while longer before deciding to get up. “I need to talk to my uncle again.”

I’d been totally fucked up last night. While I wasn’t feeling much better, some time had passed to cool my temper.

“I can come with you,” she said. She trailed her hands down my palm as I got out of bed.

I kissed the soft skin of her wrist and stared down at her. “I take you with me wherever I go.”

A smile lit up her face, the same smile that lit up my life.

After throwing on the shorts and T-shirt my uncle had let me borrow the night before, I trudged out of the room and into the kitchen. My aunt and uncle sat around the table with the newspaper opened and cups of coffee in front of them. I poured myself a cup, added cream and sugar, and then took the vacant seat between them.

“Good morning,” Randy said.

“Good to have you in the house, honey,” my aunt said.

I leaned over and kissed my aunt on the cheek. “You know, I appreciate what you guys did by taking me in when I was little. I was alone. I didn’t have anywhere to go, and you were there. You raised me.” I stared down at my coffee. “I just wanted to say thanks.”

“You don’t have to thank us,” my aunt said. “We love you, Grant. We were happy to take care of you. You were never a burden.”

I laughed softly. “I doubt that. I was a little shit.”

“You had it tough,” Randy said. “But that didn’t mean we loved you any less. And we want you to know that we’ll respect your decision about your father…no matter what you decide.”

I took a sip of my coffee. After all the shit that had gone down yesterday, knowing people who cared about me were still out there was a good feeling. I didn’t know what the fuck I was going to do about my dad, but at least people would be there if I needed them.

“I think I need some time to think about all this.”

“That’s understandable,” my uncle said. “It’s a lot to think about. Take as much time as you need. We’ll be here if you need us.”

We finished off our coffees in silence.

Ari and Sydney woke up and joined us sometime later. My aunt and uncle busied themselves in the kitchen, making us a big breakfast before we got on the road. Somehow, in the midst of it all, Sydney had weaseled her way into coming back to Princeton with us. I didn’t even try to fight her on it. It’d be nice to have her crazy ass around even if she always caused more trouble than she was worth.

When breakfast was over, we got back on the road. My brain wouldn’t shut down as I thought about the last fucked-up twenty-four hours of my life. Ari seemed particularly quiet. I was glad to have Sydney around to fill the silence with her constant chatter.

When we finally made it back to my place, I took a deep breath as I put the car in park. I hadn’t realized how fucking messed up I’d been in the car, wondering if my dad would still be here. I hadn’t known what I would fucking do if that were the case. But my dad wasn’t here. There was no sign of him, except for the bullet hole in my living room. I was sure I was going to have to explain that to the guys, and I was not looking forward to that conversation.

Sydney hopped out of the truck, and instead of heading for my house, she marched straight over to the neighboring building. I shook my head when Miller answered the door with shock written all over his face. The man had his work cut out for him with that one.

I walked to my house when I realized Ari wasn’t with me. “You coming?” I asked.

She chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head. Fear prickled through my nerve endings.

What the fuck? I thought we were okay. I thought everything was okay.

I knew she had been quiet on the drive over here, but I hadn’t thought it was anything serious.

“What’s going on, Ari? Is this about my dad? Is it about the gun?”

“Oh, Grant, no.” She walked over to me and placed her hands on my chest. “I just…need to take care of some things.”

“What things?”

“Things I’ve been neglecting. I think seeing everything that happened with your dad and being surrounded by your family who loves you so much…I don’t know. It made me realize that maybe I’m missing something in that department, too. Need to make my own amends. You know?”

I smiled. “I think that’s a good idea.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, Princess. Not everyone has my fucking baggage. Your family might have treated me like shit, but they’re still your family.”

She sighed heavily. “That’s a relief. But…there’s something else.”

“What?”

“I can’t go on tour with you this summer with The Drift,” she said in a hurry. “I’m going to accept a job working in a lab with one of my professors.”

My mouth opened, and then I closed it. I knew I’d told her I wanted her to come on tour with me before, and I did want her there. But…a rock tour was no place for someone like Ari. Working in a lab was exactly the place for her.

“That’s great, Ari. I didn’t expect you to drop everything to come on tour with me.”

“Oh.”

“I want you there! I do, but you have school. You’re so brilliant, babe. Someone like you needs to make something of yourself. You’re going to cure cancer and fucking save the world.”

“Oh, Grant,” she said in that adorable way she always said my name.

“I don’t want you giving up any of your dreams for me. I’m still going to be here. I was gone for two months, and we were fine. We’ll make it,” I told her. Then, I punctuated it with a kiss.

“You’re right.” She leaned in for another kiss. “Are you going to be okay if I leave right now?”

“I’m fine. I’m not a delicate little flower,” I joked. “I need to fill the guys in anyway.”

She nodded, we kissed, and then she was gone. I watched her drive away in her BMW. My chest fucking ached as I watched her leave. I wanted her here. She was as much my life raft now as the day when I had written that song about her all those months ago.