Page 65 of More than Need

Dawson hadn’t gotten that far. Now he needed to pick the most ludicrous combination ever. Would Riley drink it with him? Having to drink it himself would be worth it.

“Caramel with bubble gum, chocolate,andmint,” Dawson declared. Nothing could be more disgusting than that combination of flavours. And he would drink every drop if it meant fucking with Riley.

“You’re going to drink that?”

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

“I’ll have vanilla,” Riley repeated.

Well, fuck. Dawson couldn’t take back what he’d said, now sadly alone in his stupidity.

Gideon’s cough sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “Dawson, can you dish up the food while I make the drinks? Riley, can you help Hudson clear the table?”

Riley snagged Dawson’s hip and whispered in his ear, “I hope you enjoy your milkshake, sweetheart.”

Thefucker.

It didn’t take long to get everything sorted, Hudson surprisingly helpful in cleaning up and then taking everything to the table, insisting he wanted to do it.

Dawson couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat down to eat dinner with someone he’d slept with. It had been a depressingly long time since he’d dated, and he didn’t think he’d ever dated someone with a kid. Or been serious enough for a “meet the parents” or any kind of family.

Is that where this would go?Meet the parents? Meet Riley’s parents? Dawson had known Sadie’s parents for almost his entire life. He’d never imagined that their pleasant faces andkindness were hiding such a secret. It had thrown himandSadie for a loop when they’d admitted it. Because of their choice, Sadie had lost a brother, and Riley had grown up with a different set of parents. Neither knowing the other existed.

Would Riley ever get to a point where he’d be willing to extend that branch? What would he do when Sadie attempted to contact him again? The thought settled in his stomach like a lead weight. It reminded him that this had an expiry date. Once Sadie found out, that would be the end of it. He would lose all of them and have no one but himself to blame.

Riley’s mouth lifted, twisting Dawson’s glass around so the straw pointed in his direction. “Are you going to try your drink, Dawson?”

An effective way to snap him out of his mood. Dawson didn’t hesitate, not wanting to show Riley he had any doubt. He sucked through the straw to get it over with. At least he could wash it down with the delicious-smelling stir-fry.

The caramel hit his tastebuds first, along with the ice cream and the refreshing coolness. He waited, expecting the other flavours to hit and bracing himself not to make a face. He might have sucked at acting in high school, but through sheer stubbornness he could pretend that he loved a flavour that would possibly be one of the worst in history.

Nothing else came through. Bubble gum and mint were pretty distinct, and chocolate couldn’t be mistaken. The caramel couldn’t have drowned it out that well.

The surprise must have shown on his face because Gideon laughed and said, “You didn’t actually think I was going to make that, did you?”

Dawson might be half in love with this man. More than. Could have kissed him, got on his knees and worshipped him. Would have if they were alone.

They shared a smile that caused butterflies to dance in Dawson’s stomach.

“How was Auskick today, Hud?” Gideon asked. “Mum said you kicked a goal.”

Hudson huffed like an elderly man instead of someone who was six—almost seven—and put his fork down, giving them all a very serious look. “It wasn’t good,” he said critically.

Dawson scooped up some of the food and shoved it in his mouth so he wouldn’t laugh. He had a feeling that wouldn’t go over well.

“Why not, buddy?” Gideon asked.

“I’m not good,” Hudson said. “The ball slips. The other kids are better than me.”

“It’s pretty slippery,” Gideon said reasonably. “I’ve seen you play, though, and you’re always smiling.”

“I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“We can talk about it next year, and if you really don’t want to, you don’t have to. But we signed you up for this whole season, and I’d like it if you at least finished it out before deciding.”

“What if I never get better?”

“It’s not about being good,” Gideon said gently. “Do you have fun when you play?”

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