Page 50 of The Dallas Dilemma

“Oh, shit,” Twila breathes, and my head wobbles in some semblance of a nod.

“What did you do?” Callie asks.

“I hopped up and told him I had to leave. That I forgot I had plans for lunch with you today. He wants to see me after. What am I supposed to do?”

“Tell him the truth? He’ll probably get a good laugh out of it.”

“What if he doesn’t?” I ask, my gaze bobbing between the three of them before settling on my sister. “What if, when he realizes who I really am, he ends things with me?”

“So, you want to lie to the man you’ve admitted you’re falling for?” Twila asks, her voice soft while still being laced with reproach.

“No, I don’t,” I say, burying my face in my palms. “I’m the asshole, here. I figured out that the original post that set me off and started this whole war was right after his long-term girlfriend dumped him. He was getting ready to propose, and she ended things because he didn’t––in her words––completeher. He posted something negative about the concept of soulmates, and I responded by insulting him. I remember because I was in a mood that day. I had just watchedThe Notebook,and I was depressed as hell by all the crying I did while wondering if I’d ever find someone to love like that. I was a complete asshole, and have been to him nearly every day since. If Dallas finds out I’m JoeyB…”

My words trail off, and I look up to see my sister’s gaze has turned sympathetic as she says, “Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think. If he’s got alerts set for your posts and responses, maybe he actually enjoys it when you two butt heads.”

“I don’t know if I can take that chance. I like him so much. And he likes me, too. But I can’t lie to him, either. And if I can’t tell him the truth, and I can’t lie to him, what am I supposed to do? Break things off?”

The mere thought sends pain lancing through me. I curl inward, pressing a palm to my chest. It feels like it’s cracked wide open, and my heart is filled with acid.

“Don’t do anything, for now,” Raven says while she rubs slow circles along my back. “Take some time to think about it before you react.”

I nod, still leaning over. I don’t know if time will help in this situation, but it’s the best option I have for now.

I’ll just have to avoid Dallas as much as possible until I figure this whole thing out.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Dallas

“God damn it,”I mutter under my breath as I use my hammer to remove the crooked nail I just pounded in.

It’s not the first mistake I’ve made today, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. My head is elsewhere, and I can’t seem to focus.

Linc approaches and squats down next to me. “Everything okay?”

I’m not sure I should be discussing my personal life at work, especially with my boss, who’s connected to Josette through Royal and Callie. But Linc seems sincere in his concern, so I shake my head and stand. He pushes to his feet as well, and I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly.

“I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been seeing Josette,” I say.

He nods. “I didn’t know for sure, but I had a feeling it might go that way. She’s great.”

“She is,” I agree.

“What’s the problem?”

I explain about her weird behavior yesterday morning, then her flimsy excuse about why she couldn’t see me after she had lunch with Callie because the mimosas made her sick.

“Did you do or say anything to upset her before she left?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“What were you talking about when she ran?”

I didn’t use the word “ran,” but it’s a pretty good description of what happened. I’d been so confused, then disappointed when she cancelled on me last night.

“Nothing, really. I kind of have an online war going with this guy on Cackle. Nothing too serious. Just tossing barbs back and forth. It’s entertaining. But the guy isn’t a guy, at all, like I’d assumed. The user handle is misleading. Josette asked what was going on, so I told her the truth. That’s when she suddenly remembered she had plans with Callie and bolted.”

Linc shakes his head. “Thatisstrange. Maybe she was telling the truth. Do you have plans with her for tonight?”

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