Page 85 of Finding You

“Hey.” Dallas’s voice rumbled against his temple. “Hey. It’s okay.”

Kylen wanted to ask what he was talking about, but he realized he was shaking. He wrapped his arms around Dallas as tightly as he dared and let himself be held while his adrenaline faded. “I’m sorry she’s so awful.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. She’s not my mom.”

But she could be family—if Kylen had his way—and that was a shitty gift for Dallas. He pulled back and blinked up at him. “It’s probably going to get worse, and I can’t promise it’ll get better.”

“And I can deal with it. I did my practicum in a middle school.” Kylen wrinkled his nose, and Dallas laughed. “Exactly. If you want to have every single insecurity you’ve ever had, and a few you didn’t know you had, exposed like a raw nerve, spend a few days in a seventh-grade math class. Trust me, I can deal with your family.”

Kylen wanted to believe him. He did trust him. He just didn’t think Dallas knew what he was getting into.

They didn’t see anyone until dinner. The rule for family camp was that the first night was family barbeque. His family called it the opening ceremonies, and normally, it was fun for most people. Kylen had never really enjoyed it. His less direct family members avoided the topic of his love life like the plague. He could deal with that.

The others, well…normally, he tuned them out. He’d become a master at ignoring pointed questions. But with Dallas there, it would be different. He had no idea what to expect.

As they walked toward the massive stone grill, Dallas could see his mother, father, uncle Robbie, and aunt Shelly in a small circle. He felt when their gazes hit him, and by the way Dallas stiffened, Kylen knew he felt it too.

Their hands found each other between their bodies, and Dallas made an obvious show of kissing Kylen’s knuckles.

Some conversation quieted. Others got a bit louder.

His mother looked like she wanted to set them both on fire with her eyes. His father just looked uncomfortable.

“Daddy!” Kylen’s thought spiral was thrown off course when Flora appeared, throwing herself at Kylen’s legs. He managed not to trip as he reached down and scooped her into his arms. “There’s a fire!” She twisted and reached for Dallas, who immediately took her and perched her on his hip. “Did you see the fire?”

“I can see the fire,” Dallas said with a nod. “Did you help make it?”

Flora shook her head. “It’s too hot. I don’t like it.”

“Probably safe,” Dallas said with a grin, looking over at Kylen. “Remember our fire safety?”

“Don’t touch it,” she parroted. “Fire isn’t a toy. I can…it…um.”

“Don’t worry, sweetpea, you remembered the important part,” Dallas told her. “Fire isn’t a toy, and we don’t touch it.”

“Okay. Put me down.”

Dallas laughed as he bent over and Flora slid out of his grasp, taking off toward her grandparents. Kylen could tell they were all still watching.

“Thank God I don’t have a thing for voyeurism,” Dallas murmured.

Kylen choked. “Holy shit.”

With a grin, Dallas took his hand again and yanked him close so he could wrap an arm around his waist. “Relax. You wanted to be seen, remember? You wanted them to see this. See us. See me completely obsessed with you.” Dallas spoke low and against his ear.

Kylen shivered. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.” And that was the truth. But he was starting to regret it now. The tiny bit of fear left that wondered if this was all for show was blazing hotter than the flaming coals getting ready to cook their dinner. He didn’t want this for pretend.

He wanted this for now. And for as long as they both lived.

Chapter Twenty-Four

DALLAS

Kylen’s family met Dallas’s expectations. He’d gotten a pretty good idea about what to expect from meeting Grace, and he was unsurprised to find that his mom was worse, and his dad was quiet but definitely the enabler in the marriage. He had a feeling the aunt and uncle who kept watching them were the same, but they hadn’t said anything during the dinner.

The conversation had been awkward and stilted for the main course. A few of them asked Dallas what he did, and none of them were shocked when he said he was Flora’s teacher, which meant he was definitely the hot gossip probably spread by Kylen’s sister.

So he braced himself and didn’t drop his guard, which was good because it all hit the fan when the kids went off to the biggest cabin to watch a movie and Grace decided that was her moment to descend.

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