Page 33 of More Than a Good Friend

I fight to keep my smile in place. “We can go.”

She wants to date so that she can meet a special someone, and as her friend, I need to support that. But the idea of her kissing another guy—especially that one—makes me grumpy. Then I feel like a bad friend.

We’re both quiet as we head back toward the ranch. My brain is sifting through all the recent comments people have made to me about Goldie. And I linger over what Regina said about Goldie waiting for me to ask her to dance.

Then I open my mouth, and a question tumbles out.

“The times we’d go dancing and you’d sit there while I danced with other women... did that upset you or make you grumpy? You never acted grumpy. I’m not accusing you. I just wondered.”

She opens her mouth, then snaps it closed and looks out the window.

“You can be honest with me. I was just thinking about something Regina said, and that’s why I asked.”

“Regina, huh?” Her head is still turned away, but she sounds upset.

I brush the back of my hand on her arm. “Hey. Don’t be mad.”

Goldie crosses her arms and faces me. “I know you don’t see the way some of them treat me, and I try to just stay out of their way. But hanging out with you paints a target on me. So what did Regina say about me?”

Her answer has only created more questions.

I pull off into the roadside picnic area and throw my truck into park. “What do you mean a target? They treat you bad?”

“Dag, you’re tall, good-looking, well-built, and single. There is a whole mess of women clamoring for your attention whenever we go anywhere. And if I’m with you, they assume I’m their competition. I’m not. I’m only your friend.”

“My good friend. Not a regular friend.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“They’ve been mean to you?”

She shrugs. “They say stuff. I just ignore it. But it bothers me that she’s talking to you about me.”

“She made it sound like you were always waiting to dance with me.”

She’s facing the window again. “Can we go? I’m running short on time. And I don’t want to be late for my date.”

There’s only one thing I know to do when a woman won’t look at me and changes the subject. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

She acknowledges my apology with a small nod.

And now I feel horrible. Not only have I been taking my friend for granted, but I’ve also been hurting her feelings. For years.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Dag.”

Except I will worry about it. And I’m going to figure out the right way to be a good friend. Like she’s been to me.

She’s quiet the rest of the way home and then launches out the door as soon as I roll to a stop outside her cabin.

I put my window down and shout, “I’ll wait here in case you need a ride.”

Meeting her date is the biggest reason I’m staying. I’ll give Evan another chance. If he seems like a good guy, maybe I won’t be so unhappy about her going out.

CHAPTER13

GOLDIE

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