“Sure. Until you lose your big group and feel like you don’t know who the hell you are,” I confessed.
“I get that. I used to do that too. My personality molded into what the people around me needed.” He paused for a moment, trying to come up with the right words. “Emmy, when you’re with me, do you do that? Try to become what I need?”
His question stumped me. Dakota had a way of doing that, and I loved it. He was a thinker, expecting those around him to do the same. Self-reflection was my weak spot. I’d spent most of my life ignoring what I did in exchange for more exciting things. Now that I spent time with someone who did the opposite, who waited for things to literally grow before he could see the results, I finally understood the importance of patience. So, I took my time when answering, and flipped through the memories of us together. How I acted and how I felt and how he made me feel.
“No.” I looked into his eyes with nothing but honesty rolling off my tongue. “I don’t try to be anything because you don’t seem to need anything from me other than what I already am. That sounds silly and convoluted now that I’ve voiced it but does that make sense?”
“It makes perfect sense, Emmy. I’m glad I make you feel that way.”
“How about you?”
“Something tells me even if I tried to pretend to be one way, you’d sniff out the bullshit,” he joked.
I laughed. “Well, I hope so. I mean, if I don’t have some sort of bullshit detector at this point, I have some serious learning to do.”
He laughed along with me. “Makes sense. So, does any of this conversation make you feel a little more comfortable with wearing that tonight? We’re being nothing but ourselves, right?”
Dakota’s hands tugged at the sleeve between my fingers. I nodded, nearly forgetting about my original insecurity.
“Right. Ourselves,” I agreed with a smile.
“Great.” He looked pleased. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom real quick?”
“Go for it.” I gestured towards the closed door where the adjacent bathroom was. “There’s an extra set of towels in the closet and extra toothbrushes. My brother makes sure to change his every two months on the same day. It’s a whole thing.”
He chuckled. “Noted. Thanks.”
I gave him an awkward wave when he slipped into the bathroom. My lungs let out a heavy breath when the door clicked behind him. I needed to calm the fuck down because man, my heart was racing. Dakota Wells was by far the most incredible man I’d ever met, and he was interested in me. Interested in me enough to go my pace and drive four hours in a car full of strangers to sleep next to me in a head sleeve.
Breathe, Emmy. Breathe.
As I sucked in air, I willed myself to slow things down. I was falling for him, sure. But I didn’t have to act on it. We didn’t have to make anything official or do anything extra. I needed to give us time and enjoy the simple joy of time well-spent. Every second with Dakota felt like time well-spent. He wanted to know me and most importantly, he wanted me to know him.
I pushed away from the one red flag of him not sharing everything about Lawrence because I’d be damned if I let that guy ruin something good for me. For the first time, I found someone good all on my own. My gut was right about Dakota being good. I wouldn’t let the past get in the way of there being an us.
Chapter 28
Beforecrawlingintobed,I turned off all the lights and opened the window. Dakota exited the bathroom. He cast a curious glance toward the unobstructed view of the night sky.
“I like watching the sky when there’s a full moon,” I explained as I slipped beneath the covers.
“This feels like a horror movie in the making.” He stood on the opposite side of the bed and removed his shirt before joining me under the sheets.
“I only do it when someone else is in the house.”
We cozied up to each other like it was second nature. Dakota’s arm wrapped around my middle. I moved so my back pressed against his stomach, feeling the rhythm of his heart.
“You’re here so you’d save me if there was some wayward serial killer,” I teased.
“Of course.” Dakota pulled me even closer as if to demonstrate his ability to protect. “They’d get nowhere near you.”
I grinned and whispered back. “I’d protect you too.”
“I’m sure you would.” He pressed a kiss underneath my ear. I hummed in satisfaction when he continued to kiss the tender part of skin along my neck and shoulder.
My hand rested on top of his and our fingers entwined. The moonlight bathed over our skin, showing the contrast of dark and light.
“Where’s the sleeve?” he asked between kisses.
