Page 35 of Camilla & Dallas
“What do you mean that your last date didn’t go well?”
“Just what I said. It was a great date and all. Honestly, I was surprised when she asked me out to begin with. It’s clear she’s not interested.”
What was this guy talking about? How could he brush off his relationship like that? This wasn’t making sense. Dallas pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s not to understand? People have bad first dates all the time. We didn’t click. And I have a feeling the only reason she asked me to dinner?—”
“Wait, what? Say that again?” Dallas snapped.
Jason’s eyes widened slightly. “What?”
“The part you said about first dates.”
The guy actually looked confused. “Are you telling me that you’ve never had a bad first date?”
“Of course not. But that wasn’t your first date.”
This time Jason smirked at him. He was actually amused.
Why did he find this conversation humorous?
Dallas glowered at the man, waiting expectantly for the response that Jason might have to explain himself. When he didn’t say anything, Dallas prodded, “Well? It wasn’t, was it?”
“What do you think is going on between Camilla and me?” Jason asked with a chuckle. “That we’ve been going out a while? Does it look like we’re that familiar? Come on, man. The way she talked to me during that date doesn’t exactly scream that we were close.”
“You’re dating,” Dallas muttered flatly. “You guys are in a relationship, aren’t you?”
“Is that what she said?” Jason’s surprised gaze turned toward the house, but Dallas already knew she was long gone. There was no sight of her. “Look, I don’t know what she’s been telling you, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. The rodeo was our first date. And this dinner? If it happens? It would be our second. I’m not the type of person who wants to take a girl out when they’re in love with someone else.”
Jason might as well have sucker-punched Dallas for the amount of air his lungs were currently allowing to pass through his airways. So many words filtered through his head, and yet not a single one could manage to get past his lips. Jason couldn’t possibly be referring to Dallas, could he?
“In love… with someone else?”
Jason chuckled and moved past Dallas with a clap to his shoulder. “Dude. I forgot what it’s like to be so blinded by my own insecurities that I can’t see what’s right in front of me.” He continued with the quiet laughter as he headed away.
The guy didn’t blatantly lay everything out, and yet, at the same time, he couldn’t have made it clearer.
Camilla wasn’t dating anyone—least of all him. Why would Cheyenne tell him she was dating Jason?
Camilla didn’t even have feelings for Jason.
But shewasin love with someone else.
Dallas. She was in love with Dallas.
His chest ached. Or rather, what his chest held. Dallas rubbed at the spot above his heart, digging his knuckles into his skin until he likely bruised it.
They needed to talk this out, but Camilla was making that incredibly difficult.
For Pete’s sake!
Dallas strode toward the house. Even if he couldn’t get Camilla to speak to him about her feelings, the air still needed to be cleared. He’d given her enough space. He’d waited long enough. Now she was going to have to give him what he wanted, and he prayed he wouldn’t be pushing her too far.
His steps were surer than his heart. The way that organ practically thrashed within his body made it perfectly clear how terrified he was over what might happen next. He clenched his hands tightly at his sides, only releasing them when he reached the front door to Camilla’s house. Lifting his fist, he briefly closed his eyes, praying for strength to follow through with this ridiculous plan. Then he rapped his knuckles on the door and stepped back.
The seconds ticked by far too slowly for comfort. He knew Camilla was inside. Her siblings were probably home, too. Which begged one question.
Had Camilla turned them all against him?
