Page 21 of Love.V2
“Yeah? How’d you know that?”
“Jas likes to gossip while she’s working the front desk. You say the word and he’s out of here.”
Will was usually the definition of casual and charming, so it took me a second to realize he was serious. “Dylan?”
“Yeah. That guy.” He tipped his head to where Dylan filled his bottle. “If you’re not comfortable with him here, or he followed you or something, game over. He’s out.”
I was speechless. I had only joined this gym a few months ago, and even though I’d struck up a friendship with Jasmine and Lainey, I wasn’t as close to Will.
He read the surprise on my face. “What kind of person would I be if I didn’t speak up when I thought something might be wrong? Besides, you’re a regular. Lainey and Jas would kill me if something happened to you.”
I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat. When I was a kid, there hadn’t been enough money or resources or love to go around. Itwas hard and gritty and even years after escaping Johnson County, it was easy to forget that good people existed in the world.
“Thank you,” I finally spoke, touching Will’s hand where it rested on the counter. “You’re a good guy, Will.”
“Anyone else would do the same.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but a light flush appeared across his cheekbones. “You didn’t answer my question, though. In or out?” He looked to where Dylan was strolling back across the mats, eyes zeroed in on where my fingers still rested against Will’s skin.
I snatched my hand back. “In. It’s…complicated right now. But he’s a good guy, too. I promise,” I added when Will sized him up one last time, just as Dylan joined me at the front desk.
“You let me know if that changes, alright?” Will looked so serious, that lump formed in my throat again. I only nodded.
“Cool. Paperwork, bro, then we’ll give you the R3welcome.”
***
I trudged across the parking lot, gulping water and trying to extinguish the flame of lust flickering inside me.
It had been easy to keep my emotional distance at work. I was so preoccupied with the feelings and confusion of having him around, I hadn’t realized how much I still wanted Dylan physically. Him staring at me in the mirrors, amidst the exertion and sweat and my pumping heart, sparked an intense heat that worked its way through my bloodstream, along with a good dose of pheromones.
We’d spent the entire class eyeing each other and pretending not to. I’d nearly dropped a kettlebell on my foot.
“She okay?” Dylan asked, leaning against a sleek black car I’d never seen before. Soft cotton clung to his biceps, plastered to his abs. I wasn’t the only one who’d been working out while we’d been apart.
This doesn’t change anything,I reminded myself. I’d always been attracted to Dylan. It was nothing new. A little more of my resolve crumbled. Or maybe melted was a better word.
I tore my eyes away from a bead of sweat working its way down his neck to look at Lainey’s car as it drove away. “She’s going through a tough breakup right now. Her ex-boyfriend did something pretty crappy, but for the right reasons. I think she’s still on the fence about what to do.”
“Well, you’re an expert on exes doing shitty shit.” I didn’t return his self-deprecating smile. “I don’t know the whole story, but I think she should give him another chance.”
And just like that, we were in risky territory. We weren’t talking about Lainey anymore. Gravel crunched as I shifted my weight under his heavy gaze.
“Dylan…” This wasn’t a good time to talk about us. Not when I wanted to ask him very politely to please take his shirt off.
“I know. But I need you to understand, even if you don’t want to talk to me after this project, even if you need more time, I’ll be here waiting. Call me in a year, Tess, ten years, I’ll say yes.”
A sigh gusted from my lips. I watched as a few cars backed out of their spots and drove away. “Ten years is a long time to wait around for a conversation,” I argued. He was being ridiculous and hyperbolic,and I was feeling all hot and steamy. I needed to go home and take a lukewarm shower and try to think about anything other than him. He ducked his head to catch my eye again.
“Ten? Fifty? Tell me there’s a chance, no matter how small, and I’ll be waiting by my phone.” His sincerity seared the sensitive, ragged parts of my heart that had once belonged to him. My teeth sank into my bottom lip. I wanted to say yes almost as much as I was terrified to say yes.
Growing up, creating defense mechanisms was a matter of life and death. I instinctively shied away from the things that hurt me, getting quiet and small, waiting for it to blow over.Just leave, a voice inside me urged,turn around and escape the pain he’s caused you this week and all the weeks before.I’d already tried that once, though, and it had just delayed what felt now like an inevitable reckoning.
I was quiet for a few beats too long. Dylan’s shoulders fell. “You still haven’t told me you’re over me, and it’s the single shred of hope I’ve been holding onto.” He took a breath, looking up at the sky. “But if you’re truly done, I’ll get out of your hair and you won’t have to deal with this, with me, again.”
“That’ll be pretty difficult when you’re my boss.” It was another sticking point I’d tried not to think too much about. If I was spinning out with him being around for only a few days, what would happen when we were together every day for the foreseeable future? Being around him all the time, watching him date and get on with his life, would be more than I could bear. There was a reason I’d moved so far away. If Dylan wasn’t living his life with me, then I didn’t want to see it. I’d have to leave.
His gaze collided with mine again. Everything got more serious.
“Not if you don’t want me to. I told you. Say the word and I’ll leave this city. The company. All of it.” He clutched at his chest like he was in pain. Something painful echoed in me, too. “You are always a yes for me, Tess. Always. I know I haven’t done a good job of showing you that in the past. As much as Ihatethe thought of living without you, I can’t stand the thought of hurting you even more than I already have.”
