Page 91 of More Than a Good Friend

“Don’t care.”

“See now. You say that, but I’m pretty sure you do care. Like that night I couldn’t decide if I should give up on getting Goldie to go out with me, forget about winning her heart. Then she called Dallas and wanted him to meet her in San Antonio, and I knew that I did care, and giving up wasn’t an option.”

“Goldie didn’t rip out your heart and hand it to you smashed. I thought I was going to marry Lettie. And without warning, right after graduation, she broke up with no explanation. The situation isn’t at all the same.”

“Actually, there are similarities. Think about how many people saw that first proposal. Goldie didn’t even glance at the ring before turning me down. And, not gonna lie, it stung because I was absolutely sure she’d say yes. Granted, that’s because I was dumb, but still...” He shrugs. “I’m going to wear out the brakes trying to go this slow. Will you please just get in?”

I stop and sigh. “How long have you known? Does everyone on the ranch know?”

“I’ve known a while. She was roommates with my cousin’s girlfriend. Have you met Nico? He’s a deputy in the next county. And Layla isn’t his girlfriend anymore. They’re married now. And I don’t know for sure who else knows. But I doubt it’s many. I only kept the secret because Nico didn’t want to be in trouble with Layla. I just figured y’all would run into each other somehow. I mean, this town is small.”

“Why does she live here?”

“Hand to heaven, I have no idea. None.” His shoulders relax when I climb into the truck. “But you could ask her.”

“That would require talking to her. Where’s that donut?”

Stopped in the middle of the road, he opens a box. “You can have whatever you want except the strawberry filled because those are for Goldie. And I like you and feel bad that you’re upset, but not enough to give you her donut.”

I snag a chocolate one. “Let’s stop talking about Lettie.”

“Sure. But if anyone asks, I didn’t tell you.”

My mouth full of donut, I nod. “I don’t plan to tell a soul. But thanks for what you did.”

“Maybe it’ll work out.” Now that Dag has Goldie, he thinks everything in life ends with rainbows.

“Doubt it.” I know better. Calming down, I take another bite and take time to appreciate the flavor. “Tessa really knows how to make donuts.”

Dag grins. “Lettie makes the donuts now.”

It’s like he didn’t hear the part where I said I didn’t want to talk about Lettie. Ever.

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