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“Well, for starters, we work together.”
Cade raised an eyebrow in surprise. “And? When has something like that ever been an issue for you? You dated Vance, and he worked for Breisinger.”
Just the mention of my ex, made me stiffen. I’d been a different person then, and I knew even though it shouldn’t bother me that Nolan had replaced my ex at his job, it felt like in a way he was angling to replace him in my heart too. But that was stupid, and it wasn’t like Nolan knew about my internal grudge.
However, as Cade said the words, I wondered if maybe that’s what I wanted.
For Nolan to heal my broken heart.
“It’s just...”
“Complicated, I know,” Cade snarked.
“Dawson, you’ve been an upfront guy as long as I have known you. You don’t mince words, and you’re honest to a fault. Hell, it was one of the things that I was drawn to, when I met you. You’re bold and confident, and that’s sexy as hell. So, what exactly are you afraid of losing if you come clean with Nolan, because we both know it’s not like you’re going to lose your job or anything.”
Cade was right, but I just didn’t want to admit that.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to because the waiter came with my basket of wings and Cade’s pickles and the rest of the conversation died in favor of our sustenance.
I’d just finished the last hot wing when I noticed a familiar head of dark hair at the bar, thick, black glasses glinting in the light like the north star in the woods.
My pulse heated immediately, my stomach doing flips—although, I couldn’t be certain if that was in part to the food I’d just inhaled, or if it was because of the attractive nerd of my damn dreams.
Mr. Complicated.
Suddenly, my agonizing over texts seemed crazy when he was just within my reach. Maybe if we could talk, I could tell him how sorry I was that I upset him. Maybe we could have a do-over.
An actual date where we were both on the same page.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, not able to resist the pull of Nolan Harding even if my damn life depended on it.
I wandered through the crowd until I came up to him, setting my hand on his oblivious shoulder as he rose from his seat at the bar.
“Hey,” I said nervously.
Nolan turned around quickly, his eyes widening in surprise. “Hey...” he said, swallowing harshly, his gaze turning from surprised to hurt.
“I wanted to text you earlier, but I wasn’t sure how you were feeling after—”
“Really? Could have fooled me,” Nolan growled.
Excuse me?
“I’m not sure...”
“You know, I get it. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but my mother always said I’d be someone’s shot of whiskey. Guess I wasn’t yours though, was I?” he said as he turned away.
Oh fuck no.
I grabbed him by the shoulder, this time much more harshly.
“What the fuck? Where is this coming from, I thought—”
“You thought what, Dawson? That I was fun to dick around for a night, but not enough to call the next day? Or were you too busy planning your next date with Apollo over there?” he said as he brushed me off, stomping off toward the bathroom.
And like the lovesick fool I was, I ran after him, angered and placated by his sudden bout of jealousy as I realized he must have seen me with Cade and assumed the worst.
“Who? Cade? He’s not... I mean we dated once, but it’s not like that. Not anymore. He’s just a friend, I promise, I—”
