Page 84 of Dashing for Love

“Doesn’t know—unless you’ve told her.”

I shake my head.

“Between us,” he repeats.

Something isn’t right. I’m missing something, and it’s making me feel like a complete fool. Fighting back tears that have no business showing up and that will absolutely not make themselves known to these men, I draw my shoulders back and beam at Matty. “Ready?”

He nods, and I turn without another word.

I wait for him to climb into the Jeep, then circle around and get into the driver’s seat. I start the engine and pull onto the road, unsure what to say. Matty reaches over and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Anytime.” I smile and glance at him, finding him watching me.

He reaches for one of the rubber ducks and holds it up for display. “When did you get this one?”

I look over and see it’s wearing a black cowboy hat. Matty holds it near his face and flashes me a cheesy grin. “Do we look alike?”

I smile, the tightness in my chest dissipating instantly.

I love him.

It’s so clear. So painfully clear. Somehow, the knowledge makes whatever happened with Reid and Ox bearable. But I can’t tell him. Not right now, when I’m driving and he’s not sober.

“Definitely,” I answer, clearing my throat and focusing on the road. “Like twins.”

He grins happily, then puts the duck back on the dashboard before placing a warm hand on my leg.

At Matty’s, I hand him his keys and we head inside for the regular routine: put the dogs out, feed the cats and hedgehog, let the dogs in and feed them.

My chest twinges. All of this feels so…domestic.

“So.” I lean against the kitchen counter. “Hall’s Balls is where all the good stuff goes down, huh?”

Matty blows out a breath and rakes a hand through his hair. “Something like that, yeah. Let’s sit?”

I follow him to the couch, both of us taking up what’s become our standard positions: him on one end, me on the other, my feet in his lap, his hands massaging my feet.

“Reid figured us out during that walk on the pier.”

I hiss in a breath. “Damn. But he hasn’t told my sister?”

Matty shakes his head. “Nope.”

If keeping this secret causes trouble with him and Willa, I’ll never forgive myself. But I don’t say that out loud. “We have to tell her.”

His hands still but stay wrapped around my foot. “You’re right.”

My whole body is tense. Why does this feel so huge? She’s my sister. She’ll be happy for us. “Together. We tell her together.”

He nods and exhales. “Okay. Reid cornered me in a text with Ox.”

My eyes widen. “Seriously?”

“Yep. You know how those two love to gossip. Reid threatened to say who it was in the text, but I knew it was better if I told them both face to face.”

“You met them at Hall’s and, how’d you put it, ‘spilled the tea’?” He dips his chin, and I continue. “Why was everyone so weird when I showed up?”

He winces. “Long story?”

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