Page 67 of Finding You

“Have you?”

“I’m trying not to be clingy.”

Dani threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, quidero, you will always be clingy. It’s what you do. And if he’s the right man for you, he won’t care. He’ll welcome it. Don’t twist yourself into new shapes to make someone else more comfortable.”

Kylen knew what she was saying was right. It made sense. But his want for Dallas superseded all logic. In the moment, he was willing to peel away all his layers and become a whole new person for him if it meant he got to keep him.

But that wasn’t realistic. That road would lead to regret. It would lead to hating himself, and that was the last thing he wanted.

“Sorry,” Dani said quietly, tugging on a lock of hair. “I wasn’t trying to be an asshole.”

Kylen rolled onto his back, head still on her thighs, and kneaded his toes into the arm of the sofa. “It’s not you. I’m being a coward. And lovesick, which is making me—I don’t know—loopy, I guess?”

“I like you loopy. But I like you more when you’re reasonable.” She tapped his nose. “Call him.”

Kylen glanced over at his phone. He’d put it on the coffee table so he’d stop checking it. The ringer was off, but it was still on vibrate, and it hadn’t made a peep. “I don’t know if it’ll hurt more to sit in this silence and assume I’m being ignored or to reach out and find out that I really am being ignored.”

Dani scoffed and reached forward, grabbing the phone off the table. She dropped it on his chest, and it hit his sternum with a soft thud. “Call him,” she said again.

Kylen was half-glad she was twisting his arm. And he was all the way glad she was letting him keep close while he did it because it would tear him to shreds to find out this way that Dallas was done with him for good.

He dialed, and it rang.

And rang.

And kept ringing.

“…not available right now. Please leave your message.”

He ended the call and let his phone fall back down, closing his eyes. “He didn’t pick up. I don’t think he—” Kylen jolted when his phone began to vibrate. For a second, he thought it was a text, but then it kept going.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw Dallas’s name on the screen.

“Answer before it goes to voicemail, dipshit.”

Right. Right! “Hey,” Kylen said. His voice cracked, and he flushed, clearing his throat. “Sorry. Hey. Hi. Sorry to call you.”

Dallas was quiet for a long moment. “Where are you right now?”

Kylen pushed himself off Dani’s lap, frowning. “I’m at home. Why?” Dallas sounded all wrong. “What’s happening?”

“Shit hit the fan. I wasn’t going to answer your call. It’s so fucking much. But I’m…Christ. I think…wait. Are you with Flora right now?”

“Yeah, but I’m also with Dani. Do you need me?” Kylen turned his gaze to Dani, who nodded frantically and shooed him away. He glanced at Flora, who hadn’t even registered that he’d moved.

“I think I might,” Dallas admitted in a voice so soft Kylen barely heard him.

“Where are you?”

“Adele’s. I can ping you the address. There’s a lot going on though, and it might get worse tonight. I don’t—” His words were cut off by the sound of the baby crying. “Ah, fuck.”

“Go take care of her, and ping me the address,” Kylen said, walking toward his room to change out of his tattered comfy clothes. “I can be there soon.”

“Alright,” Dallas said. His voice wobbled a little, and Kylen pictured him bouncing Audra as he paced the room and tried to hold the conversation. “But my ex is involved, so please know what you’re getting into.”

“I don’t care what’s going on. I want to be there if you need me.” He nearly dropped his phone trying to get his shirt over his head. “Ah. Fuck. Sorry, I’m changing. Anyway, if I’ll be in the way, I don’t have to come by, but I’m here for you. Okay?”

“I really want to see you,” Dallas said quietly.

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