Page 61 of Play Book

Not usually.

And I sure as shit have never thought about any other friend as much as I think about her.

I’m just bad at showing anything that vaguely resembles emotion.

Really bad.

“I’m not good at…this,” I admit quietly.

“Good at what? Talking?”

“Communicating. Dating. Whatever this is.”

“Are we dating?”

“I don’t know. Do you want to?”

“I want us to feel good when we’re together. Physically, emotionally, whatever it is. I’ve been around the block enough times to know that I don’t need or want drama, and dating can get complicated. Especially now that you have Ally.”

“I know.” I pause. “And I think maybe that’s part of why I didn’t call. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I figured you were better off not being pulled into the shit show my life is at the moment. She hates everything, Saylor. Me. The social worker assigned to our case. The private school we toured yesterday. Hockey. You name it, she hates it.”

“She’s a kid who just lost her mom. And I’m assuming you weren’t close.”

“I haven’t seen either of them in nine years,” I say. “But that’s a long story we don’t have time for right now.”

“As far as this thing with us, the decision has to be yours,” she says, her eyes on mine. “Really. I won’t be mad if you say we shouldn’t see each other anymore. Disappointed, yes, but not mad.”

I huff out a breath. “Yeah, but I’ll be mad. I want to spend more time with you. I do. I just don’t know when or how.”

“At some point, you have to make the effort. Otherwise, there’s no point.”

“I’ll do better,” I promise, the words spilling out of me of their own volition.

If I’ve surprised her, she doesn’t let it show. “How about we take things one day at a time then? The only commitment is the one we already talked about.”

“You mean not sleeping with anyone else?” I can’t help but chuckle. “Baby, if I haven’t had time to hook up with you, I definitely don’t have time to find anyone else.”

“What about on the road?” she asks, lifting her chin a little. “That’s probably easiest because Ally won’t be with you. Opportunity and privacy.”

“Well, I’m not interested in that,” I say firmly, tugging her closer to me. “If that changes at some point, I’ll let you know, but for now, I’m good with one day at a time.”

“All right. Then I guess I need to meet her.”

I slide my fingers around hers. “Yeah, that’s going to be fun. Let’s go.”

The lounge is busy when we get there, and I don’t even realize I’m still holding Saylor’s hand until I catch a look from Marty. His gaze drifts down to our linked fingers but before I can react, I hear Ally.

“Uncle Canyon!” She comes rushing over. “Are we going out to eat? I’m starving—who are you?” She interrupts herself to stare at Saylor.

“Ally, this is Saylor. Saylor, this is my niece, Allison.”

“It’s very nice to meet you.” Saylor holds out her hand, but Ally doesn’t move to take it.

“Oh my God. Is she your girlfriend?” Ally says the last word almost accusingly.

Great.

Now I have to make an on-the-spot decision.

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