Page 33

CHAPTER 33

DALLAS

“ S o how did Draper take the losses?” Andy asks.

I chew my food, tearing my eyes away from Emily long enough to acknowledge him. “You know how he is. He got us straight onto the ice the second we touched down this morning and had us do bag skates for forty-five minutes straight. People yacked.”

“Hey, it’s Shabbat,” Jenn chides gently. “No work talk, you boys.”

Emily is quiet, eating her food, and I go back to my own, trying not to outwardly stare at her, but my God she looks good tonight in a blue dress the color of a West Texas summer sky that makes the honey in her eyes stand out. Red lips. Her blonde hair curled in that way that makes my fingers itch with the need to run through it. It kind of annoys me how good she looks. Did she make an effort for the loser sitting way too close to her? Like, buddy, this table is at least twelve-feet long; you really don’t need to be all pressed up against her like that.

“I don’t think we’ve properly met,” the loser says suddenly, drawing my attention from Emily to him. “I’m Simon. Jenn’s brother.” He lifts from his chair, holding a big hand out for me. As if his mother didn’t teach him it’s rude to reach across the table.

I stand, shaking his proffered hand with a nod. “Dallas Shaw.”

“Oh, you’re the goalie for the Thunder,” he says, as if he’s only now just realized, and don’t even get me started on the condescending tone.

You’re the d-bag who wore a tuxedo to an event clearly dress coded as cocktail. “That’s me.” I refrain from rolling my eyes.

“Dallas is like our third child,” Jenn says with a big smile directed at me. “We’re his home away from home when he misses his family.”

I love Jenn. But man, I hate how she says that. Like I’m this pathetic, defenseless child who misses his mommy. I just dislike being alone. The quiet is too loud. The team psychologist said it’s why I’ve sought female attention for most of my adult life; I crave company.

“Where’s home?” Simon asks.

Sitting directly across from me , I don’t say. Shifting in my chair, I clear my throat. “Texas.”

“Dallas?” he guesses with a wry smile, looking around the table in search of laughs.

It takes all I have not to bark an obnoxious fake laugh at him. Good one, dickhead. But instead, I play dumb, as if his lame-ass joke went way over my head. “Forty miles outside of Amarillo.”

“An ice hockey player from the Texas Panhandle?” His eyebrows climb high. “Interesting.”

I nod but say nothing.

“Jenn, this fish is so good,” Emily says.

I glance at her and give her foot another little rub under the table, a silent thank you for taking the focus away from me.

“It’s my grandmother’s recipe,” Jenn replies with a warm smile.

We get back to eating, and I can’t deny the tone in the room isn’t what it probably should be given this is effectively a double date. And I love that. Goldie told me she isn’t interested in the doctor, but now I can see it with my own eyes, with every attempt she makes to try and put distance between them.

“So, Dallas, you got a girl?” Simon asks after a moment.

I swallow what’s in my mouth, my ankle still rubbing up against Emily’s. Wiping my lips with my napkin, I shake my head. “No.”

Andy snickers to himself. “Dallas isn’t your typical one-woman man.” He takes a sip from his wine, flashing me a knowing glance.

“Oh, to be young again,” Simon jibes.

My face twists of its own accord despite my attempt at a smile, but the ageism in the room is stifling. I look across at Emily to find her looking down at her food, her shoulders slightly hunched, and I know it’s from the mention of my age.

“Are you going home for Christmas, Dallas?” Jenn asks.

“Yeah. Our roster is pretty good this year, so I get to fly out the day before Christmas Eve and I’ll come back the day after Christmas to make our game the following day.”

“Oh, lovely,” Jenn coos. “I’m sure your mom is excited to have her baby home.”

“Yeah.” I grin.

Moments later, we’re interrupted by a loud ringing coming from Simon’s direction. He leans over to pull his phone from his pants, and his face falls the second he sees what’s on the screen.

“It’s the hospital,” he says, looking around the table at no one in particular. “Excuse me.”

We watch him answer the call as he leaves the room, his low voice a murmur from outside in the hall.

“So, Emily?” I look across the table, smiling as she lifts her gaze to meet mine, a flicker of terror in her eyes like she’s not quite sure what I’m going to say. “How are you enjoying working at HMC? ”

The tension in her shoulders eases some, and she manages a smile. “Oh, I love it.” She nods. “Everyone is so nice and… friendly .”

I don’t miss the innuendo, and I clamp her foot between both of mine, giving her a little squeeze that makes her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink.

Before I can ask a follow up question, Simon walks back into the room, heaving a dramatic sigh, and I’m forced to look away so I can roll my eyes without anyone seeing.

“Not great news, unfortunately,” he says, still standing.

I take a sip of my wine to stop myself from ginning because I know what’s coming.

“I need to go in.” He rubs the back of his thick neck.

“Oh no,” Jenn gasps. “I hope everything is okay.”

And so do I, but also, don’t let the door hit your non-existent ass on the way out, Simon.

Simon glances at Emily, arching a brow. “If you like, I can take you home on my way?”

Emily hesitates a moment, looking around the table, gaze drifting over me. “No, it’s fine. I can get a cab. You should go.”

He nods curtly, looking at Jenn and Andy and apologizing.

“Don’t apologize!” Jenn insists, standing and hugging her brother. “We’ll walk you out.” She waves Andy with them and heads out the door.

Andy glances at me, then across to Emily, and he forces a smile, pushing up from his chair with obvious reluctance like he can’t possibly bear to leave me alone with her.

“Excuse us,” he murmurs, following Jenn and Simon out of the room and downstairs.

It isn’t until I can hear their exchange downstairs that I finally look at Emily to find her gawking at me incredulously.

“What are you doing here?” she hisses.

“Like hell was I just gonna sit at home knowing you were here with that guy,” I scoff, nodding at the chair Simon had been occupying. “I mean, he was practically perched in your lap. ”

“Dallas, this is…” She trails off, shaking her head.

“I decided something last night,” I say, steadying her with a look of complete seriousness.

Emily stiffens, seemingly worried as she stares into my eyes. “W-what did you decide?”

“You’re mine,” I say matter-of-factly. “And I’m ready to fight for you.”

Her eyes widen at my words, but before anything more can be said, Jenn and Andy re-enter the room, moving back to their respective seats, and I go back to eating my dinner as if that’s what I’ve been doing ever since they walked out.

“I’m so sorry, Emily,” Jenn says with a frown. “I promise I’ll try set up another time we can all spend together.” She playfully waggles her eyebrows. “Or maybe you and Simon can catch up… just the two of you.”

At that, I choke on my mouthful of fish, reaching for my water glass to wash it down.

“You okay?” Andy side-eyes me.

I clear my throat, nodding as casually as I can.

After dinner, we’re sitting in the family room sipping coffee, and I’m about to make a move to leave in the hope that Emily does too so we can conveniently leave at the same time. Not together . Just… at the same time. But my plan is quashed by the sound of two tiny hippopotamuses trampling up the stairs. I turn in time to see Jenn and Andy’s twins, Jack and Dotty, racing in through the doorway, dressed in matching Grinch pajamas.

“Uncle D!” Dotty squeals, launching herself at me.

“I saw him first!” Jack cries, jumping up and wrapping himself around one of my legs.

“Hey now, there’s enough of me to go around.” I throw Dotty over my shoulder, wrapping my arm around Jack’s waist and holding him upside down, both kids laughing hysterically. Glancing at Emily, I find her watching on with a small smile, and something else there in her eyes that highlights the touch of rose in her cheeks.

“What are you two doing?” Jenn chides half-heartedly.

“The movie finished,” Jack says as I turn him the right way up.

“I thought we said movie and then bed?” Andy arches a brow.

Dotty giggles, covering her mouth with her hands.

Right then, Gloria, the kids’ nanny, rushes into the room, breathless and flustered. “Oh, my goodness, you two!” She tuts at Dotty and Jack, offering Andy and Jenn an apologetic laugh.

“It’s fine, Gloria.” Andy waves a hand. “We can take over from here.”

“We can’t go to bed without a story!” Jack guffaws as if the idea of going to bed without a story is absurd.

“Who do you want to read?” Andy asks. “Mommy or me?”

“Uncle D!” the kids chorus.

I flash Andy a smug grin. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Hey, who are you?” Dotty ask from over my shoulder.

I spin around to see she’s pointing at Emily.

Emily flushes under the weight of the attention, smiling nervously. “I’m Emily.”

Clambering to get down, I place Dotty onto her feet and she pads across the room, perching herself on the sofa right next to Emily, looking up at her with serious heart eyes. And honestly, same, kid.

“You’re pretty.”

“Aw, thank you.” Emily gushes. “You are too. I love your hair.”

Dotty sighs dramatically. “I hate my curls. Mommy says I got them from Daddy .”

“Curls can be frustrating sometimes,” Emily agrees, her eyes flitting to me.

Jack wrestles with me, giggling against my hold. “Are you Uncle D’s girlfriend ?” he asks, his tone teasing .

I catch Emily stiffen from the corner of my eye, so I play it cool.

“ Dude !” I guffaw, lifting Jack so he’s eye-to-eye with me. “Gross. You know Uncle D is allergic to girls’ germs.”

Andy steps in. “Emily is Daddy’s assistant at work.”

“And… she’s friends with Uncle Simon,” Jenn adds with a conspiratorial smile.

I swear, if I never hear that guy’s name again, it’ll be too damn soon.

Dotty gasps, practically bouncing up and down on the sofa. “Are you going to marry Uncle Simon?”

And there it is.

“Oh, um… I-I—” Emily stammers, glancing frantically around the room.

“Nobody’s getting married.” Andy dismisses the topic, moving in to collect Dotty from the sofa and lifting her onto his shoulders. “And it’s time for bed.”

“Will you please read us a bed time story, Uncle D?” Jack pleads.

“Yeah!” Dotty squeals from her dad’s shoulders.

“You betcha,” I’m quick to say.

“I should go,” Emily announces, standing from the sofa.

And my immediate reaction is to argue, to tell her to stay put, that I’ll drive her. But I know I can’t do that right now.

“Let me call you a car, Emily,” Andy says.

“No, it’s fine,” she declines. “I can just catch a cab.”

I spear her with a warning glance, and she presses her lips together.

“Absolutely not,” Jenn shrieks. “It’s late, and Andy has a twenty-four-hour service.”

My shoulders relax somewhat. But I still don’t like that she’s leaving without me.

“Kids, say bye to Emily,” Jenn says as she corrals the two.

“Bye Emily,” Dotty and Jack sing .

“It was so nice to meet you guys,” she says sweetly, her gaze meeting mine.

“Bye, Emily,” I murmur softly, gaze lingering before I turn and carry Jack out of the room and up the stairs, trying not to give away just how disappointed I am to have to let her go. In a perfect world, she’d wait for me. Or she’d come up, too, and read The Gruffalo with me. Then we’d leave together. I’d take her home. And we’d go to bed together. But sadly, this isn’t a perfect world. Maybe one day. But not tonight.

After saying goodbye to Andy and Jenn, I get into my car and start the engine. But for a moment I just sit here, staring out at the street, considering my options.

If this were a Netflix rom-com, I’d shift into gear and tear off from the curb like a bat out of hell. I’d speed through the streets of Brooklyn, narrowly avoiding cars and pedestrians, probably running a few red lights and nearly causing a six-car pile-up. I’d startle some cop sitting in his patrol car, enough for him to spill the hot coffee he's sipping, and he’d flick on his lights and start a high-speed chase. I’d spot the tail lights of the town car up ahead as it approaches the bridge, and I’d put my foot down on the gas. I’d perform some sort of Vin Diesel The Fast and The Furious move, cutting the town car off and forcing the driver to pull up, resulting in gridlock on the Manhattan Bridge. Then I’d jump out of my car, engine still running, and I’d close the distance and yank on the back passenger door of the town car. I’d start kissing her before she even has a chance to get out, while NYPD circle up ahead in choppers that provide the spotlight to our romantic happy ever after. End credits.

I throw my head back on a groan. Because this isn’t a Netflix rom-com. This isn’t even a corny, made-for-TV midday movie rom-com. This is real life. My real life. And, more importantly, Emily’s real life. And I’ve caused enough of a scene by even showing up here tonight.

With a resigned sigh, I pull away from the curb and start the short journey home so I can call Emily and try to explain myself and whatever the hell tonight was all about to her, like an adult. But as I turn the corner onto my street, I see someone standing by the entrance to my building. A familiar blonde.

“Goldie…”

I screech to a stop, idling right there in the middle of the road, staring slack-jawed as she turns, her eyes meeting mine through the windshield. And it may not be the middle of the Manhattan Bridge, but with the engine still running, I hop out of the car like my ass is on fire.

“Is everything okay?” I manage through a rushed breath, cupping her cheeks and ducking down so I can get a good look at her. “Are you all right?”

Emily looks up at me, her big golden eyes searching mine. “I needed to see you.”

“I’m sorry about tonight,” I start, the words tumbling out of me. “I couldn’t sit back and imagine you there, with him , Jenn and her matchmaking pushing you together. I was scared you might see that he’s perfect for you and that I’m… I don’t know… not. And I was worried you’d force yourself to choose him over me. And it was stupid and reckless, and all Robbie Mason’s dumb idea, and I know it was risky, but I just couldn’t?—”

“Dallas, stop!” Emily laughs, placing a gloved finger against my lips, silencing me.

I stare down at her, my racing heart easing the second I see her smile. Her smile has that effect on me. Her smile is my Xanax.

“I came here because I needed to talk to you,” she says again, emphasizing her words as she continues, “to tell you that—” She closes her eyes a moment, and I see her take a slow, steady breath, blowing it out between her pretty lips before that honey gaze meets mine again .

And I’m not sure if it’s her hesitation, or the look of uncertainty in her eyes, but my throat is closing in on me and my stomach is in my ass. I swallow hard, preparing for the worst as my trembling fingers tentatively tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Tell me what, baby?”

She stares into my eyes, the tip of her tongue sliding out to wet her lips. “I’m falling in love with you.”