“It worked.”
“As in I don’t have to pretend to be your fake boyfriend anymore?”
“That’s what we agreed to, right?”
Everything in me wanted to challenge her on this, but I’d made the decision a long time ago to trust my instincts with her. Since I knew her to be truthful and she wasn’t saying otherwise, I would take her at her word. And since she wasn’t saying otherwise… “Then I guess that’s it.”
Dallas dropped her head, sucked in a deep breath, then glanced at me again. “I really appreciate you going out of your way to help me.”
“Anytime. That’s what friends do. And, if nothing else, we’re friends.”
“Real friends,” she said. “Not sorta friends.”
I heard the catch in her voice, the hesitancy on her part, but I couldn’t reconcile that with her actions. She’d essentially disregarded everything we’d been to each other when she’d mentioned the agreement—as if that wasallthis was. I forced a smile. “Right.”
She glanced at her watch. “Shit. I need to go, or I’ll miss the flight.” Picking up her purse, she walked to the door. I beat her there and opened it for her. She brushed her fingers over mine and gave me a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll call you when I get back—to check on you and your mother.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
Dallas sucked in a shaky breath and rested her forehead against my chest. “Okay,” she breathed. “Preston, I… Never mind. I have to go. Take care.” Then, she ran to her car and drove away.
And just like I thought, she’d taken my heart with her.
* * *
Dallas
“Hey, Sissy.”Bliss settled in next to me on the plane. “Raven stole Naija so I could get some sleep during the flight. She’s teething or something.”
I stared straight ahead. I knew if I talked to Bliss, I would fall apart, and I didn’t have time for that.
“Sissy?” She elbowed me softly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I whispered. “Just tired.”
“When did you start lying?”
I finally looked at my sister, and then the first tear fell. “Don’t.”
Bliss searched my eyes. “I heard Color of Law selected you to be a full member. That’s great.”
I averted my gaze and looked out the window. “Yeah, really great,” I deadpanned. “I’m so happy.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted—the leadership role, status, voting power to determine what goes on within the organization?”
“I guess…”
Bliss wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “Chair hugs…sometimes they’re the best.”
My sister had been through so much. She’d left an abusive relationship, had given birth, and still remained positive. Her resilience was amazing to me, but I didn’t want to talk. “Thanks,” I murmured.
“You didn’t ask for my advice, but I’m going to give it anyway.”
“Can I stop you?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, no.” She patted my knee. “Sometimes we fuck up.” Bliss was like Paityn in that she rarely cursed, only when she was pissed off. And even then, it didn’t sound right coming from her mouth. “But once we realize it, we have an opportunity to fix it.”
“What if it’s too late?”
