Locked Out by Anna Chastain

Author:Anna Chastain [Chastain, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Holly

Red comes over on Tuesday with a bag full of tacos and kicks Dean out.

“I’m the worst dinner buddy ever,” I tell him after inhaling my first taco.

“Nah.”

“I’ve only managed to make it to, like, three of our Taco Tuesdays.”

“You’ve been a little busy, it’s alright. Besides, just gave me more time with Babe,” he insists with a wink.

We’re set up at my dining table, food debris spread across the table top.

“It’s a good thing you kicked Dean out,” I say, preparing for another big bite.

“Why’s that?”

“I’m not sure he’d approve of me eating all this.” I realize how it sounds, and amend. “I mean, not that I do what he says, it’s just,” I shrug, “he cooks.”

“Dean can sure be a wet blanket these days,” Red says and I snort a laugh. “He used to be the wild one, you know.”

“Really. Do tell.”

“Well, that boy attacked every physical challenge like it was his only duty in life. Wave? He’d surf it. Cliff? He’d jump it. Car? He’d race it. Not much of a surprise he ended up in the Marines, I suppose.”

“I can see that. You know, I went to high school with Grace.”

“Mmm, she mentioned that, said you were real quiet and super smart.”

I chew and nod. “More or less, I guess.”

“Guess you haven’t changed a whole lot.”

“Don’t be so sure.” I finish my last bite and lean back, rubbing my belly.

“I’ve found in life that the quiet ones are often the ones who think the most, observe the most, listen the most. Being quiet isn’t bad, Little Red; in fact, I think it makes you powerful.”

Well, that makes me sit up a little straighter. My favorite quote has always been one of Jane Austen’s: “I was quiet, but I was not blind.” I always felt like it could’ve been written about me. It was nice to hear that there was someone else out there who understands the power of quiet.

“Powerful,” I consider. “I like it.”

“How was your dinner with Red?”

“Soooo delicious,” I exaggerate the words from my side of the couch. He responds with the classic Dean blank-face.

He’d just showered after a few hours at the beach with his sister and dad and now he’s on the couch with me looking too cute in gray sweatpants and red Red’s Surf Shop t-shirt.

“Wanna watch some TV?” I ask him.

“Sure,” he half-grunts.

Our dynamic has shifted enormously the last couple of days. He’s consulting more and bossing less, and I am communicating with him like an adult. And, our baby girl finally has a put-together crib!

“What do you like to watch?”

He shrugs. “Don’t really watch TV.”

My mouth pops open in shock and I watch his eyes draw down to it.

“I love TV,” I breathe out, only to notice a look cross his face.

“I know what you’re thinking, and I feel conflicted sometimes too. I’m a librarian and I should be all about the books, right? Well, I am, trust me,” I hold up my hand, palm out towards him, in the universal I solemnly swear sign.

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