Page 280 of Dark Love

Vex is currently trying to find tea with actual honey at a baseball game that’s got to be pretty close to moving heaven and earth. “It is.”

“Not many people know anything about Vex’s childhood. And I won’t ask what you know. But my mother-in-law and her friends have known him since he was a teenager. If there’s one man in the world that deserves a happy family for the rest of his life, it’s him.”

Family? “We haven’t talked about kids.”

“Of course you haven’t, because that man doesn’t believe he deserves a family. And it seems like you don’t either.”

What? No. “Vex is one of the best people in the world.”

“But he’s not good enough to meet your family. When your mother and I talked at the party, she said you tend to hide from your problems. Don’t hide from this one until you destroy it. Now I’m going to go get some food.”

How can she drop a bomb like that on me and just walk away? I do hide. I hid from the world until I almost lost myself. Could I be doing it again, even when I thought I was doing the best I ever had?

“That’s a serious face for a baseball game.”

The older gentleman from the kissing couple pulls me out of my thoughts. “Baseball is a serious game.”

“It is.” He gives me a smile. “Especially when my grandson is out there.”

His grandson? This is — “You’re Oliver Schoolers' grandfather.” Oh my! “I read about you. You’re the man Oliver takes after. The player he strives to be.”

“I wouldn’t say that. My grandson is an amazing player. The player I never got to be.” He taps his knee. “The war took that from me. But then my Jojo gave me children. With them, she gave me the dream back. Have you ever lived your dreams outside of your body? Every time I watch my grandson out there on the field, I live the dream that war took from me.”

He wipes a tear away as I brush a few of my own off. Am I taking those dreams away from Vex simply because I’m letting fear win?

I Am Brave

Dahlia

“Are you sure you have to go to work today?” Vex reaches over and takes my hand in his. “I could cancel my plans, and we could spend the whole day in the library. You have to work on the next book for me.”

“For you?”

He squeezes my hand. “Yeah, that next book you’re writing is all for me. I get to read it first.”

“Before my editor?” No one ever reads them before she does a full workup on them.

“Before anyone.”

“But—”

“Dahl, I want all of you. The good, the bad, and the typos. Trust me with all of yourself.”

That’s evil. “There will be a lot of typos.”

His lips tip up.

“And run-on sentences.”

A smile spreads acrosshis face.

“Not to mention a plot hole or three.”

Those lips move closer to mine. “I’m looking forward to reading every one of them.”

Trust, not fear. “Okay.”

“Good.” He stands up.

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