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“My dad is okay.” The truth. It surprises me. My father is okay. Better than okay. He’s a good person. One good parent out of two is good odds.Too bad he was never a father when you needed him.The voice of doubt rears its ugly little head.

“How about—”

“This is dinner, not the inquisition, Tommy.” Dylan interrupts him.

Tommy weaves his fork. “Well, we can talk about me, then.”

I’m grateful I’m no longer in the spotlight. Relief is a warm embrace, and I welcome it. Did Dylan notice my discomfort and stop Tommy’s questions? I think he did. I don’t like that he can so easily read me. I don’t know what to do with the small kindness.

Tommy cuts into the turkey on his plate. “I met someone.”

“You did?” Both Dylan and I speak at the same time.

Tommy laughs. “Down, boys and girls. I said I met someone, not that I was getting married.”

Dylan watches me even more closely. Is he looking for a negative reaction? Perhaps a part of him is still looking for hints of a hookup with his brother?

“I need to know more.” I can’t stop grinning.

I may be skeptical of relationships, but I’m a complete sucker for other people’s happy endings. Which I guess makes me a hypocrite when I don’t believe in love for myself.

“We met at a coffee shop outside campus.” He shoves a forkful of stuffing in his mouth and points at me. “You took me there. Pat’s Café?”

I nod for him to go on.

“She’s a freshman, too. Bio major. And we got along really well.”

“Tell me more? When are you seeing her again?”

“Next week. She went home for the holiday. She lives in Boston.”

“What’s her name?”

“Julia.” Tommy points at me with a knife this time. “Back to you. Why aren’t you dating? I haven’t seen you with anyone since we met.”

I sit back, put distance between us, between the question and me.

“I’m taking a break from dating.”Truth.

I twist the napkin in my lap. “Not interested in anyone.” Lie. I glance at Dylan, who has stayed quiet during the whole exchange. What is he thinking? They’re both still watching me.

I shrug. “Anyway, dating is overrated.”Smooth, Becca. Seriously? Is that what you came up with? Overrated?

Dylan leans into the table, gets closer to me. “I don’t know. Dating can be complicated. And with the wrong person, overrated, yes. But sometimes you take a chance on someone you never imagined being with, and the results can be surprising and not overrated at all.”

Chapter Thirty-One

She looksat me and blinks as if it could clear away the confusion I see in her hazel eyes. I have been an ass, and my flirting with her today is the last thing she expected me to do. But, God, I’m done denying myself. I’m done pushing her away. Riggins’ rules and ethics be damned.

I hope she doesn’t hate me.

I hope I’m not too late.

I hope we can be together …

If she will have me.

Chapter Thirty-Two