Page 59 of Her Devoted HERO

“And then?”

“Hell Kenna, I could see how mad they were at me. Somehow in their minds, I was the bad guy. When Ricky told them it was his friend’s drugs, they immediately believed him. That was when they arranged for me to be sent to boarding school.”

She ripped her hand away from his chest and used both hands to cup his face. “Oh, Dex. What happened next, Honey?”

“Ricky wouldn’t talk to me. I begged him, but he just froze me out. I was packed up and sent away within forty-eight hours. Two weeks later, I was attending his funeral. He’d overdosed.”

Her hazel eyes were swimming with tears.

“I’d fucked up. I didn’t keep him alive.”

“No, Honey, no. You were a child, you can’t actually think that.”

“When I got to the funeral and saw Gramps, I lost it. I don’t know how I didn’t think to call him. Even now I don’t know how I could have been so stupid not to have called him. He would have fixed it.”

“What did your grandfather say when you said that to him?”

“He said that they wouldn’t have listened to him either.”

“You see?”

“But they would have,” Dex said stubbornly.

She stroked his jaw. “You’re looking at this from the eyes of a nine-year-old. Look at it today. You still know your parents. Look at them now. Could the man you are today convince them or are they the type of people who only see what they want to see?”

Dex paused. After he turned eighteen, he’d rarely spoken to his mother and father. But the few times he had seen them, he realized that they were totally self-absorbed. Even his dad said barely one word to his own parents. It hurt Gram and Gramps, but they tried not to show it. There was something missing in his mom and dad, the only love they’d had to give had dried up once Ricky had died.

“Honey?” she prompted.

He looked down at her and gave a slight smile. “You’re right, I couldn’t convince them of anything. They live in their own little world.” His voice went hoarse. “It just breaks my heart that I lost him like that.”

She rested her head against his chest, under his chin. “He’s still with you. He’s always with you. It’s why you do what you do with Darryl. It’s why my son admires you so much. You take the love you have for your brother, and you spread that around, and he watches you do it.”

Dex closed his eyes. He could see it. What she said made perfect sense, it was as if a dark cloud had lifted, and peace filled him.

But enough was enough. The corner of his mouth ticked up just a little. It was time to get back to cuddling. Maybe even canoodling.

“You’re full of shit,” he said to her.

She shoved up and scowled at him. “I so am not. I was being spiritual and wise.” Then her eyes lit up, she caught on to his new mood.

He pulled her back against him, swinging her legs over his so she was resting in his lap. “Okay Miss Wiseone, tell me what’s on my mind right now.”

Kenna put her fingers against her temples. “Dexter Anthony Evans is thinking he is being charming and can maybe get to second base.”

“Wrong.”

“I am not wrong.” Kenna’s eyes were dancing.

“Third. I’m thinking I can get to third base.”

“Not next to the kitchen. My son gets up in the middle of the night to snack. There will be no baserunning for you.”

Dex laughed. How in the hell did she manage to make him laugh? He never did after the specter of Ricky came up. “You so are Mary Poppins. You have magic just like she does.”

Kenna looked bewildered, and that was an adorable look for her. He hugged her closer.

“You do, Kenna. I have never come close to feeling as good and as happy as I do when I’m with you.”