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“He sounds like he was a good guy.”
I look up at the sky, squinting at the bright sun. “He was. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, and I hate the fucking awful house he built just to impress people, but he was a good man.”
“I wish I met him,” she whispers as she gives my hand a squeeze.
“Oh, he would have loved you,” I chuckle, thinking of how much he would have fucking loved watching her make me squirm or standing up to me. He always hated the women I was seen out with and the ones he saw at events. He always wanted me to be with someone like Dakota, someone he knew wouldn’t put up with my shit.
“And your mom?”
“Don’t worry, she’ll love you, too. But you don’t need to worry about that anytime soon. She doesn’t come around here much anymore.”
We stand in silence for the rest of our wait. I didn’t expect to feel a weight lifted off me by sharing the small snippets of my life with her, but I feel it. Maybe this asshole I’ve been for so long was just because I was missing someone to share with. Someone to have at my side and appreciate me for who I am, not because of who my family is.
Maybe I just needed to be with someone that made me feel free.
My shoulder is knocked, as someone passes by me and spills beer all over my shirt. Dakota jumps back, still holding my hand, and manages to miss most of the liquid.
“Fucking hell, watch where you’re going.”
I lift my eyes and feel the need to pour the rest of his beer all over him.
Nope, guess I’m still an asshole.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dakota
“Okay, you need to get that stupid smile off of your face,” Addie says, throwing a French fry at me.
“You don’t need to resort to throwing food.” I pick up the fry that landed on my breast and eat it. “Plus, you’re the one that suggested burgers, fries, and ice cream. Those things make me happy.” I avoid her gaze; instead I focus on the cowboy dressed in black on the screen that reminds me a lot of my boyfriend, who may be the one making me smile like a loon since this morning.
Twice.
“We both know it’s not Yellowstone that’s making you smile, nor is it the fried food.” She rolls her eyes and puts her plate down on the coffee table. “All right, you can talk to me.”
“About what?”
“Don’t play dumb; I know you want to gush about your ‘fiancé,’ so I’m giving you the chance. Come on, lay it on me.” She moves her hands in a circular motion, encouraging me to speak.
“Why? So you can just tell me I’m being an idiot and wasting my time?” I roll my eyes. “Plus, you know we aren’t really engaged. We are…seeing where this goes.”
“While his mom’s ring is on your finger?”
I hold out my hand and look at it. It really is a gorgeous ring. It’s vintage and unique. It’s so unlike anything you would buy in a store.
I love it.
I’m going to be heartbroken when he asks for it back.
If he asks for it back, but I can’t let my heart go there.
“It’s just for a little while longer. It’s just easier to keep it on.”
“For him or for you?”
I drop my hand and narrow my eyes at her. “I thought you said you were going to be nice.”
“I never said that,” she gives me a sly smile that makes me throw one of my fries at her.
