Page 2 of Meant To Be

“Of course not.”

I didn’t mind Dylan waiting with me. Except I didn’t want my situation to get back to my brother too quickly. He and Dylan had met when Wade was in college. They still stayed in touch. Wade and Dylan played online video games while they chatted and kept each other up to speed on everything in their lives.

“What are you doing in North Carolina?” I asked as Dylan sat down on the floor beside me.

He fished a water bottle from his backpack and took a long swallow. “Just passing through. I’m going from here to Stolen Hearts Valley, and then I’m headed up to Alaska.”

My eyes whipped to his. “Seriously?”

He lowered his water bottle, setting it on the floor. “Seriously. Why are you so surprised? I move around a lot.”

I studied him for a few beats. “After this weekend, that’s where I’m going.”

“Seriously?” His eyes twinkled as he lobbed my question back at me.

I laughed softly as I nodded. “My friend Delilah moved out there a few years ago. I went to visit, and I loved it. Another friend who I met in vet school offered me a job at a vet clinic there. It all works out, so I’m going for it.”

Dylan flashed a grin, and I tried to ignore the way my belly shimmied. “Nice. You just graduated from the veterinary program in Raleigh, right?”

“Uh-huh. Alice was ahead of me in vet school, and then I interned at a clinic where she worked. When I mentioned I was visiting Alaska, she told me about the job. So why are you moving out there?”

“I took a firefighter position on a hotshot crew. You know me, I like to travel.”

“That’s what Wade tells me.”

I hadn’t noticed my concert tickets had slipped out of the pocket of my backpack. Dylan’s eyes landed on them where they lay on the floor between us. “Oh, I love the Lost Ridge Ramblers. Who are you going with?”

I wanted to play it cool. I contemplated making something up, but Wade would find out what happened one way or another, so I might as well just tell the truth. “I was supposed to go with my ex.” I tried to keep my tone as nonchalant as possible, all whatever.

“Is he meeting you there?”

Dylan’s sharp gaze held mine. I shrugged, feeling my cheeks heat. “He literally just dumped me here at the airport.” I rolled my eyes.

Dylan’s eyes widened. “Wow. What a fucking asshole.”

“I agree.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Is that the guy I met over the summer?”

“Dylan,” I ground out. “Don’t give me shit about this, and don’t tell Wade.”

He held his hands up. “Hey, no worries. Wade didn’t really like him.”

“I know he didn’t.” I couldn’t mask the sigh that slipped out. “I never like to admit when Wade is right.”

Dylan chuckled. “Fair enough. So what will you tell Wade?”

“Nothing. Not now. I’ll tell him when I’m ready.” I lifted my chin.

“So that’s how we’re gonna play this?”

“Whatever.” My vocabulary was wildly limited when I was annoyed. I let out another little huff.

He studied me. “I could go with you.”

“To Alaska? You’re already moving there.”

“To the concert.” He gestured to the tickets. “You have two tickets. I bet they weren’t cheap. I hope the asshole bought them.”

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