“I’m right 99.999% of the time,” Dallas said with a shrug.
“Yeah, I’m not agreeing to that.” Coop told us he had to go and assured Dallas he’d leave his phone on. He gave her another hug and me another dap. Before he left, he reminded me of our conference call next Monday. I wished him luck, and Dallas and I watched him hop in his truck and drive away.
Then, I was alone with Dallas again, only this time I was standing outside the door. “I need to get going,” I told her.
She slipped her hand in mine and tugged, stopping my retreat. “Wait.”
I peered at her, wanting nothing more than to tuck that errant strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yes?”
Stepping close to me, so close I could smell the hint of her soap, so close I could rest my forehead on hers, she said, “I hope I was able to keep your mind off your troubles.” She searched my face, smoothed her thumb over mine. “Sometimes life happens so fast, you just need to slow it down. It helps to think about everything else but what’s weighing you down.”
I stared down at her sincere eyes. Sitting with me alone, talking about random shit, joking… That wasn’t Dallas. At least, that wasn’t the DallasIknew. The realization that she’d completely stepped out of her own comfort zone for me made me want to pull her closer, to carry her inside. But I knew that couldn’t happen right now. Instead, I nodded. “Thank you.” Saying anything more wasn’t an option. While I wanted to share with her what had happened, I didn’t think it was wise to bare my soul tonight. “Take some meds. I hope you feel better.”
“I’ll get there. I have no choice. You don’t either.”
“Right.”
She gave me a hug. Damn, she felt good, she felt right. I allowed myself to sink into the embrace, burying my nose in her hair and letting her hold me for as long as she wanted to. I needed this. I needed someone calm, someone strong.
Eventually, and all too soon, she pulled away. Smiling, she whispered, “Drive safe, Preston.”
I hesitated, because I didn’t want to walk away from this. Dallas hadn’t said anything to indicate tonight was anything more than a friend helping a friend, but it felt different. It felt like we’d crossed a line. It was more than bathroom sex, deeper than a quick fuck.
Unable to stop myself, I reached out and brushed my thumb over her cheek. “Dallas,” I murmured.
She sucked in a deep breath. “Yes?”
I probably could’ve asked to stay, but I wouldn’t. When or if I spent the night with Dallas, she would have to initiate it. “Thanks,” I whispered. A moment later, I backed away, waved at her, and headed to my truck. As I drove home, her words replayed in my mind. Dallas was right. My time to wallow was up. I was thankful for the small reprieve from my inner turmoil, for the time we’d spent together. It had helped more than words could say. Tomorrow, I’d start working through it and figuring everything out.
Chapter Five
Pick Up Your Feelings
Dallas
“Can we stop now?” I bent low, hands on my knees, gasping for breath.
“No, we can’t,” Paityn chirped.
I peered up at my now-jogging-in-place sister, who looked like she’d just stepped off the runway with her soft, short curls and cute outfit. “You’re killing me.” I coughed.Damn, why can’t I breathe?
“Obviously, you need to work out, Sissy.” Tyn stretched before segueing into a set of lunges. “What happened to you?”
“I knew I should’ve stayed my ass home.” I glared at my big sister. Paityn had business in town and had flown in yesterday evening. She was a sight for sore, tired eyes. And since she’d come without her husband, Bishop, she’d decided to stay with me instead of my parents’ house. Blake and Bliss had come over, and we’d had a little slumber party. Just what I needed.Sister time. We’d spent the night catching up, laughing at each other and everyone else, eating Paityn’s good cooking, and strengthening our already tight bond. But now? She could get the hell up out of here with her “let’s go for a run” self.
“Come on, slow poke.” Tyn was now doing standing quads.Perky heffa. “You got this.”
Glaring at my big sister, I grumbled, “First the fuck of all, I know I got this. Second, I haven’t run in a week. I needed a slow start, a jog. Not a damn sprint.”
That slide into home had been worse for my body than I could’ve imagined. The next day, I could hardly move. My mother had brought me food and helped me clean up. It’d taken all week for me to even walk straight. Long gone were the days I could bounce back and keep it moving. And apparently, the days when I could drink all night and get up at the butt crack of dawn to run were a distant memory too.
Bliss, who’d run ahead of us minutes ago, circled back around. Another one who acted like she could do this all day. Looking at her, I’d never know she’d given birth less than six months ago. “Why’d you stop? We have pedicure appointments in a couple of hours, and I’d like to eat breakfast.” And she ate more than all of us too.
“What the hell is going on here?” Blake circled back around. “I was just talking about something important when I noticed I was alone.” She pushed Paityn. “You could’ve told me to stop running.”
Pointing at me, Paityn shrugged. “She’s tired. I stopped with her.”
“Already?” Blake glanced at her watch. “I can’t with you, Dallas. We haven’t even hit a mile. I need more steps. Duke and I are in a competition.”
