“What’s that?” I spin Robyn in a circle and catch Dallas’s eye. He’s watching closely. I don’t know why this hurts my feelings, maybe because I just recently discovered that I have them, but it does. Dallas Lark knows all my shit and is on a first-name basis with my addictions and issues, but surely he knows me better than that. This is his wife, for fuck’s sakes, and if anyone knows how deeply in love I am with his sister, it’s him. But I see it, the wolflike glint in his eye warning me to behave myself.
“Why you don’t just tell her the truth?”
My heart stutters in my chest. This is Dallas’s wife and Dixie’s best friend I’m talking to. She knows all my secrets and is close with the one person I never want to know them.
“Meaning?” I choke out over the significant stone of fear rising in my chest.
“Meaning you have been in love with Dixie Lark since we were kids, Gavin. And you and I both know how she feels about you. Even Dallas knows and has known, though he would rather not think about it, I’m sure. But this game you are playing, you and Dixie,” she clarifies. “It won’t end well if you aren’t honest with each other. Every second you spend in the dark about your feelings for each other is dangerous. People do stupid things when they’re hurt or sad or confused. Stop torturing each other and lay it out there. Or . . .”
“Or?”
“Or let her go, Gav,” she says softly. “Man up if you can’t be what she needs and deserves and let her go already. I can’t stand to see her hurting and closing herself off to everyone and everything while she waits for you to decide if she’s worth it or not. Life is too short to spend it pining for someone who will never come around, wishing for something you will never have, and holding on to something or someone that doesn’t want to be held.”
“Pregnancy has made you wise. And blunt.” I wink, and Robyn punches me playfully me in the chest.
“I was always honest. You know that. That’s why Dallas loves me, because I tell it like it is.”
“I love you for lots of reasons, babe.” Dallas reaches out to cut in and I step back and allow him to take my place.
“Good thing, because you went and knocked me up. Now you’re stuck with me.” Robyn winks, and I laugh, but in Dallas’s face I see pure love and adoration. If anything, she’s stuck with him because when Dallas Lark looks at any woman like that she is undeniably his for life.
“For the record, I was behaving myself,” I say quietly to Dallas. “That’s your wife, man. Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”
Dallas looks confused and I know the offense I took at his warning look and cutting in is probably misplaced.
“I know you were, Garrison. Far as I know, you want to see your next birthday, right?”
I shrug.
Honestly?
I could give a shit.
“Hey,” Dallas says, placing a hand on my chest. “I didn’t come over here to protect Robyn from you, man. I came over to protect you from her when I saw her punch you. She may be my wife but she’s also my sister’s best friend, so you are currently on the asshole list where Dixie is concerned. I didn’t want her getting her blood pressure up and decking you for real. Then I would’ve had to deck you for hurting her hand on your thick skull.”
He smiles and I force the best grimace I can on a deep breath. The tension in my chest lightens. It’s somewhat of a relief that he wasn’t worried.
I may have done some lowdown shit and Dallas knows all about it, but I would never mess with another man’s wife—my best friend’s or otherwise. Period. I did once, not knowing she was married, and that did not end well. Lesson learned.
“In that case, thanks for cutting in before she took a swing.”
Dallas hardly acknowledges my comment. Robyn murmurs something that sounds like “Did you talk to him yet?”
“I haven’t told him yet, no.” His ice-blue eyes are cold and hard when he returns his attention to where I’m standing, doing one hell of an impression of an unnecessary third wheel.
“Told me what? Is it twins?”
Dallas shakes his head. “Funny. That’s the same thing my sister said.”
The mention of her sends another pang of guilt or maybe regret through me. Whatever it is, it hurts like hell.
“Yeah? Great minds, I guess.”