Page 91 of Dashing for Love

She crosses her arms and levels a look that I didn’t think she was capable of. I am officially terrified for any children she may have, because holy shit. “I’m waiting, Matthew.”

Suddenly, my mouth is dry. “Right. Okay. Can I clarify something first?”

“Sure. Who knows? It might even help your case.”

“Are you mad because I was dating her? Or?—”

Willa scoffs. “Since when is that a big deal? I know I told you to consult your romance novels when you told me there was something ‘complicated’ going on with a woman, but I didn’t tell you to take the novels to be actual reality.”

“Meaning…”

“Meaning I don’t care that you were dating Goldie. What Idocare about is that you broke her heart, you idiot!”

I frown. “What?”

She thumps my forehead.

“Ow!”

She thumps it again. “You deserve more than that. You are so dumb, Matty. That girl has had eyes for you since forever. I mean, believe me, I wish she hadn’t. Especially the way you’re acting now.”

“Hey,” I protest, but she keeps going.

“I ignored her crush for alongtime, and you did an immaculate job of being totally clueless, too.”

I’ve had it. “Okay, that’s enough. She did not have some lifetime crush on me. That’s insane. She’s…Goldie. I was the skinny nerd hanging out with her older sister. Why would she like me, of all people, her whole life?”

Willa groans in frustration and moves to thump my forehead a third time, but I swat her away. “Yes she did, Matty! She even told you so, you stupid, stupid man.Think.She’s always looked at you like you hung the damn moon. Is it any wonder that when the app put the two of you together, she was going to hold on for all she was worth?”

“I just?—”

“What? What? Are you only now realizing what a complete and total jackass you’ve been? Because believe me, I can listallthe fucking ways.”

I flinch. Willa doesn’t really cuss, so hearing her do it is jarring. “Um.”

She holds up a finger. “You made her feel special.” Another finger. “The two of you do…all sorts of things that I donotwant to hear about, and have all but told each other you love each other.” A third finger. “You act like a baby when Ox’s idiot self names your receptionist as the woman he thinks is the love of your life.” A fourth. “Youcan’t answerwhen Reid asks if it’s serious.” A thumb. “And then, you tell her ‘you can’t do this?’ Are you out of yourfucking mind?”

I duck. Because Willa is coming for me fast and furious, her open hands slapping my arms and head one after the other as she cusses me out. Even Killer gets into the game, yipping and wiggling as if he, too, is profoundly disappointed in me. “Okay, okay!” I holler, covering my head. “You’re right! I love her!”

She keeps whacking me, each word punctuated by an open palm on my bicep. “You’re. Not. Acting. Like. It!”

“OfcourseI love her!” I yell. I pull in a deep breath of air and back away from her again. “How could I not? She’s everything, Willa. Everything. She is the sun, the moon, and everything in between.Fuck.”

Willa beams. “Finally.”

I straighten and make sure Killer is good. I pat his head as he snuggles back against me. “Finally?”

“Yes. Finally.”

And it hits me.

I love her.

Iloveher.

And she loves me. Or at least, she did.

And wow, have I been a complete and total ass—just like Willa said.

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