Page 31 of Madness

The cafe is a cozy hideaway, all exposed brick and soft lighting. We settle into a corner booth, the leather seats creaking slightly as we sit. The aroma of fresh coffee envelops us, and for a moment, I let myself relax into the warmth and comfort of it all.

"So," Dakota says, his fingers lightly drumming on the table. "Tell me more about this nursing program. You seemed excited about it earlier."

I take a sip of my latte, buying time to organize my thoughts. "I am excited. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. But..." I trail off, the reality of my situation weighing heavily on me.

Dakota reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. "But what?"

And just like that, the dam breaks.

"But everything's changing so fast," I blurt out. "Shannon's leaving in two weeks. She's been my rock, helping with Roman, and splitting the rent. Without her, I don't know how I'm going to manage."

I take a shaky breath, the words tumbling out faster now. "And the program... it's intense. Full-time classes, clinicals. I'll have to cut back my hours at the diner, which means less money coming in. I've been saving, but with Shannon gone, the rent's going to double."

Dakota listens intently, his brow furrowed in concern. I should stop. I know I'm oversharing, but I can't seem to stem the flow of words.

"And Roman... God, he's only going to be three. He needs me. How can I be a good mother if I'm barely around? But if I don't do this now, when will I? I feel like I'm being pulled in a million different directions and I just... I don't know if I can do it all."

I slump back in my seat, emotionally drained. "I'm sorry," I mumble, staring into my coffee. "I didn't mean to dump all of that on you."

There's a moment of silence, and I'm terrified to look up, sure I'll see regret or pity in Dakota's eyes. But when he speaks, his voice is warm and determined.

"Lauren, look at me."

Reluctantly, I raise my eyes to meet his.

"You have nothing to apologize for," he says firmly. "What you're trying to do... it's fucking incredible. And yeah, it's going to be fucking hard. But from what I've seen, you're one of the strongest fucking people I've ever met." He smirks slightly. “Sorry for all the swearing.”

His words touch something deep inside me, and I feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

"I want to help," Dakota continues, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I know I'll be on tour soon after Shannon leaves, so I can't be there physically. But maybe I could... I don't know, help with the rent for a few months? Or set up a fund for childcare?"

"Dakota, no," I interrupt, shaking my head. "I can't accept that. We barely know each other, and it's too much."

He squeezes my hand. "It's not too much. Not for me. I care about you, Lauren. I want to see you succeed. And this... this is something I can do."

I look at him, really look at him, and see nothing but sincerity in his eyes. It's overwhelming, this unexpected offer. Part of me is touched by his generosity, while another part is wary of accepting such significant help from someone I've just started dating. Or anyone, for that matter. I do things on my own. On my own terms. My independence was hard-won. I treasure it. Sometimes I think it’s all I have.

"I... I don't know what to say," I finally manage. "It's incredibly generous, but I can't just take your money. It wouldn't feel right."

Dakota nods, looking a bit deflated. "I understand. I just... I wish there was something I could do to make this easier for you."

His genuine desire to help warms my heart, even as I grapple with the complexity of our situation. "You being here, listening to me... that helps more than you know," I say softly.

He smiles, but I can see the concern still lingering in his eyes. "Just know that the offer stands, okay? If you change your mind, or if there's anything else I can do to help, just say the word."

As I nod, with gratitude and uncertainty swirling inside me, I realize that this night has indeed changed everything. For better or worse, Dakota has just become a part of my complicated life. And despite all my fears and doubts, I find myself hoping he'll stay, even as I know he has to leave.

18

HERE FOR GOOD

DAKOTA

The bass line slips away from me again, my fingers fumbling over the strings. I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that seems to have settled over my brain.

"Dakota, man, where are you right now?" Brad's voice cuts through the haze, concern and frustration coloring his words.

I look up to see the rest of Chaos Fuel staring at me. Brad, our lead singer, has his arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in question. Stefan, our guitarist, is frowning, his fingers still poised over his instrument. And Emmett, usually lost in his own world behind the drums, is actually paying attention for once.

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