Page 84 of Book Boyfriends
“Hush.” I make a shoo motion. “Now, get in there before Hope kicks both our asses. She may be a Care Bear ninety-nine percent of the time, but bears have teeth.”
Laughter vibrates in his chest. “God, I love that woman.” He starts to move to the door before stopping. “Hope has her keys, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Perfect. My spare car key is on her ring. Just grab my keys from Davis after he gets back. If you want to head home, he can take you, and I’ll call you to let you know how she’s doing. That way, you can get some rest.”
“Davis?” My mouth drops open.
“I found him in the waiting room when I got here. He volunteered to take my keys to walk Wentworth. I think he was looking for some way to help.”
Warmth fizzes within me as if expensive champagne flows through my veins. After I’d thanked him, I thought he’d just left. I had zero expectations that he’d stay.
“I’m not sure what Davis is to you, but?—”
“He’s a friend,” I jump in, the word “friend” leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Not to be allmeabout this, but maybe rethink that designation. While you were in there taking care of Hope, he was looking for ways to take care of you. I like him.”
“Me too,” I murmur.
That truth lights up every cell. It’s not reminiscent of fireworks bursting in the sky, their radiance intense but brief. It’s akin to streetlamps flickering awake, their steady glow lighting the way.
“Go for it.” Determination glints in his eyes. “We know I use plans to manage my anxiety, but your plans sometimes hold you back. You hoped for a future with Will that I think—even if Lena hadn’t happened—wouldn’t have come true.”
“I thought you liked Will.”
“I tolerated him for your sake. He was fine enough, but his focus was always on himself. I want the men with my siblings to think oftheirneeds from time to time. Will barely did that. Everything was always about or in service to him.”
“You never said anything.”
“Maybe, sometimes, I do just sit by and support you after all.” A furrow mars his brow. “For that one, I wish I’d been more my textbook self.”
“I probably wouldn’t have listened.” My short huff of laughter is laced with self-deprecation.
“You would have been torn between makinghimhappy or me. You may push back against me and chart your own course, but your ship always steers back toward what’s best for others. Not as much, but Jackson is like that, too. It’s why I want both of you with partners who won’t take advantage of that. That will support you when you’re taking care of everyone else.”
“We get that trait from our big brother.”
It’s not just our names that bind the three of us. Each of us our cemented in a foundation of caring for others. That foundation guides us in almost all our decisions. Jackson may bethe most balanced out of the three of us, but all our compasses point north.
A cheeky smile invades my features. “Speaking of Jackson, you’re going to like his new guy. He’s a real golden retriever type.”
“Well, I know I like your new guy or, at least, I hope you’ll let him be your new guy.” Palms raised, he walks backward. “I know, I know. Let you liveyourlife. Just don’t let the fear of what could happen or it not being what you planned stop you from living it.”
Rem disappears through the automatic doors to check on Hope, and I take a seat in the waiting room in the identical position I found him. Leaned forward, elbows on my knees, I scrub my hands down my face. Is it the fear of getting hurt that holds me back from being with Davis? Are my book boyfriends just an excuse to not get hurt again? Is my pushing him away less about not breaking his heart, but protecting my own?
“I am such a cliché,” I mutter to myself.
“Is everything okay? How’s Hope? Is the baby alright?”
Raising my head, I meet Davis’s gaze, a mix of warmth and worry shines in the dark pupils. Worry for and about me.
“Yeah. It looks like a false alarm.” I sit up. “Rem said you went to walk Wentworth.”
“Yeah.” His smile is bashful. “I also picked up a grilled cheese and fries from Fisher’s Landing, since I know you haven’t eaten.” He hands me a paper sack emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo.
“Thank you.” I accept the bag. “You didn’t need to do all that.”
