Page 48 of Rosie and the Beast Next Door

I hummed Taps as I scooped my ice cream into a handful of napkins. And there was that smile again, which almost made losing my ice cream worth it. And reminded me.

“Let’s circle back to our earlier conversation.”

“Sure, boss.”

I bit back a smile. Dylan was fun. I’d heard a lot about him over the years—that he was talented, focused, driven, hurting, angry. But never fun. What a discovery.

“Why do you think no one’s glad you’re home but me?”

And like sunlight covered by clouds, his smile was gone in an instant. He stared at the pile of ice creamed napkins. “Because it’s true.”

“No, it’s not.”

“No one in this town likes me—present company excluded.”

I clamped my mouth shut. He really believed no one liked him. It was so sad. And so untrue.

He laughed humorlessly. “And who can blame them? I haven’t come home since I left for college. I didn’t give back the way Shiloh did. I couldn’t save Shiloh on the ice. I didn’t even comehome for his funeral. It makes sense that everyone would want to avoid me.”

“They’re not avoiding you. They’re giving you space.”

“Same difference.”

“It’s not,” I insisted. “We’re all rooting for you, here. We always have.”

“Rosie, it’s okay. I’m resigned to the fact that I’m not welcome here. I made my own bed.”

Maybe he hadn’t done all the things Shiloh had, but no one had asked him to, or even expected him to. Dylan wasn’t Shiloh, and that wasn’t the bad thing Dylan seemed to think it was.

Well, it looked like I had a new goal. Not only did I need to help Dylan’s reputation, but I needed to open his eyes to how much he was loved in Winterhaven.

Chapter 19

Dylan

Roommate Group Chat

Dylan: I need some advice.

Bret: I’m listening.

Gage: Never drive the wrong way on a one-way street.

Bret: …

Gage: It’s the best advice I have.

Dylan: Noted.

Dylan: I’m helping out a new friend.

Bret: Female or male.

Dylan: Does it matter?

Bret: I don’t know. Does it?

Dylan: *eye roll emoji* SHE needs my help getting a guy to notice her. We’re going to pretend to date, but I don’t know what else to do to make this guy take notice.

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