Page 59 of Finding You

Dallas shook his head. “Listen, I can do this on my own if you need to take care of Grace.”

Kylen let out a strained laugh. “I need to take care of her, but it can wait. I promised to be here for you.”

“Yeah, but I’m just being a giant baby about a meeting. This is serious,” Dallas argued.

Kylen barked a laugh, and it wasn’t as tense or angry as Dallas expected it to be. “You’re so sweet, and you’re not being a baby. I understand this is nerve-racking, and I’m going to be here for you. My sister’s bullshit can wait.” He put the car in drive and rolled forward before slamming on the brakes. “Wait. They didn’t make the appointment, right?”

Dallas snorted. “No. They subtly threatened my job over it. They said if they found out I did give her permission, it would be a problem.”

The car started moving again, but Kylen’s grip on the wheel was tight enough to make his knuckles white. “Can I tell them that’s bullshit?”

“I would love that,” Dallas said. “They’re going to call and ask.”

“I hope she likes the taste of rubber because I plan to throw her under that fucking bus and let her eat tires.”

Dallas probably should have been terrified by Kylen’s words, but instead, he fell even harder.

Chapter Seventeen

DALLAS

They got to the small law office fifteen minutes early, which allowed Dallas to have his mini freak-out in the car. Kylen said nothing, just offering his hand, which Dallas took and let himself be comforted by the heat and softness of his palm.

After ten minutes, he was able to breathe again.

“Hey, babe?”

Dallas looked over and saw Kylen’s serious face. His stomach sank. “What’s wrong?”

“So…my friend got fired from his job. He’s a construction worker.”

“Oh shit,” Dallas said, confused but ready to be as sympathetic as Kylen needed.

Kylen nodded morosely. “Yeah. I had a hard time believing it, but I went over to his house, and…all the signs were there.”

Dallas blinked. And then it hit him. “Are you fucking serious?”

Kylen burst into laughter. “Come on. That’s a good one.”

“It’s the worst one yet!” But Dallas was grinning now, and he was soft all over as Kylen pulled him close and pressed a very soft, chaste kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” Dallas murmured.

Kylen nodded as he backed away. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re not alone.”

That warmed Dallas from head to toe, and he felt a little less like a ball of chaos as he grabbed his folder and climbed out of the car. He was halfway to the door when he saw Kylen freeze midstep and turned to see him pull out his phone.

“It’s the school.”

“Take it,” Dallas said. It wasn’t going to look good for his case if he lost his damn job because Kylen’s sister was behaving like a snake. “I’ll let them know you’ll be inside in a minute.”

Kylen nodded, then answered and hurried out of earshot. Dallas squared his shoulders, then walked in past the mirrored doors and into a very small, very cozy lobby. It reminded him of his therapist’s office, which he liked.

There was a big oak desk in the center and a young man sitting behind a computer. He smiled as Dallas walked up. “Mr. Reed?”

He tried not to be startled by the man knowing his name. “Uh. Am I that obvious?”

“Relax,” the guy said with a wink. “Your case isn’t the worst one we have. You’re just our only appointment this afternoon.”

Dallas chuckled. He hadn’t realized he had been worried about that. “Sorry. I’ve never really done this before.”

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