Page 106 of Rainbow Rodeo

Dalton’s lips parted, and he snarled. “Don’t, Bubba.”

“Why not? Pops needs to take him off the roster.”

“What reason are we going to give?” he asked.

“How about the truth?” Deb insisted again.

“I can’t.” No way. There was no fucking way.

“Why not? He knows you and Rocket were together. If you tell him the truth, you never have to see that fucker again!” Dustin was getting mad.

“Just drop it! I ain’t gonna—”

Deb stepped on his foot. Hard.

He looked up, and there was Tank, face like a thundercloud.

Shit.

“Clear out, y’all.”

Deb and Bubba left without another word.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Tank asked.

“He came with somebody.” Dalton didn’t even remember who right now.

“Who?” Man, Tank could snarl.

“Back off.” He could snarl too. “I don’t fucking remember!”

“Damn it, Dalton. Why does he keep showing up?” Tank marched over to stand right in front of him. “What do Deb and Dustin know that I don’t?”

“I don’t know! Something’s up with him. He’s a nutcase. He’s an asshole. He’s a prick.” Dalton didn’t know, not really. They had broke up bad. It had gotten embarrassing, maybe a little scary, if he was honest, if only to himself.

“Baby, I need you to talk to me.” Those dark eyes saw everything, Tank seeming to look right into him.

“We’re broke up, Tank, I swear to God. I got nothing to do with the man.”

“I know that, but there’s something you ain’t telling me.” Tank got all up in his business, damn near bumping chests with him.

“Back off!” He held his hands up but didn’t shove, mindful of that leg. “It was a shit breakup. I did the calling it off.”

“Good. Because he did something awful to you. What? I need to know before I go rip his head off and shit down his neck.”

“Because….” He opened his mouth, then closed it and shook his head. “Look. I broke it off because he was an asshole. He made me feel like shit. I had had enough.”

“Did he hurt you?” Red flags of color rose in Tank’s cheeks. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“For what? Being a dick? Just…. Just…. This is a party, Tank. Drop it.” His head was going to explode.

“I can’t. This isn’t just popping up at a hotel or an event. This is your mom and dad’s house.”

“I know. They don’t know anything about this.” He didn’t want them to believe anything bad about him.

“Is that why you’re not telling your daddy to take him off the roster?” Tank put both hands on Dalton’s shoulders.

He nodded before he could stop himself. “It ain’t professional.”

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