Erin blinks. “Why not?”
Dahlia’s fingers find mine. I shift Chloe higher on my hip, heart thudding because I already know exactly what Dahlia is afraid of—and exactly how hard it is for her to say it out loud.
Her voice comes out small. “I don’t want to force myself into her life. Or scare her. Or make her feel like she has to pick sides.” Her eyes flick to me. “And my dad…I know I keep putting the blame back on him, but…I’ve learned not to rock the boat where he’s concerned. He’s spiteful, and I like to keep the peace.”
“What if…he didn’t have to find out?” Erin suggests.
Dahlia glances at me again and back at Erin reluctantly. “I guess that could work…it’d just have to be Ava, though…not—” She bites her lower lip again.
“Not anyone else?” I fill in.
She nods.
“Like Goldie and Juju,” I clarify to Erin.
She takes a deep breath. “Geez, how did I become the secret-keeper all of a sudden? First, Cam—” She blinks and stops in mid-sentence.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing. Um. Okay. Here’s what we can do. I’ll get Ava out of here, and you guys could come to my place or the shop, either one.”
“Erin and her family own Cox Trading Post here in town,” I tell Dahlia. “Does that work?”
She nods and shakes her hands out. “I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. Ava’s great.”
“We can come wherever is best for you,” I tell Erin.
“Come to the house so we don’t get caught by anyone else. Half an hour?”
“My brothers will give me grief for bailing so soon, but what else is new?” I laugh.
Erin smirks. “You may as well tell them you’re gettin’ some. They’re assuming as much anyway.”
“Mmm, I’ll keep ’em guessing.”
She snorts. “Okay, hotshot. I’d better get these back to the table. I’ll see you guys very soon.” She winks at Chloe. “You’re gonna love my puppy Sabrina.”
“Puppy!” Chloe perks up.
Erin turns and walks back to her table.
I look at Dahlia. “Are you okay?”
“Uh…I’m not sure yet.” She lets out a shaky laugh. “Are we really doing this?”
I grin at her. “Yes, we are.”
She reaches up and smooths her hair and then Chloe’s. “Okay.” She nods, letting out a long exhale. “Okay.”
I lean over and give her another quick kiss. “It’ll be good. Don’t worry. I’ll see you ladies shortly.” I kiss Chloe’s forehead and hand her to Dahlia. “Want to unlock the car, and I’ll sneak in there in about twenty minutes and wait for you?”
“Won’t someone see you?”
“I’ll make sure they don’t,” I assure her.
“Okay.” Her eyes are glinting with excitement now, and I’m excited for her…Ava too.
