“Thanks,” Dawson said.
Shane waved in the direction Nate had stomped off, earlier. “He didn’t seem very happy.”
“He wasn’t,” Dawson said wryly. “Hopefully he gets over it.”
“He’ll get over it. You guys are a team,” Shane said.
“Yeah,” Dawson agreed.
Though he really, really hoped that he didn’t have to ask Aidan to intervene if Natedidn’tget over it. He’d be extra annoying about it. Chide Dawson for doing the kind of work that Aidan was better suited to, and the worst part was that Aidan probably wouldn’t be wrong.
Then Shane adjusted his stance, leaning in a bit more, lowered his voice, and said, “Kind of like you and Cam.”
It shouldn’t have taken Dawson so long to realize, but it hit him like a physical blow that Shane had come over here to give him the freaking shovel talk.
Like five minutes too late. Five minutes after he’d already realized his feelings.
“Yeah?” Dawson said warily.
Maybe he deserved one. He didn’t know how much Cam had told his dad about what they’d been doing—or what Dawson hadn’t been saying.
But he’d fixed it, hadn’t he? He’d gotten over his fear. It wasn’t an easy thing, and some moments hedidworry, but he meant what he’d said to Natalia.
He’d moved on. He was ready to start this new chapter of his life, withCam next to him.
And Cam seemed to want to do the same. Unless, of course, Dawson was counting how he seemed to want to keep Dawson and Shane apart.
Maybe that was why he’d been dreading this. Shane threatening to dismember Dawson if he hurt Cam. Well, that was ridiculous, because if that ever happened, he’d have to get in line. Aidan had already declared he would, and Levi would no doubt be right behind him, like he always was, and then there was Dawson himself.
“Just wanted you to know you’re always welcome with us. I didn’t know if I’d like you, Hall, but it’s hard not to, when you make Cam so happy.”
Dawson wasn’t sure he was keeping up. “Wait . . .what?”
Shane frowned. “I don’t want to end up being your third wheel, but—”
“It’s not me that’s making that decision,” Dawson pointed out softly. “I’d be there every single day, if he let me. If he wanted me there.”
Dawson didn’t say whohewas, but he thought it was pretty dang obvious.
“What? Seriously?” Shane looked shocked. “Cam is—why would he—that doesn’t even make sense—”
But it was beginning to make sense to Dawson.
He’d gotten a glimmer of an idea, and now that he had, the thought kept growing in his mind. Making more and more sense the longer it sprouted.
Of course, explaining it to Shane was going to mean coming clean about a lot of things, but that was probably something he should do anyway.
“I think he’s worried about putting us together because of my experience with my ex-father-in-law. But not just that, but how freaked out I’ve been about starting something serious and real with him. He doesn’t want to rock the boat, now that I’ve finally gotten my head out of my ass,” Dawson admitted.And now it’s so out of my ass.
“Haveyou gotten your head out of your ass?”
“Well, yeah,” Dawson said, and he had, more than he could say to Shane. “I told him I want to be together, like for real, for serious, everything. But then you showed up and he seemed to panic. I get it now. He was worried your presence would remind me of things I want to forget.”
“Your ex-father-in-law,” Shane said steadily.
“He did some bad stuff. Stole money from me and others. But I know you’re not him. I never thought you’d be him.”
“You’re divorced, too?” Shane said it so casually, but there was an intent look in his eyes. And maybe this was more of a shovel talk than Dawson had thought it was.
