Page 83 of Dreaming of Dawson

Did she want to hear words of love? Have I judged that all wrong?

She pulls away, leaning up on my chest, and looks at me, her smile making my heart flip over in my chest, as I silently sigh out my relief.

“I’m so glad you didn’t say you’re in love with me,” she says, stealing back that relief in one sentence. Doesn’t she want my love? After all the dreams we shared, even when we didn’t realize we were, doesn’t she want this to become anything more?

“Why?” I ask, dreading her answer, scared I’m gonna get burned again, and that there isn’t enough vodka in the world to drown out that level of pain.

“Because I think it’s better to take these things in stages,” she says, resting her chin on my chest and tilting her head. “Fallfor me, by all means, and then love me when you’re sure you’re ready.”

What the hell? I’m so confused. Does she want my love, after all? Is she in love with me and waiting for me to get there, too? Because if she is…

“What does that mean?” I ask, impatience getting the better of me.

“It means I think we both want something to come of this,” she says. “But we haven’t known each other for very long, and we’ve both been hurt… you far worse than me. We don’t need to rush into anything.”

“I think we already did, didn’t we?” I say, giving her a smile, relief washing over me again, as I realize she’s just being cautious. She’s not dismissing me. She wants us to be together… just like I do. And that’s enough for me. She smiles back and I caress her cheek, cupping it in my hand. “As for getting hurt, I don’t think we can say that what Stevie did to me was worse than anything James did to you.”

She frowns slightly, leaning in to my touch. “Can’t we? James didn’t cheat. He didn’t have an affair, or leave me for someone else.”

“No, but he swindled you out of your inheritance. He behaved like a child. He didn’t put you first, and he didn’t treat you right, even when you were together. No man should ever make a woman feel like she has to ask for his time. And besides, as a very wise friend of mine told me recently, breaking up with someone isn’t a contest about who got hurt the most. It’s hard, no matter what happens. I think I’m just coming to terms with that… even if I am a little late getting to the party.”

She smiles at me. “The friend you’re talking about… that wouldn’t be Tanner, would it?”

“It would, but how do you know him?”

“I don’t. We’ve never met. But I know of him.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I’ve been helping to plan his wedding.”

I nod my head. “Of course. I should’ve thought.”

“Peony mentioned that the two of you were close.”

“We are. He owns the bookstore next door. I’ve known him all my life, and his divorce makes mine look like a walk in the park.”

“Hmm… Peony told me something about that, too. She said it was messy, but what happened?” she says. “Do you mind me asking?”

“Not at all. His wife cheated.”

“The same as Stevie?”

“No. Sabrina had infidelity down to a fine art. She did it more than once.”

“That suggests Tanner forgave her the first time?” She tilts her head, frowning and confused.

“He did. Although I don’t know how easy that was. I don’t think he ever trusted her again, but he had to think about their son.”

“Nash?”

“Yeah. How did you know about him?” I ask and she smiles.

“Because he’s gonna be Tanner’s best man.”

I guess that makes sense and I nod my head again. “He was still quite little when Tanner found out that Sabrina was screwing around with Mitch.”

“Mitch? As in Laurel’s first husband?”

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