Page 106 of Somewhere You Belong

Her eyes bounce between me and my mom. “You want me to be on your team?”

I cup the side of her face. “Yeah, Goose. I do.”

My mother clears her throat. “I’ll give you two a minute.”

I watch her walk away and then pull Willow into my chest. “What do you say? Wanna help me bring home the cup?”

She gnaws on her bottom lip. “I’m honored, Dallas. I am, but I’m not a resident of Carrington Cove…”

“Yes, you are, Willow,” I cut her off. “You can fight it all you want, but you own a house here now, which makes you one of us. And the best way to experience the Carrington Cove Games is to participate.”

Her smile slowly takes over her face. “Okay, but I’m warning you. I have the athletic ability of a giraffe that’s just been born, so don’t get upset if my lack of physical prowess prevents us from winning.”

I give her a quick kiss. “Don’t worry. Something tells me you’re stronger than you think.”

Chapter eighteen

Willow

Dallas walks off to go check on his team, giving me a chance to compose myself.

I had every intention of just watching him compete from the sidelines, but it looks like I just got roped into playing myself—and part of me feels emotional about the idea.

“You own a house here, Willow, which makes you one of us.”

As I was driving back into town last night, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking with the anticipation of returning to this small town, of seeing Dallas, and taking the next steps to change my life.

I want this—the house, the town, the friendships, and the man.

Being back in D.C. for only two days told me everything I needed to know. That place isn’t my home. My business may be there, but I can change that if I need to. The only family I have there is Mandy, my godmother, whom I haven’t spoken to in months.

I came to the realization that there really isn’t anything holding me back except for myself, which is still an obstacle, but I’m ready to face it.

I haven’t figured out all the details yet, but after the house is done, I plan to have a conversation with Dallas and figure out where his head is at because he’s a huge reason why I want to move, of course. His actions tell me he wants me, and every time we’re together, my body craves him even more.

But it’s not just the sex.

He sees me, knows how to calm me in a way I’ve never experienced before. I feel protected when I’m in his arms, and this desire to share my life with him, even the mundane details, overwhelms me each time we’re together. But the most nerve-wracking part of it all is that he makes me feel like I belong here.

I’ve never had that feeling in my life—buthe’sgiven it to me.

And I’m taking that as a sign.

I haven’t told Shauna yet, or Mandy, or Katrina, but I don’t want to broach the subject until I know that everything is going to work out, and that won’t be possible until I talk to one other person, someone I wasn’t anticipating seeing again so soon.

Dallas jogs back over to me as the rest of the restaurant crew follows him over, Astrid and Penn included. “All right, we’re all set. We’re going against Carrington Cove Animal Hospital first, so this should be a sure thing.”

Penn rubs his hands together. “I love kicking Parker’s ass first thing in the morning. It’s going to be a great day.”

Astrid shoves him playfully. “You’re such a bully.”

He wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “It’s my duty as his older brother, right, Dallas?”

Dallas nods in agreement. “Sorry, Astrid. It’s true. I do it to Penn every chance I get. Parker is a better man for taking a regular beating from both of us. He’ll be fine.”

“You three have issues,” Astrid replies while shaking her head.

I roll my eyes. “I’d hate to see what the family dinner will be like after today.”

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