Dallas was overreacting, even if he stood by his belief that Kylen deserved better.
“It was so nice to see you again,” Kylen said as the pair of them stood. He offered his hand, but Monty waved him off and walked around the desk, pulling him first into a hug, then offering his arms to Dallas.
It was the last thing he expected from an attorney, but he needed one, so he accepted it. Monty was shorter than him but strong and very warm. “It’s going to be okay,” Monty murmured softly. “I promise.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Dallas saw Kylen react for the first time. His face darkened, and he looked away. It only lasted a moment, but Dallas needed to know. Was Kylen jealous of Monty or of him?
The embrace ended, and then Dallas made an appointment for the following Saturday before heading out the door. The assistant wasn’t at the desk, so they slipped out of the building, and Dallas could feel tension between them so thick he could have cut it with a knife.
He wanted to say something, he just didn’t know what.
“So,” Kylen said as he started the car.
Dallas let out a tired laugh. “Yeah. So.”
“Monty.”
“Nice guy,” Dallas murmured.
Kylen had put the car in reverse, but he quickly threw it back into park and turned toward Dallas. “We’re not doing this.”
Dallas blinked at him. “I don’t know what you?—”
“Yeah, you do. You know what I mean. You had ideas because Monty’s hot and sweet and he knew me. I have ideas in my head because Monty’s hot and sweet and he very clearly likes you.”
“He…he’s my attorney. He just met me today.”
“And he asked me out on a date fifteen minutes after we were in the air,” Kylen countered. When Dallas said nothing, Kylen rolled his eyes. “Obviously, I said no.”
“Why is that obvious?”
“Because I like you. Which should be pretty fucking clear.” Kylen actually sounded offended, which made Dallas feel awful. He wasn’t trying to be obtuse. He was trying to be logical.
“That was a terrible idea.”
Kylen’s jaw ticked with tension. “Why?”
“Because he’s hot and sweet and he very clearly likes you,” Dallas parroted. “And,” he added, his voice softer this time, “he can give you things I can’t.”
“You need to cite specific examples because I can’t think of a single thing.”
Dallas’s chest warmed with something like affection, though he wasn’t sure that was it. But it did have him fighting the urge to tug Kylen close and kiss him. “Sex more than twice a year.”
“You have no idea how often you’ll want sex, so you can’t use that. And frankly, I’m okay with twice a year. I’m okay with none a year. I don’t want you for sex. Next.”
Dallas was struck silent with shock for a brief second. Then, he cleared his throat. “He’s probably rich.”
“I own my house and pay my own bills, and since I’ll be getting back to full-time work, I’m financially comfortable. I don’t care about money. Next.”
Dallas dropped his head back and groaned. “He’s not messy like me.”
“Well I’m a freak who enjoys things messy the way you are. Next.”
“Work with me here!” Dallas said, throwing his hands up.
“On what? Trying to pawn me off on some other guy? Because that sounds like the worst idea ever.”
Dallas’s eyes got a little hot, and he glanced away before humiliating himself by crying. Not that he thought Kylen would judge him, considering how he’d been the last twenty-four hours, but still. He was trying to be strong and selfless, goddamn it.