Page 97 of The More the Merrier

“I agree.” Turning the car onto the road toward her house, I glanced at her. “Want to tell me what was on your mind this afternoon?”

“Drinking.”

“You succeeded, however I’m talking about our conversation.”

“I thought maybe you were asking me out.” She barked out a laugh. “It was stupid. You and I have known each other for a long time, but you wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“It’s midnight,” I dead panned as I pulled into her driveway.

“You’re not funny.”

“I’m hilarious.” Other than teasing each other relentlessly whenever we saw each other at the hospital and meeting up for drinks with a group of friends, I never thought she was interested in me romantically. I hadn’t invested time in finding a solid relationship the past few years. Like everyone else, I was busy with work.

“I guess.”

Refusing to let her hurry out of the car, I cut it off at the pass. “Let me help you inside.”

Kendall hugged her arms to her chest. “I’m a big girl, Dalton. I can walk.”

“I’m sure you can, but if you face plant on your sidewalk and I witness it? Well, then I’ve got to do more paperwork and I’m not in the mood.”

I was mostly joking since it didn’t matter what was going on, I wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself. Especially since I hadn’t gotten to the reason behind our strained interactions other than a lame excuse. There had to be something else bothering her. We’d hung out alone throughout the years and I considered her a friend, but it wasn’t our overworking that kept us apart.

Providing some holiday magic to show her she could tackle anything while giving her affection and spoiling the hell out of her?Check. Then I’d interrogate Grant and find out what the heck had been on his mind as well.

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes as she finally responded. “Fine.”

Accepting her annoyed grunt as compliance, I shut off the car and rounded to the passenger side. Kendall grabbed her belongings, and I lifted her up into my arms like I had at the bar. She stared up at me as I strode to the front door and wordlessly handed me her key. “You should ice your ankle a bit before you go to bed.”

“My ankle doesn’t hurt as much as the throbbing pain in my temples.” We walked inside and she dropped her shoes on the floor. “You can put me down.”

“Did you have any water while you were drinking alcohol?”

“No, Dalton, and I don’t need a lecture.” Kendall squirmed, as if trying to get out of my arms. “Put me down!”

“Why are you being so stubborn tonight?” I set her on her feet, but looped one of my arms around her waist so she couldn’t turn tail and avoid the question. “Talk to me.”

“I’m mortified for thinking that you might have been asking me out instead of just trying to get me to volunteer at the fair. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Running my thumb across her bottom lip, I swallowed hard. She had been drinking. It was not the time to talk about a relationship, but we needed to address it. I dropped my hand.

“Falcon Creek Fire and Rescue is hosting the toy drive and a meet and greet with Santa. Unfortunately, the higher ups didn’t give a shit, and they scheduled mandatory meetings for all the firefighters. We’re doing the best we can with limited resources.”

“That has nothing to do with my answer.”

“If I’d known you were interested, prancer, I’d have asked you out a long time ago. However, now is not the time. You need to be sober for that conversation.”

“Do you, um, think we could talk about it soon?”

“Yes, but you need to know that I’m most fulfilled in a multiple person relationship. If you’re not open to that, then we don’t have to explore it further.”

“A throuple like what Tanner is in?”

Tanner Hopkins and I had several conversations about his dynamics, so I knew enough to answer her, but we needed more time for such a discussion. “Yes, but the dynamics aren’t necessarily the same.”

“Never mind,” she backpedaled. “I can’t just throw my wants out into the universe and have Christmas elves deliver them.”

Kendall pushed out of the safety of my arms, spinning on her heels. As if forgetting that she’d overindulged on alcohol and the irritating injury she sustained, she immediately crashed to the floor.

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