Needed you around

Needed you around
VINCE

“I don't think that's such a terrible idea,” Richard said. I'd driven back home with Leo after saying my goodbyes to Cheryl. 

Leo had insisted we tell Richard about Declan's offer. I'm sure he was hoping Richard was gonna support him on the fact that Declan's offer is gravely ridiculous. 

However, the disappointment was fucking harsh on him because Richard was saying something different. Actually, part of me had expected this to be his opinion. He's such a peacemaker, it hurts. But I'd hoped the side of him that detests rogues would kick against the idea. 

Guess his peacemaker side won. 

“Say what?” Leo couldn't believe his ears. I settled into the couch with a glass of whiskey. It's about to turn into an argument between both of them, and I'm just gonna watch. 

“I think it's a great idea,” Richard repeated. 

Leo blinked rapidly. “Why the hell would you think that?”

“Well, we can't continue this fight forever. It's gotta end at some point. And if reaching a truce with Declan is gonna end it then so be it.”

“The fight won't continue forever. It's definitely gonna end. But it's gonna end with Declan and his pack of dogs dying. Not reaching a damned truce with him. Are you being fucking serious right now?!”

“Killing them is only gonna lead to more killings and more revenge. It's never gonna end. Ain't you exhausted? Because I am. I wanna go home. I want my life back. I wanna find Tracy.”

“Find her and do what? I'm hoping, kill her. Because you can't possibly be thinking of forgiving her.”

“I'm not sure what I'm gonna do to her. But I just wanna know she's okay.”

“Jesus, Richard. How can you be so forgiving? That little tramp ruined our lives. She teamed up with those dogs to ruin Elena's life.” Leo snapped. 

“She's my daughter,” Richard replied, emphasizing each word “And also, I think it's about time you lose that hate you have for rogues. Don't forget that Vince is one of them.”

“Ah, nah. Hold it.” I put a hand up. “I'm never gonna be one of them. It's impossible. And the fact that we share the same blood isn't why I'm considering Declan's ridiculous offer.”

“Then tell us. Why are you considering it? Because I can't seem to wrap my head around it.”

“I don't know. I just…” It sounds foolish. It sounds sentimental. But…” that boy kinda reminds me of myself.”

“How so?”

“Well, literally every part. His ruthlessness, his insane courage. His savagery. Every little thing. He has more of my traits than Trent ever did. And that's messing with my head.”

“Are you saying Declan might be your son?” Leo voiced the dumbest question on earth. I was tempted to throw the drink in his face to snap him out of whatever cloud he's in. 

“I'm saying we have similarities. And he's gonna end up like me if I don't reach a truce with him. There can't be two Vinces in this region. One is already bad enough.”

“Okay. Let's say I understand where you're coming from. But if you kill him, you still get the same result. So I still don't understand why we're considering keeping him alive.” Leo was hard to convince. 

I kinda wish I could be as hard as him right now. I kinda wish the thought of reconciling with Declan would sound as ridiculous as it sounds to Leo. It would save me a lot of stress, not gonna lie. 

“Vince, you're the one to make the decision. I hope you make the right one.” Richard said. He was done arguing and joined me on the double couch I was sitting on. 

We stayed silent until the knock on the door. I looked up as the figure entered. Dr. Drake. 

Checking on Elena took fucking ages!

I sprang to my feet to go meet him. 

“Let's talk…” he was saying but I gave him a gentle push. 

“Outside.” 

He nodded. We stepped out of the room and I shut the door behind us. 

“Why did it take so long?”

“Oh, nothing really. The bite was kinda deep and it needed major attention.” He said, adjusting his glasses. 

I could tell he was lying. I gave him a few seconds to admit it himself. But he seemed unwilling to. So I had to call him out. 

“Why did it take so long, Dr. Drake?” I reiterated the question. “And this time, I'd really appreciate the truth.”

He sighed, with a guilty chuckle. “There's really no lying to you.”

“There isn't. What's wrong with Elena?”

“Nothing. She's just…overwhelmed.”

“Overwhelmed? About what?”

Dr. Drake didn't answer that. My anxiety was kicking in. My heart was beginning to throb in fear. 

“Is she having regrets?” My voice came out all shaky and hesitant. 

“No. Not at all.” Dr. Drake sighed. “I think she's going through some emotional overflow. Everything that's happened to her so far has been traumatizing, and she's letting all that out in the ugliest way.”

“She's crying?”

“A lot.”

I nodded. “So what do you advise me to do? Let her be or go talk to her?”

“Go talk to her. I believe you two can help each other navigate your pent-up emotions.”

Pent-up emotions. I have lots of them. They're sitting heavily in the middle of my chest. 

“Sure. I'll go talk to her.”

“Alright.”

“But, you're sure she's not having regrets?” I was double-checking. I need to know where I stand with her before going into that room. 

“I swear, she's not. Just go talk to her. You two are a couple, for Pete's sake. It's about time you learned how to discuss your feelings. Instead of running away or avoiding each other or believing whatever narrative you come up with in your head.”

He's right. He's a hundred percent right. Elena and I suck at communication. And that has contributed a lot to the agony we've faced as a couple. 

I guess it's about time we start talking things out. Instead of being overly dramatic. 

Dr. Drake left and I headed to my bedroom. Slowly, I opened the door and came inside. 

She was curled up in the bed but quickly sat up at my entry. Our gaze met and I felt my anxiety fizzle away. There's no hatred in her eyes. Not a single bit. But there's sadness. There's confusion, and an ache I wasn't sure where it stemmed from. 

“Can I sit?” I asked, gesturing at the single couch in the room. 

She nodded. I went to the couch and settled in. I was nervous as hell but I didn't wanna wait for her to start the conversation. So I did. 

“I know you have questions. I'll answer everything. And in exchange, you tell me everything bothering you. I wanna know why you're this sad.”

She nodded. 

“Alright. Cool. Uh, what's your first question?”

“Did you cry a lot?”

My brows shot up. “When?”

“When Trent died.” 

My gaze stayed stuck on her. This wasn't what I'd expected she'd ask. And something about the way she asked it was triggering me. 

“He's your son, after all. I bet you cried a lot.”

“No. I couldn't.” There was a release in my chest and the sudden downpour of tears had her eyes widen in shock. 

“Vince.”

“I guess I needed you around to finally be able to release these tears.”