Page 73 of Where She Belongs

“Since always.” Jason’s delivery was bone-dry. “You were usually talking.”

Tate barked a laugh. Fair enough.

He moved his weight from one foot to the other. “Can I ask you something?” Tate murmured.

Jason nodded.

“Do you think I sacrifice what I want—my own happiness—too much?”

Jason didn’t even pretend to think it over. “Yes.”

Tate barked out a self-deprecating laugh. “Ouch.”

Jason shrugged. “That’s how it’s always been. But I think you’re missing something. That part of your personality makes you happy, too. So, whatever you’re sacrificing… isn’t it a fair trade?”

Tate was stunned into silence, which didn’t happen often.

“It’s a good thing, right?” Jason tried again. “You’ve always seemed okay with it before.”

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Tate wasn’t sure he was happy. Lately he’d found more and more reasons to dislike the way his life had turned out. He was stressed and overworked. He wanted to have what he’d seen his friends have. He wanted a partnership—someone he could come home to at the end of a day. And part of him wanted Rylee to fill that void in his life.

He met Jason’s eyes, frowning. “I’m not sure it does make me happy. At least not anymore.”

Jason’s frown mirrored his own. “Then why do you keep doing it?”

“That’s the question of the century, I suppose.” Tate sighed. “What about your happiness? Is that what this business idea is all about? You want to start out on your own and make something of yourself?”

“Partly,” Jason admitted, and left it there in that way he had—the way that made it clear the rest wasn’t up for discussion.

Then he changed the subject. “How important is it to have the community’s full support?”

“I don’t know. It’d just make it a heck of a lot easier,” Tate hedged. “Why?”

“Some folks might not love me striking out on my own. Leaving you short-handed.” Jason didn’t blink. “Would that make it impossible?”

“Not impossible, no. Just difficult.” Tate nearly told him that nobody in this town would ever hold ambition against a Dennison when Jason flashed him a smile. “Thanks for the talk. But we should really start setting up for the next session. They’re going to be here in thirty minutes.” And with that, he was dismissed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Still nothing?” Hallie whispered.

Rylee cut her a look then glanced over to the living room where Aunt Roxy was regaling her friends with stories of her time in New York. She shook her head and continued mixing up the dip for the chips. Two more days of radio silence.

She’d hoped Tate had simply been busy and he’d message her to tell her that they should talk later, but she didn’t even get that much. Part of her wondered if, since she’d been the one to storm off, she needed to be the one to admit she was ready to talk again.

“Nothing,” she murmured. “I don’t get it. He went from reaching out nearly every day to a whole week of not talking.”

“Guys can be idiots,” Hallie muttered. “Believe me. Even a guy as good as Tate.” She cocked her head thoughtfully. “I hope nothing else is going on.”

Rylee didn’t dare bring up the picture that Alexander had shown her. If Hallie saw it, she might do something they’d all regret. The woman seemed more than capable of putting up a fight when she thought someone deserved it.

“What are you not telling me?” Hallie demanded.

Rylee startled and lifted her eyes to her friend. “Nothing other than what I just said.”

“That look.” She wagged a finger in Rylee’s face. “That look says that something happened and you don’t want me to know.”

“Nothing happened,” Rylee insisted. “It’s… nothing.” She didn’t have another word for it. “I swear, everything is fine. Well, as fine as a guy ghosting me because we got in an argument.”