Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I bit my tongue.
“I don’t want to hide this anymore.” He ran a hand through his brown-gold hair. “I get you’re reluctant ’cause I didn’t know what I wanted from you before, but I couldn’t help that. And hiding our relationship now is only going to make that worse.”
I blinked, because the man had a good point…
A very good point.
But so did I, damn it.
“If you tell your parents, everyone will know, Dunn. Everyone in town. Your old baseball coach, and Mrs. Ferguson at the bank, a-a-and some of them might side-eye you and some of them might do worse, like threaten your business. The kids I’ve volunteered with, they—”
“They’re not me, Tuck. I’m a grown man. I have choices. And I halfway wanna rent a billboard on Highway 50 that says Dunn Johnson finally wised up and Tucker Wright is off the market.”
I shook my head vehemently, my heart in my throat. “You think you want that—”
“I know I do.”
“—because you’ve never come out before.”
“Because you won’t let me!”
“Gahhh.” I grabbed two handfuls of my hair and tugged. “Why must you be so unreasonable? I’m not saying not to come out. Of course I’m not! I just want you to think, Dunn. Please. For once, just think before you act. Cindy Ann’s had your future Entwinin’ person picked out for years.” I waved a hand toward the cafe. “What if… what if you decide being with me is too hard and you regret your decision? You cannot unring this bell.”
“Why would I want to? And… being with you, Tuck? I couldn’t regret that. Shit, do you even hear yourself?”
I swallowed hard. “What if you hate me?” I whispered. “What if it ends our friendship forever? What if I lose you for good?”
“What if the sky falls? What if the world ends?” Dunn mocked. “You’re doing it again, you know.”
“Doing what?” I pressed my fingers to my eyes. “Worrying? I do that.”
“You’re thinking for me. You’re treating me like I can’t think for myself.”
“I’m not, Dunn. I promise. I just… I love you. I want you to be happy. I swear, that’s all I want.”
Dunn shook his head slowly and came closer. Close enough to take me in his arms, but he didn’t.
“When I was inside you last night, Tucker, and you were calling my name, I thought, ‘Shit, Dunn, this is what it’s all about. This is what it’s always been about.’ I felt like someone finally let me in on a secret.” His warm breath tickled my ear. “And meanwhile, you were thinking I was, what? Gonna run back to Jenn any minute so I could please my mom? Like you and me were the ones on a ninety-day free trial and I might decide to exchange you for some steak knives?”
“No!” I protested weakly. “Not exactly.”
Dunn snorted disgustedly. “You did. You actually did.” He stepped away from me and inhaled sharply, his green eyes filled with hurt. “You know, maybe I should’ve stuck with Jenn. At least I knew where I stood with her. At least I knew how she really felt about me.”
I gasped. “What? Jenn wants you to marry her because she thinks you’re somehow gonna steal Summer Honey from Abilene and Jenn’ll run it like some Devil Wears Prada wannabe! She wants your mom to give her a spot on the Beautification Corps! She doesn’t love you the way you deserve.”
“I know Jenn doesn’t love me,” Dunn said sadly. “But I’m starting to wonder if you really do either, Tuck.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you… are you kidding me right now? You think Jenn might be better for you than me? Ha. Well, then… well, then… if you can’t tell the difference, maybe you should be with Jenn!” I set my hands on my hips. “Maybe you two deserve each other.”
Dunn snorted. “When you’re over your freak-out and ready to stop hedging your bets, call me.” He stared through the window of the cafe and gave a brief salute at his mama… which was the point when I realized most of his family and a solid percentage of the town gossips had been watching us. And then he walked off.
Fuck.
Part of me wanted to race after him, but the rest of me was rooted to the spot while my body flashed hot and cold. I stared down at the sidewalk, but it was weirdly foggy and I couldn’t see it.
Cindy Ann appeared suddenly and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Come on in, honey. Your coffee’s getting cold.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I need to… I have… patients.” I waved in the direction of my office.
“It’s still early, and you’re no good to them at all like this anyway. Come on now,” she said firmly, pulling me back inside.
She pushed me down into my seat and took Dunn’s empty one. “Now, then. What’s going on?”