I know it’s a joke I should play into. Blow him off or give him the finger so I don’t actually cuss at him in front of Miles, but none of that is in me today.
Dex steps up to Miles. “We’re going to leave in ten minutes. Why don’t you and Dottie go play on the turf, I think Tripp and Adam are still in the batting cages. I’ll be there in a bit.”
“Okie!” Miles bounces on his feet before running to the door. “Come on, Dottie!”
Her big brown eyes look up to me and she doesn’t move until I pat her chest. “Go on.”
I get the three seconds of silence from Dex as he waits for the door to close behind them. He moves to sit in the cubby next to me. “That dog really seems to mind you, given the fact you’re not her owner.”
I glare at him. “First, way to kick me when I’m down. Second, the dog has a name, you know what it is so call her by it.”
Dex lets out ahumph.“That didn’t take long. Should I tell you I told you so now…or?”
“Fuck off.” Itsk, but Dex simply laughs.
“Oh, so much déjà vu. Please say something dickish now to really sell the whole thing.”
My mind immediately goes back to when Dex was an extreme asshole when Lucie got started and hell if that doesn’t make me feel a little bit better.
“Nah, I think I’ll take the high road on this one.”
“Motherfucker, way to ruin it,” Dex mumbles with a chuckle. “Want to talk about it?”
I tilt my head to him. “Would it matter if I said not really?”
“It would, I’ll walk the high road with you, drop it completely.”
Oh, bullshit.
I barely get my head shake out before Dex starts. “I actually want to talk about myself. Do you realize how much happier I am with Lucie? I’m married to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—she’s carrying my children. She loves my son like her own, arguably loves him more than she loves me.”
Resting my elbows on my knees, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’re so subtle.”
“And not done. Whatever you and Jensen have doesn’t have to look like mine and Lucie’s. I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t say it’s good with how shitty you did today.”
I blink with my glare. “Again, with the kicking.”
Dex shrugs. “Hey, you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask for details. All I’m saying is…thank you. I’ve said it to you before, and I’ll keep saying it. You pushed me to look past my hang-ups about what a life with Lucie could look like, and now I get to wake up with the woman of my dreams at my side. I look forward to coming home every single day. I’m genuinely happy for the first time in averylong time, so thank you.”
I swallow hard. “What if I can’t push myself? You can say ‘thank you’ but my encouragement really had little to do with it. I was simply pointing out the obvious.”
“I could point out the obvious, but it’d be a waste of breath. You know what Jensen means to you, so decide on what you’re going to do about it.” Dex pushes off his knees and stands back up. “Now, I’ve been here throwing pitches that already have my shoulder hurting and working out with you assholes for hours. I want to go home and spend time with my wife. Will’s already gone because he wants to be with Callie. What do you want to do? You can get some batting practice in…”
This fucker.
Standing up, I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m going to go home and see Jensen.”
Dex’s smile grows. “Good, you should go do that then. And, for all that’s fucking holy, take Dottie with you.”
“Of course, I’m takingmydog home. I’ll fight Miles for her, I’m not afraid.”
“You seem to be afraid of something,” Dex mumbles under his breath.
“You know, maybe I will let Miles take Dottie home for the afternoon.”
Dex pauses before walking out the door. “I’ll take Dottie if you plan on sorting your shit out with Jensen tonight.”
My whole body goes rigid. “I…” I clear my throat, unsure how to answer him.
