Page 108 of Our Long Days
Patrick releases a long sigh. “We’ve hardly spoken. Yesterday was a whirlwind. What’s new?”
Fuck. Now or never.
Dex leans forward, cutting right to the chase, elbows balanced on his knees. “I met someone.”
We all jump when Patrick hoots, slapping his thigh. “I knew it, you fucker.”
His elation doesn’t help my nerves.
Jo doesn’t utter a word.
All I can do is watch Dex, fingers twitching to touch him. It might not have been the main reason we kept our relationship a secret for so long, but Dex respects Patrick too much to keep this hidden any longer.
Dex rubs his hands nervously on his jeans. “It was unexpected and the best fucking surprise. It took me a while to get my head out of my ass, but she helped me overcome a lot of shit. Loving her was unavoidable, easy, and the best decision I’ve ever made.”
My lips tremble.
“Shit,” Patrick whispers. “Love, huh? Never thought I’d see the day. When are you going to introduce me?”
Everything between us is magnetic, including the way histouch finds mine, intertwining our fingers and resting our joined hands on his knee.
Patrick’s gaze drops, quickly followed by his face.
We all wait on bated breath, not moving a muscle as he pieces it together.
Slowly, he turns to Jo. “Did you know?”
Johanna straightens. “The important thing is, they’re telling you.”
His attention shifts to us again, and I steel my spine when he asks, “When?”
Dex clears his throat. “New Year’s Eve. Way before she started working for me.”
“Six months. And you never told me?” There’s no missing the accusation in his tone.
“Okay, that might not be accurate. Our relationship is new, but something happened on New Year’s Eve,” Dex replies calmly. “We never intended to keep it a secret for this long, and like I said, I had some shit to work out first. I wanted to be sure I was the man Florence deserved.”
A muscle in Patrick’s jaw ticks, and Jo lays a hand on his arm. She sends me a reassuring smile. This isn’t going as planned.
“She’s my sister, and you never came to me.”
I huff, unable to hold it in. “Did you ask my permission before getting with Johanna? No.”
Patrick’s brows jump. “Respectfully, Flo, this is between me and Dex.”
Fury laces my veins. “Respectfully,Pat, I’m a grown woman.”
Jo and Dex sit stunned, thrown by the turn of events.
“He’s my best friend,” Patrick grits, but not in anger. He values trust, and to him, we’ve betrayed it.
“And that won’t stop because we’re together. You accept this”—I whip a finger between us—“or nothing. Those are your options. Dex might seek your approval, because he’s a goodfriend and he loves you, but I’m not. I’ve spent far too long doing that. For once in your life, trust I know what I’m doing.”
He leans forward, and I hold my breath, ready for him to reel off an endless list of reasons Dex shouldn’t be with me.
“I just want what’s best for you.” Patrick’s gaze flicks between the two of us. “For both of you.”
“He’s what’s best for me,” I add, right as Dex says, “Florence is the best thing for me.”
