Page 61 of The Dallas Dilemma

“Josette,” I start, and she holds up a palm to stop me.

“I just need…some time. Please.”

All I can do is nod, but she’s looking at the floor now, so I’m not sure she even sees it before she spins and bolts for the door, just like I’d feared. I stand frozen like an idiot, watching as she yanks the door open and disappears through it before pulling it closed behind her so softly, I barely hear the click of the latch bolt sliding into place.

Jesus. Fuck.

What have I done?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Joey

I barely stoppedby my apartment for a pair of flipflops and a hoodie before racing back out and heading straight for my car. I’m halfway to Callie’s place when I realize I’d set my phone down on my bed to tug on the hoodie and forgot it there. Callie doesn’t know I’m on my way over––I didn’t decide where I was going until I was pulling out of the lot––so I hope she’s home and not busy.

I need my sister.

I’m panicking, my anxiety levels off the charts, and she’s the only one who can bring me back from the edge when I’m like this. Well…her andDallas, but he’s not really an option right now since he’s the cause of my panic to begin with.

Somehow, I make it to her apartment complexwithout crashing into anyone or anything. As soon as I’m parked, I jump out of the car and race for her apartment. My vision blurs with tears that started flowing at some point during my drive, and I swipe at them before pounding the side of my fist against Callie’s door.

She pulls the door open, smiling when she sees me, but her smile drops as quickly as it formed when she gets a good look at me.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, then grips my wrist to pull me inside while adding, “Get in here.”

She pulls me right into a hug and kicks the door closed, holding me tightly as I start to cry in earnest. I don’t even know why I’m crying right now. I’m not sad, exactly. My emotions are just overwhelming me, and I guess this is how they decided to manifest.

“I should go.”

The deep voice has me pulling out of Callie’s embrace, and when I turn to face Royal, my tears stop, and I’m suddenly, irrationally, angry.

“Youknew.”

His Adam’s apple bobs once as he swallows and nods.

“Knew what?” Callie asks, her gaze skipping between us. “What’s going on?”

I can’t summon the ability to say more just yet, so I simply huff out an irritated breath and march past Royal and into the living room where I throw myself down on Callie’s couch.

“Joey, I’m sorry,” Royal says, following me. “He asked us to keep it quiet until the both of you figured thisout. Together.”

“Figured what out?” Callie asks, her own frustration clear. “What in the hell is going on?”

Royal looks between me and Callie, his eyes wide and searching. I wave my hand, giving him permission to tell his girlfriend his side of the story. I’m not mad at him. Not really. I’m just overwhelmed and having him explain will give me a couple of minutes to calm myself.

Royal looks at Callie with an almost sheepish expression and says, “Dallas knows.”

“Knows what?” she asks, her eyebrows drawing low.

He blows out a long breath. “Dallas knows that she’s JoeyB, and he knows thatsheknows he’s Bodacious Buckaroo.”

“Wait. What?” Callie asks.

“The day after I figured it out and came over here,” I cut in, drawing her attention, “Dallas ran into Linc and Royal at O’Malley’s. I guess he told them about my weird behavior the day before, and Royal put the pieces together for him.”

Callie stares at me, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. Then she turns to Royal, saying, “And he asked you not to tell me because he knew I’d tell Joey.”

Royal nods. “I’m sorry, babe. But I decided Dallas deserved a little time to figure out how to fix this without anyone’s interference.”

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