Cat

The funeral and burial are finally over. Alex looks so worn out.

"You want to stop somewhere for lunch?" I asked as we made our way back to the car.

Alex's forehead wrinkled as if it was difficult for him to think. "You know, I'd like to check in on my Mom and Tina at the hospital. Why don't you drop me off? Weren't you talking about meeting up with Olivia to go register for baby stuff?"

He can't be serious about me abandoning him now. "Alex, you just buried your father. That can wait."

"I know it can wait, but why should it? You've gotten me through all the rough stuff, Cat. There isn't a lot more I can do right now. Sure, there will be some big decisions to make later on down the line, but why not go and have some fun?"

"Because I'd rather stay with you," I answered honestly.

"Alright then. Drop me off at the hospital and I will meet you back at the apartment before dinner. Deal?"

I'm confused. How is this me staying with him? It sounds like, once again; he's pushing me aside. I know it's not intentional, but it still hurts.

"Look, you can't come with me to see my mom and I don't even know if Tina will be in or out if she has physical therapy. I'll make the visits quick and be back to you before you know it."

Then a thought occurred to me. I know exactly how I'm going to spend this time. A grin spreads across my lips. "Yeah, okay. Sounds good. You'll be able to get home, alright?"

"I'm sure I can manage." Alex is looking at me with curiosity, which only makes my smile grow.

"Okay then, to the hospital it is."

I pulled up in front of the hospital. "I'll see you soon." I leaned over to give him a kiss. "Give my love to Tina and your mom for me, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Alex gets out of the car.

"Text me when you're on your way home so, I can make sure I have dinner ready."

He nods and shuts the car door, waving at me as I drive away.

First, I called Olivia. "Hi, are you busy?"

"Not at the moment, why?"

"I need your help with something. In fact, I need the sororities help with something."

"Aren't you with Alex right now?"

"Actually, no, I'm heading back to our apartment. That's why I need your help. Alex moved all his stuff out when he and I broke up. I want to move his stuff back home."

"I guess things are all settled between you, then?"

"Definitely."

"And what about Tina?"

"What about her? I told you, she's his sister."

"Adopted sister. They aren't blood related. Didn't you say Liam had photos of them together, and that you caught them hugging in his brother's room? Cat, are you sure you're not mistaken and there isn't more going on between them?"

I really didn't want to get into all this right now. "She has a fiancé."

"Have you seen him? Talked with him?"

"Why are you doing this to me right, now?"

"Because I know how big-hearted you are, and I know you're willing to turn a blind eye to the faults of those you care about. Like my years, spent sleeping with whomever I had the whim to sleep with. Or Liam cheating on you, but I don't want to see you get hurt again. I hope this time you keep your eyes open and watch your own back."

"Alex, isn't that kind of person. I trust him."

"Where is he right now?"

"The hospital."

"To see her?"

"And his mom," I tell her, wanting to designate the difference in importance.

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

I shook off what Olivia was trying to imply. I can't think that way. I do think that way, and I hate that I think that way. Why am I so damn insecure?

Annoyed, I asked, "Are you going to help me or not?"

"You know I always have your back."

This made me smile. I did know, and I do know, that's why she's being so difficult about Tina.

"I need to meet with William first to get the stuff Alex left there and the key to the storage unit. I'll meet you and the girls in about an hour?"

"We'll be waiting for you."

"Thanks, Olivia. I really appreciate this."

"No problem. Give me a call when you're close."

"Will do."

I hung up with Olivia and drove to William's apartment. I knocked on the door and Jacob answered.

"Well, hello. What brings you here?" With a huge welcoming smile, he stepped aside to let me in.

"Is William in?"

"Where else would I be?" William answered from the kitchen. He was setting up the table for lunch, it would seem.

"I need a favor."

William froze in place. "You know I love Alex, but there is no way in hell I'm attending that funeral." His voice was so cold, and held such hatred.

"It's over. It's all been taken care of."

"Good. I hope that bastard rots in hell." Jacob came over and placed a hand on his shoulder, and William stopped placing down the silverware to look at him.

Jacob, however, turned to me. "The favor? What do you need, Cat? We're here to help."

"When we got home yesterday, Alex looks so...displaced. I would like to get his stuff from here and the storage unit, so I can put our place back together before he gets home."

"Where is he now?" William resumed setting the table.

"The hospital."

His eyes widened. "He left you alone to go see that girl?"

I sighed. "I already heard this speech from Olivia. I don't want to go through this again with you."

William shrugged. "It took a truck to move his stuff out. I'm not sure how we would be able to..."

"My sisters are willing to help. I just need the key and whatever he may have left here."

"You don't think you're going to get rid of us that easily, do you?" Jacob said, pulling out a chair for me to sit down.

William looked about to protest, but one look from Jacob, and he relented. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

William waved his hand for me to sit down and went back to get another setting. Once in the kitchen, Jacob grabbed another chair and sat next to me.

"Don't mind him. It's been a rough couple of weeks. He's been really torn up about not being there for Alex, yet..."

I put my hand over Jacob's. "There's no need to explain. I'm so glad he has you, since I can't be in two places at once, and Alex is my priority right now."

Jacob smiled. "Well, he has been a real bastard."

"I heard that!" William announced, annoyed, as he brought the food to the table. It was takeout, of course, but there seemed to be enough to share.

Jacob laughed. "He's lucky his so damn sexy or..."

"Or what?" William challenged as he leaned over the table, his face inches from Jacob's. Jacob's grin grew wider, right before he kissed him.

"Damn you," William said, pulling away, but the smile on his face said it all.

"Let's eat."

After lunch, we gathered what Alex left at the apartment, and they followed me in William's car to the sorority house. The girls were all gathered and waiting. Olivia gave me a huge hug upon seeing me.

"I missed you, girl."

"I missed you, too. So, are we all set?"

"Yep, everyone who drives is present and accounted for, and Stacey even got a hold of her boyfriend's van. He usually uses it to haul his band's equipment, but he said she could use it to help us out."

"Awesome! Thanks everyone! This means so much to me."

"Hey, you've always been there for us, Cat. Besides, what are sisters for, right?" Olivia asked and all the girls agreed.

Within a few hours we had the stuff loaded, unloaded and put back in place. It turned out we needed more help than I thought. Thankfully, William's drama club was up for the task. I gave Olivia enough money to treat everyone to pizza.

"Are we still on, for baby shopping tomorrow?" Olivia asked.

"I think so. Alex wanted me to go today, but this seemed more important."

"Okay, I call you tomorrow." Olivia gave me a hug, and she made the announcement that everyone was to follow her to the locale pizza shop and that dinner was on me.

There was a cheer from the crowd and the apartment finally emptied out. Only Jacob and William were left.

"Aren't you going to go with them?" I asked William, who shook his head no.

"I'll be going though," Jacob told me. "He's been wanting to see that Alex is doing okay for himself."

"You don't have to leave. I'm sure Alex would love to..."

"No." The denial came from William, and it was hard not to see the look of disappointment that flickered across Jacob's features.

Jacob leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Another time, perhaps."

"Okay," I said, wondering why everything felt so awkward now.

William walked Jacob out, and I took the time to break down the rest of the boxes and put them with the recycling. I saw William come back up the stairs, and he didn't look happy.

"Everything okay?" 

"Yeah, fine."

I knew that it wasn't, but decided not to press further.