Page 52 of Tight Spot

He’d all but guaranteed it.

She tilted her head to the side, another soft smile. “I wasn’t talking about him, but I’ve also never seen him like this. He keeps to himself. Is quiet. Hangs with the guys occasionally but usually it’s under duress. And I know he only contacted that service to keep management happy, but that doesn’t mean things won’t change.”

I’d balled up the paper towel in my hands when I dried them and tossed it into the garbage.

I didn’t need any more hope for a happy future. I’d already lost it once.

“That’s very sweet, Maggie. Really, but Dawson and I know exactly where each other are at.”

After all, I’d been trying to remind myself of our agreement for the last week.

* * *

Maggie wasn’t wrong.

Once I used the restroom, rewashed my hands, and Maggie and I stepped outside the bathroom, Dawson was still there, pacing back and forth.

He rushed to me, curled his hands around my shoulders and his gaze scanned my face for any sign of duress. “You’re okay?”

Maggie chuckled. “She’s fine, big guy. Calm down.”

He scowled at her, a look that would have had my ankles wobbling in my heels if it was directed at me and Maggie laughed again. “You two take all the time you need. I’m going to go find Davis and make sure all the kids are okay.”

She skirted off and I frowned at Dawson. “Kids?”

“Yeah. She has like four of her siblings or something living with them. Don’t know, but it’s a boatload of them. Crazy shit we can talk about later. Be honest, you really all right? We can leave. I don’t give two shits if sitting there is going to make you uncomfortable.”

For the briefest moment, Maggie’s warning whispered through my mind. Arrangements only last for so long…

I kicked it straight to the curb. Dawson had been very clear with me.

“I’m all right. All that wedding talk just got to me.”

“Figured. It won’t happen again.” He leaned down closer, and I inhaled the quick scent of his spicy, woodsy cologne before he brushed his lips over my cheek. “If I’d been thinking, I would have warned them to keep all that shit to a minimum, but I wasn’t. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, Dawson. Really. It’s not like I begrudge other women getting married, it was just a little soon to hear it all.”

“We can leave.”

He’d been waxing poetic about the food Cole always ensured he had at these dinners. Dawson had said on the way here it was one of the few events he didn’t mind attending because of it. I wasn’t going to take that from him, or the time with his team because I got stupid for a hot minute.

“And miss the best steak on the planet you promised me?”

I went for a smile but probably failed because Dawson’s thumb brushed along my bottom lip. “You don’t have to fake shit with me, you know.”

This whole thing was fake. I didn’t tell him that.

I reached up and grabbed his hand still at my shoulder and laced our fingers together. “I’m hungry.”

He fell into step beside me and thankfully, salads were still being served. Good sign. At least I hadn’t ruined the entire meal for him.

No one glanced our way, at least not in a way it was obvious, and by the time we returned to the table and Dawson pulled out of my chair, Davis and a guy next to him, Mason, were giving each other crap about which one was a better golfer.

“Don’t listen to either of them,” Dawson muttered next to me. He slid his hand to my thigh and sparks burst beneath the burning touch of his palm. “I can kick both of those kids’ asses in any sport they choose.”

“Not all of us has a putting green in our backyards.” Davis scowled at him.

Dawson rolled his eyes and pointed his salad fork at him. “So build one.”

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