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Her face is makeup-free, and she’s wearing sweats, her dark hair in a ponytail at the base of her neck. “Hi,” she says, keeping her voice low, though she isn’t aware that Dolly is here. I think the volume is out of respect for a sleeping Bear,which is ironic considering she completely dropped the ball today, when it actually mattered.
“Can I come in?” she asks.
I’m ready to tell her no, that it’s a bad idea all around, but her eyes veer off to something behind me. “Why is that little psycho here?” she questions, having the audacity to chuckle a little as she eyes Dolly who is now behind me.
Something about Dolly providing emotional support with her presence gives me half a mind to tell Tiffani off.
Then I process what she’s said and I’m ready to take up for Dolly and demand that Tiffani apologize. But I’m bumped aside as Dolly pushes past, stepping directly in front of me. She’s a sprite compared to my six feet four inches, but warmth floods my chest at her squared-off shoulders and her hands on her hips.
“Psycho?” she calmly questions, keeping her voice low, and when she tries to be quiet for Bear, it's so much more genuine because I know she actually cares. “Funny, considering you’re the one who lied about graduating, the law firm you worked at and the last place you lived.” Dolly takes another tiny step toward Tiffani, who recesses back, her face pale.“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
“You… looked me up?” she asks, eyes wide. Tiffani keeps her focus strangely locked on Dolly, and I don’t know if this is about what happened with Bear today, or if this is aboutme.
“The law firm has never heard of you, which makes no sense for someone who was a partner. And living at abunny ranchis interesting, considering you told Ev and Hud that you’ve never had a roommate.” She taps her chin beforeslipping into a mock, high-pitched impersonation.“I love having my own space.”
Tiffani goes a little green under the porch lights, her eyes veering to me, looking for approval or maybe an escape, I’m not sure. “It was you,” Tiffani breathes, shaking her head. “You fucked up my tire, you little psycho.”
“I think it’s best if you go,” I say carefully. I know Tiffani is sorry about what happened, but she also made that clear earlier, so I’m not sure why she’s here. And I don't like the energy brewing between Dolly and Tiffani.
“I just wanted you to know I’m sorry about today,” she reiterates, and it’s then I realize she came back thinking I’d forgive her. Not in the emotional sense but that I’d still see her.
Wrapping my hand around Dolly’s hip, I give her a gentle tug back. “C’mon, Dol,” I say softly, “come on in.”
Tiffani turns and walks five paces to her car, gets in, and drives off without giving either of us a second glance. And when I close and lock the front door, the mood that existed just minutes ago is gone.
It’s a reality check. One that I desperately needed. I push a hand through my hair, studying my socked feet.
“I’m sorry she came by,” Dolly says, her voice soft and sweet.
I look up at her, tipping my head to the side, finding her even more beautiful amidst the injuries. But something nips at me. “How did you know all that stuff about Tiffani?”
Dolly swallows, pushing a hand through her hair, but I don’t miss the split second of fear that flashes in her eyes. But I don’t understand it, either. Why would she benervous?
I close the distance between us, and our eyes idle together as I search for the hidden truth in all of this. “Did you puncture her tire?”
She doesn’t speak, but she nods.
My heart free-falls. “Why?”
Her tongue sweeps along her lips thoughtfully as she reaches up, cupping my face in her hand. Her touch is soft, and stirs up things below my belt, things that feel wrong to acknowledge right now.
“She wanted you for your money. I just… knew it from the first moment I met her.”
My… “My money?” I question, pressing my hand to my chest, peering around my humble ranch home.
She nods. “That’s what she does. She looks for a man who can support her.” Dolly makes a sad face. “She isn’t even a lawyer.”
I know what Dolly’s done. She’s gone out of her way to keep a person from me and Bear that she doesn't trust. She’s all but telling me that tonight.
I don’t let myself wonder why she cares so much because I can’t stop hovering on the undeniable fact thatDolly has secrets. And I know we aren’t more than people that live a house apart, but it’s exactly what I need to know to pull me out of this insane headspace I’ve been in.
I think I was actually going to kiss Dolly tonight.
But I can’t be with someone who has secrets.
The last woman who had secrets left me a single dad with a new mortgage and an entire business.
“I think we should call it a night, Dahlia,” I say, my voice husky with a backbone I force but don’t feel. “Thank you for everything today. I will never be able to repay you, but Iwant you to know,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine, because this is separate from her looking up Tiffani. It doesn’t change a thing with Bear.
