Page 143 of Body Check

“And this guy is so sweet,” she gushed, pressing her lips to his cheek. “I was starting to think everyone on the apps was a jerk until I met him.”

“Congratulations,” Dakota said.

“You too!” Kady’s smile was so bright and happy. Infectious. “Life is so good. I buy drinks for everyone!”

The crowdreallycheered at that, and it took a few moments for Dakota to even get a word in edgewise with Gavin.

“So that’s how we’re announcing it, huh?” Dakota teased, smiling up at him.

Gavin shrugged, shooting him another lopsided grin as he squeezed Dakota’s waist. “Yep. Pretty easy, huh?”

“Thanks to you,” Dakota pointed out. He knewexactlyhow much behind the scenes maneuvering Gavin had done to get them to this point.

“You’re worth the effort,” Gavin said simply.

And despite the festive atmosphere and happy mood around them, tears pricked Dakota’s eyes. Because he’d done so damn much for Bryce and gotten very little in return. What he had gotten seemed almost grudging, like Bryce was keeping score and wanted Dakota to know exactly how much effort he’d put in.

Yet here Gavin was, with a much more demanding job, acting like the effort he’d made was no big deal.

The phrase ‘if he wanted to, he would’ popped into Dakota’s head as he leaned against Gavin’s shoulder and felt the brief brush of lips again his hair.

Yeah, that much was obvious. Gavin wanted to. And he was already doing it.

“Sooo,” Violet said as she approached a short while later, her eyes sparkling. “You two are official now, huh?”

“We are,” Dakota said, glancing over at Gavin who had been pulled into another conversation.

“Ownership knows?”

Dakota looked back at his sister. “Yes. They’re on board.”

“Glad to hear it. Gavin said they promised to support me as well. Not that they know who I am, but …”

“Oh good.” Dakota reached out and squeezed his sister’s hand. “I’m glad.”

She bit her lip. “I’m thinking about taking part in the Pride messaging at the upcoming game.”

“Yeah?” Dakota asked, surprised.

“Yeah. I think it’s time.” She squared her shoulders. “I’ve spent many years feeling grateful I’ve been able to carve out this life for myself. The job I love, the husband, the kids … not everyone like me who wants that life gets to have it, you know?”

Dakota grimaced. “Unfortunately, no.”

“But maybe it’s time I speak up more.”

“You shouldn’t have to?—”

“Maybe not,” she agreed with a sigh, toying with the stem of her wineglass. “But I think I need to do it anyway. I just have to figure outwhoin the organization to talk to about it, you know? I don’t want to make it a huge deal or anything, just let the right people know I’m interested in taking part.”

“I thought you knew everyone in the organization,” Dakota teased.

“Noteveryone,” she said with a laugh.

Dakota frowned thoughtfully, trying to decide who would be able to help before the obvious solution smacked him in the face. “Actually, I know the perfect guy,” he said. “C’mon. I’ll introduce you.”

Thad looked surprised when they appeared in front of him, though his smile was polite. “Hey, Dakota.”

“Hey,” he said. “I don’t think you’ve met my sister, Violet, yet. She works in the accounting department. Violet, this is Gavin’s brother, Thad. He’s in the PR department.”

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