Page 45 of Finding You

Dallas looked at Dani, who just shrugged. “Okay, you can call him Frey.”

Flora looked unsure.

“That’s his son, Rex. It’s a good idea if he introduces you because Rex is Deaf and uses sign language. Remember how we learned the alphabet?”

She lifted her hand and signed, ‘A, B, C.’

‘Great,’ Dallas signed back. “He can show you more signs, okay?”

After a beat, Flora nodded and held her hand out to Frey. “You can hold my hand to walk me there.”

Frey’s brows lifted, but he nodded and carefully led her away. A moment later, Dani burst into laughter. “I’m sorry. Forgive my language, but I didn’t mean for this to turn into a shitshow.”

Dallas couldn’t help but chuckle along. “I teach kindergarten. Trust me, this isn’t a shitshow.” He watched Frey walk Flora over to Rex and kneel down. His back was to Dallas, so he couldn’t see what they were signing, but Flora was watching intently, and Rex was nodding along.

“This is weird, right?” Dani asked as they headed toward the bench.

Dallas glanced at Gage, who looked intrigued, but he made no move to stop pushing Audra, who was still having the time of her life. “It’s weird.”

“You being Ky’s boyfriend and all.” She winked, which told him she was in on the whole thing.

Sagging down to the bench, Dallas let out a small puff of air. “Yeah. That’s…I’m sure it’s super weird for you.”

“Oh, baby. It’s not weird for me. You know that Ky and I weren’t a thing, right? He’s told you that. Please tell me he told you that.”

Dallas’s mouth quirked up into a half smile. “Yeah, he told me that.”

She sagged forward. “He’s a good man, and I appreciate what you’re doing for him. It helps that you’re Flora’s favorite teacher, which makes you my favorite.”

Dallas felt his cheeks flush. “I’m still kind of new at it.”

Dani’s eyes tracked Flora, who was on the plastic castle with Rex, Briar, and Frey, who was off to the side interpreting. “You’re doing a really amazing job with her. Ky told me there’s been some concerns with her?—”

“I’m not concerned,” Dallas interrupted quickly. “I have a suspicion she might be neurodivergent. I’m not educated in psychology, so I can’t say for certain, but an evaluation will help. She’s such a great kid, and the evaluation might get her help if things get harder for her.”

Dani bit her bottom lip. “I don’t feel like I have the right to say anything. I’m her mom, but…I’m not like a normal mom, if that makes sense? Ky wanted her so badly, and I wanted that for him. He was so lonely. And I know,” she added, holding up a hand, “having a kid because you’re lonely isn’t always the best idea. But he’s a great dad. His family’s just…not the best.”

“Oh, I know,” Dallas said. “I’ve only met his sister, but if she’s any indication, it’s bad.”

Dani’s eyes darkened. “It’s hard for me because Grace loves me. I thought she was going to hate me for being a hands-off parent, but she understood. She’s always been so supportive. But then she uses me to try and convince Ky he should be with a woman.”

Dallas’s stomach twisted. “I hate that for him. He’s so…” He hesitated, but he couldn’t come up with the right words. There weren’t any to describe the way Kylen made him feel.

“Oh. You like him,” Dani whispered.

Dallas’s gaze cut to her sharply. “I’m…it’s. I’m not…”

“I won’t tell him,” Dani said. She went suddenly quiet, and he realized that Gage was walking Audra over to them.

Dallas held out his hands for his baby, and she let out a happy murmur, then nuzzled into his neck. “Someone’s tired.”

“She fell asleep in the swing,” Gage said. His eyes darted back and forth for a second. “Do you mind if I go FaceTime a friend really quick? I’m supposed to have Briar, but I’m gonna use words she shouldn’t hear.”

Dallas laughed. “Go for it. Frey’s got the kids right now.”

Gage glanced backward, then waved at Frey before heading across the grassy field.

“Is he yours?”

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