Page 49 of Dodge

“Fauna—”

“I get more love from the Dragon Runners than I do from the people I share DNA with. They are so proud of me and my restaurant. They have included me in their family, no questions, no qualifiers. Nothing I have to do to earn my place. I just have it. No, you don’t know them, and if you did, you’d look down your nose at them.”

I swiped my soaked face with my hand. Gross, but no one was around to see me fall apart. “I’m done. So done with this bullshit. I’ve worked fucking hard to get where I am, and I’m not going to stop doing what I love. You can either accept it or reject it. I don’t care anymore what you think.”

I hung up before she said anything else. Pain thumped in tandem with my heartbeat. I put my head down over my folded arms and bawled. I wasn’t expecting this emotional confrontation with my mom today, but it was long overdue. I tried, but I didn’t remember a single instance when she’d said “Good job” or “I’m so proud of you” to me. And when was the last time I spoke to my dad or my brother? Christmas nearly a year ago? I didn’t go to his birthday party and wasn’t missed.

It hurt. It hurt bad. I’d been through some pain in the past—breaking up with boyfriends, being passed over for jobs or promotions, getting judged by the color of my skin or texture of my hair—but this pain was new. My family, the people who were supposed to love me and be there for me through thick and thin, had abandoned me. If I was being honest about, they’d done it a long time ago. It felt like my heart was running through a grater at high speed, and I could do nothing but let the process finish.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but the crying jag finally abated, and I sniffled. No doubt my eyes and face had swelled and puffed out.

I blew my nose and gave myself a lecture. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Fauna. You have two good hands, a refined palette, and a strong nose. Let’s get it in gear and get to work.”

It wasn’t helping.

My phone trilled. I didn’t want to pick it up to check; if my mom was calling me back, the last thing I needed was to hear her blast me for hanging up on her. Instead, Dodge’s name came up.

“Hey, I need to talk to you about something. I’m outside right now. Would you… can I come in?”

Fuck me, I don’t want him to see me like this.“Um… yeah, sure. Hold on.”Dammit! Why did I say that? If I could kick my own ass, I would.

“You sound funny. Are you okay?”

I lifted the edge of my shirt to wipe the mess off my face as I moved to unlock the door. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just… stubbed my big toe, and it hurt.”

He didn’t buy it. Dodge took one look at me, and his mouth dropped into a huge frown. “What happened?”

I thought I’d cried myself out. I was wrong. More tears trickled down my cheeks. “My mother… three stars… I… shit, Ihatecrying!”

“I’m not real sure how you feel about me right now, but I’d like to hug you. Come here, sweetness.”

He folded me into his arms, and I burrowed into his warmth and wrapped myself around his strong back. There was a solidness to him that called to me. A sense of security that he wore on those broad shoulders as easily as his Dragon Runners cut. He smelled good. Light and spicy, and all man. Did I care about him and Mallory? Not at the moment.

“I’m gonna get snot all over you,” my muffled voice said against his chest.

His chuckle rumbled under my ear. “I spend most of my days covered in sweat, brake grease, and paint streaks. Dirt washes off. A little snot won’t hurt me.”

I let it go and took the offered comfort, absorbing it like a dry sponge. I’d never realized how much I needed this. A connection with someone who genuinely cared about me with no other ulterior motive. With Dodge, I didn’t have to work at it. I didn’t need to be five stars no matter what. I didn’t have to always have perfect hair and makeup. He had no expectations from me, just accepted me as I am. Warts, snot, and all.

He stroked his big hands up and down my back, and I couldn’t help it. Right or wrong, future or no future, good idea or bad one, I let go.

And fell.

Did he feel the same about me, or was this just his habit of rescuing people?

Did he still want me?

Did it matter that he was still married?

No. No it didn’t. By all indications his marriage was only on paper. There was no real connection between him and Mallory. He told me he cared about her but didn’t love her and hadn’t in a long time. Why he’d never fully divorced her, I didn’t know, but I expected he would tell me when he was ready.

I’d wait a lifetime if it meant having this man as a partner.

That soothing touch rested at the small of my back. “When do you have to start your day? Got any time you can take off this morning?”

“I can take about an hour.”

“Come ride with me for a bit. My bike is out front, and it’s gonna be a good day for it. I’ll take you up on the Tail, yeah?”

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