Page 31 of The Dallas Dilemma

Callie:I don’t know every detail. Linc just told Royal his new carpenter is your neighbor. Nothing more.

God. Am I disappointed or relieved that Dallas didn’t seem to go into detail about us hanging out? Does this mean the time we’ve spent together––and thatkiss––meant nothing to him? Or is he just respecting my privacy, knowing that anything he tells Linc will eventually get back to my sister via Royal?

Callie:Why are you freaking out?

Me:I’m not freaking out.

Callie:Josette.

Me:Okay. Fine. I was about to text you and the girls anyway. Let’s move this convo to our group chat.

Closing my thread with Callie, I open the group chat and type out a message.

Me:So, Callie already figured this out, but my new neighbor Dallas works for Linc. He met Linc and Royal at O’Malley’s on Friday night, and while he was fixing my cabinets on Saturday, I figured it out. Sorry I forgot to text to inform you all immediately (insert eyeroll here), but I’ve been kind of busy. We had dinner at the taco shop on Saturday night, and yesterday, he invited me to go with him to the beach. After that, I invited him over for dinner, made him Mom’s baked ziti, and we watchedYou’ve Got Mail.Then, as he was leaving, he kissed me, and it was fucking perfect.

Callie:Holy shit. You’ve been holding out on us even more than I thought.

Twila:Yassssss, queen. Get it. I’m so happy for you!

Raven:With tongue? Or without?

Twila:Jesus, Raven. That’s what you want to know?

Raven:Yes, actually. I’m in the middle of a dry spell and I need to live vicariously through you guys.

I bark out a laugh as I type a response.

Me:With.

Raven:And you let him leave?

Me:Yes. And it was perfect.

Callie:I’m still mad that you’ve been holding out on us, but I’m so happy for you, Sis. When do we get to meet him?

Twila:Yes! We must meet him immediately.

Me:I don’t know, guys. I don’t exactly know what we are, and I don’t want you guys to scare him off.

Twila:We would never.

Raven:If he can’t handle us, he doesn’t deserve you.

Callie:I promise I’ll keep a leash on Raven, and we’ll all be on our best behavior.

Raven:Dammit, Cal. I just told you I’m going through a dry spell. Please don’t talk about putting a leash on me.

Twila:Kinky bitch.

Callie:What if IPROMISEto put a leash on you? Will you behave in front of Joey’s new boyfriend?

Raven:Yes, Madame.

Me:He’s not my boyfriend!

I type the words, but I can’t deny the fluttering in my chest at the mere thought of Dallas being just that. My computer dings as a chat box pops up, and I quickly type out a message to the girls.

Me:I have to go. I have a customer. I’ll think about it, okay?

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