Page 165 of Before We're More Than Friends
I’m sorry for what happened on Tuesday. Can you meet me at the dog park? Bring Houston and your songwriting notebook. I promise I won’t screw it up this time.
After a few minutes, I figured he’d probably ignore me. I scrolled through social media, out of touch with what was going on in the jewelry industry, when a text from Dallas popped up.
Dallas
I’ll be there at eight thirty if that’s okay.
A hopeful smile spread across my face.
Raina
Perfect
See you there
I love you
I thought he’d finished responding to me, but one last text came through.
Dallas
Love you too
Nerves fluttered in my stomach as I walked Penrose around the huge park for the second time. At any moment, our legs would give out.
And it was only eight thirty-two.
When Penrose sat on the ground during our lap, I made her get up. I sat on the closest bench while she sat in the grass.
Every few moments, I checked my phone. Dallas wouldn’t stand me up, would he? He wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up if he didn’t want to see me.
I was about to text Dallas when two shadows, a tall one and a small one, appeared in the distance. I almost jumped out of my skin, sweat running down my back. Gosh, I probably smelled and looked like a pig. I hadn’t put any makeup on to cover my eye bags, and I’d picked the most unflattering clothes I owned, a worn-out tee and loose jeans. The mid-March air had no problem reminding me I’d forgotten to put on a jacket.
But when Dallas came in the light, he looked the opposite of how I felt. He was freaking hot, with his curls springing on his forehead, seeming longer than when I’d first started seeing him. He wore his usual green jacket with a dark V-neck shirt and jeans. Sheesh, did my clothes fit me that well?
Did he ever look at me the way I looked at him? Admiring my features with warmth spreading throughout his body?
Focus on apologizing!Not his body!
“Hey,” Dallas said as he got closer, his voice soft but deep. “I brought Houston and my notebook.” He shook his backpack and nodded to Houston, who was already sniffing Penrose’s butt.
“Hey.” I smiled at him, trying to control my breathing. Why did this make me almost hyperventilate? “I brought my stuff too. And my apologies.”
He sighed as he took Houston off his leash to let him free in the doggy area. “I understand why you lashed out.” He sat beside me, slipping his backpack off. “The last thing you wanted was to be corrected.”
“It doesn’t make how I acted right,” I said as I let Penrose free. “You had already taken the hit of others’ anger, and after all you’d done for me, it was the last thing you needed or deserved.”
“It was,” he said, his voice low.
I traced a hand along the collar of his shirt before regaining my senses. “I was no different from anyone else for taking my frustration out on you. I really am sorry, Dallas.” My sigh expanded the ache in my chest. “I hate hurting you. I hate making you run away. I hate making your life harder than it needs to be.”
Dallas scooted closer to me, the smell of his minty breath filling my senses. “You don’t make my life harder.”
“You sure about that?”
“Well, okay.” His lips curved in a small smile, his dimples appearing. “Life has been far from easy, but I wouldn’t give up having you in my life for the world.”
I smiled back. “So you forgive me?” It felt too good to be true that two people had forgivenme so quickly after I’d hurt them, but I wanted to accept it. I wanted to use their forgiveness to help me forgive myself.
