Page 31 of Finding You

“Do you mind if I take a second?” Dallas asked. Now that the meeting was sorted, the email was crawling under his skin like an itch.

Lane waved him off. “Take your time.”

“It’s a law office. Family law,” he explained as he got up and walked toward Adele’s sliding door. He slipped out onto the deck and rested his back against the cool bricks as he opened it up. The message was formal, saying that his query had been reviewed and asking him to confirm an appointment for a consultation.

It would be free, which helped.

He clicked the link. The only day free was Tuesday at nine. Was it worth it getting a sub for that?

It wasn’t really a question. He took the appointment, then sent the sub request in through the app the school used, and then tucked his phone back into his pocket. He knew he should go back in, but he needed the moment to himself.

Everything was happening so fast, and he couldn’t deny that Kylen had been acting a little weird after Dallas confessed to looking forward to the fake dating. He wondered if Kylen thought he was a complete weirdo. And maybe he was.

Maybe it wasn’t that he was greysexual.

Maybe he was just a freak.

He took a trembling breath, then forced himself to go back inside because he wanted to be near his friends. He needed them. They were still gathered around the table, and as he got close, Adele reached out and grabbed him, tugging him close.

“Stay for a bit,” Adele rumbled.

Dallas realized everyone was starting to get up. “Yeah, okay.” Rex was still out, so Dallas ruffled his hair gently, then kissed Briar’s cheek goodbye as she hung off Lane’s arm.

Frey lingered after Lane walked out and headed next door, and when everyone was out of earshot, he leaned in close. “I like Kylen.”

Dallas blinked at him.

“I’m his granny’s nurse.”

“Right. I forgot about that.” Another lie, but he didn’t really want to touch on that yet. “He’s a decent guy.”

Frey gave him a calculating look, then said, “Someone could do a lot worse than a hot pilot with shitty dad jokes who knows what it’s like to do the whole single-parent thing, you know?”

Dallas nodded, his tongue dry as the Sahara in the back of his throat. Frey gave him a pat before walking to his car, so Dallas quickly turned and went back in. Gage had disappeared, and the only person left was Adele.

He was leaning against the arm of the sofa, his arms in their usual position, crossed over his chest. Dallas wondered if he could be—or maybe was—attracted to him. But he searched for that feeling Kylen gave him, and he came up short.

He loved Adele with his whole heart, but it wasn’t the same.

Which meant…shit.

Shit. He was catching actual feelings.

“Are you having a panic attack?” Adele’s voice was laced with concern.

Dallas shook his head. “No. An attack of…something else.”

“Can we talk about it now?”

Dallas felt like someone was sitting on his chest. “I need time,” he begged. “I…please. I’m freaking out, and I just need one thing to stay normal. Just for now.”

Adele crossed the room and wrapped his massive arms around him. “I’ve got you. Let me buy you dinner, and we can talk about this lawyer business.”

Dallas sagged with relief. “Thank you.”

Adele just smiled, then dragged him into the kitchen and away from the mess his life was becoming.

Chapter Nine

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