Page 48 of Tameron

Wow, weren’t we two stellar conversationalists?

Dax was in the living room, apparently on a video call with someone, signing at breakneck speed. I waved at him and he briefly interrupted his conversation to greet me back. ‘When are you coming to the shop?’

‘Soon. Promise.’

‘Okay.’

I waved again, then followed Dayton to his room.

“He’s serious, you know,” Dayton said, and it took me a second to realize he was talking about Dax.

“His invitation?” When Dayton nodded, I said, “I will take him up on it. Just haven’t found the right time yet. I still get tired easily.”

Dayton nodded once, then gestured to his bed. ‘Sit?’

I hesitated, then sat. Dayton settled beside me, far enough away that we weren’t touching. That was good. I needed to focus.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“You already said that.”

I let out a sigh. “I know. But I’m sorry for pulling back from you emotionally. I needed some time to figure things out, but I should’ve told you that. I didn’t mean to make you think you’d done something wrong.”

Dayton’s face softened. “I know you didn’t.” He hesitated, then asked, “I take it Nash talked to you?”

“Yeah. Though talking is a bit of an understatement. It was more…berating.”

Guilt filled Dayton’s expression. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told me his face was an open book. “That was never my intention. I hope you know that. I didn’t tell him to talk to you.”

I snorted. “Tell him? No one can tell Nash what to do. For a career soldier, he’s damn stubborn in following orders…though much better in handing them out.” I smiled as memories rushed me. “And we’re all eager to obey. He has a way of making you want to follow him, you know?”

“He inspires trust,” Dayton said, and I nodded because he’d described it perfectly.

“So no, he talked to me because he hated seeing you hurt.” I shifted. “Which, you know, is fair enough.”

Dayton’s smile was gentle. “He’s a good friend.”

Ouch. “Unlike me.”

“You’ll learn.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but I’d take it because he wasn’t wrong. “I’m not good at opening up and I suck at asking for help, as Nash pointed out to me this morning as well. But I’ll try to do better.”

Dayton studied me for a few beats. “I was scared you’d changed your mind.”

“About what?”

“About…us.”

Us. I liked that term. It implied we were something more than friends. That we were… I couldn’t quite finish that thought. “I didn’t. Trust me, I’m still bi. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I do know I want to explore with you.”

Dayton’s eyes softened. “I want that too.”

“So what happens now?”

Dayton smiled. “We take it slow. We figure things out together. And we communicate. No more shutting each other out, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

---