“Hey, I’m Amanda Barnett, I heard you talking about a bike?”
“Yeah, I know who you are.” He turns, making sure I can only see one side of his face. The side I can see is ruggedly handsome. He’s got to be in his early twenties - green eyes spark against sun-darkened skin. “I’d be an idiot not to know who you are. Didn’t expect to see you in here with me.”
I shrink back slightly. I’m sure he didn’t mean it the way it sounds, but I’m still early in my recovery, and I don’t want to sabotage myself. “I just wanted to say hi, and let you know I understand what you mean about the bike.”
Even I can hear how dejected I sound. Turning away from him, I go to another line.
“Look I’m sorry.” I hear his voice behind me. “What got me in here makes me feel really shitty, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. You’re basically royalty around the state. Shit, your dad, your brother, your husband - I should be bowing down.”
“Stop.” I roll my eyes. “That’s not why I introduced myself to you. I just miss the stuff I’m used to.”
“Which is people who look and act like me.”
I still can’t see the side of his face, but maybe that’s what he hides from the world. Maybe it’s not for me to know yet. Trust is a fickle thing, and it looks like his has to be won. “Yeah, people who look and act like you.”
He holds his hand out. “Dakota. Nice to meet you.”
I put my hand out too. “Amanda, but everybody calls me Mandy.”
“So, Mandy, when you gonna take your first ride once you get out of here?”
The question is so unexpected, I throw my head back, laughing loudly. “Hopefully my husband rides his bike to pick me up.”
“Good answer, real good answer.”
Chapter Sixteen
Dalton
“Are you nervous?”
Looking up, I see Liam standing in the doorway of my dorm. I’m doing my best not to show it, but fuck yeah, I’m nervous.
“Yeah.”
“You know she’ll be okay, right?”
He ambles over to the couch I have in here, taking a seat on it. He’s slower than he used to be in most everything, but sitting down and getting up is hard on him. Hell, it’ll be hard on all of us after we get past fifty.
“I always thought she would be,” I admit to him. “But this last time, it scared the shit outta me.”
“Scared all of us, Dalton. But she’s learning what she needs to, in order to have a great life.”
“I thought we had a great life.” I pull a brush through my hair, anything to keep my hands moving.
“You did, you do, but you know as well as I do that mental health isn’t one size fits all. You’re doing the right thing here, going to visit her today.”
This is the day I’ve waited for, for so long. The day I’ll finally get to see her and I’m scared as fuck. What if in the last week since we exchanged our letters, something’s changed? What if she’s decided she can do better than me?
I’ve always known that could be an option for her.
I’m a fucking mechanic with a high school diploma.
All of the things I thought I had a good grip on are fucking with me right now.
“This isn’t about you and your issues, Dalton. This is about her and her issues. Go to her with an open mind, and a loving heart. That’s all you need.”
“I hope so,” I mumble, grabbing my cut off the back of the chair. “You think I should wear this?”
Liam laughs. “I think you should be yourself, no matter what that means. You wanna represent Heaven Hill, then represent, but if you just want to be Mandy’s husband today, do that.”
“I don’t think I can be one without the other.”
“Then there’s your answer. Let her know we love her and can’t wait to see her. Walker’s up at the house, so he won’t even know you’ve gone.”
Shame builds deep in my gut. “I hate lying to him, but I just want to make sure she’s good before he sees her. Does that make me a bad person?”
“It makes you a good dad.” He claps my shoulder before leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Walking over to the mirror, I look at myself closely. I’m older than I used to be, wrinkles and little lines have worked their way onto my face in places I never imagined they would be. At the root of my hair, there’s a few pieces that might have a gray tint to them, but I’m strong and I’m healthy. I’m willing to shoulder whatever weight Mandy or my family needs me to.
“I’ll do anything you need me too.” I make the vow, more to myself than to anyone else. I wasn’t who she needed me to be before, but like Liam told me, I’m going into this with an open mind and a loving heart. This Dalton will be the husband my wife needed, and the man my woman needs.
It’s a promise I vow to myself to keep.
Following the GPS on my phone, I pull up in front of the place Mandy’s been at since she asked for help. Parking, I get off my bike and take a good look at the place.
It doesn’t look nearly as clinical as I had imagined, which sets me at ease somewhat. Glancing around, I see a sign which reads Magnolia Behavioral Health. If this place does as well as I think they’re doing they’re about to see a huge donation from an anonymous donor.
I wanted to bring her something, but after looking on the website, I realized I’m not allowed to, which feels weird after being away from each other for so long. If this were any
