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“I’ll try,” I promised. “Thank you, Dakota. Thank you for forgiving me when I…” I bit down on the protest that wanted to spill out. Absolution was hers to give, and I wouldn’t tarnish that. “Just thank you.”

She smiled up at me. “Just work on forgiving yourself. That’s all the thanks I need.”

CHAPTER 22

KIT

Dakota emerged from the hallway wearing a maroon dress under a cropped leather jacket. She’d paired it with black slip-on flats and a chunky silver choker with a single square onyx. Tucked into her lap, she carried a small, zippered purse with an embroidered heart on it.

She’d left her hair down but ironed it into a glossy waterfall that looked sleek and sophisticated.

“Are you sure Felipe will recognize you?” I teased.

“Shut up.” Her cheeks went pink, but she smiled, obviously pleased.

“You look beautiful,” I said. “Do you know where he’s taking you? Or how you’re getting there?”

I tried not to let my anxiety leak into my tone. Dakota saw right through me, anyway.

“He’s been very thoughtful. We’re going to The Silver Spoon.”

My nose wrinkled up. I kind of hated that place. It was so stuffy and stuck up. Plus, we’d gone once—only shortly after Dakota was released from the rehab center—and the server wouldn’t speak to her. They kept asking Dad what she wanted, as if she couldn’t think for herself.

Dakota pointed a finger at me. She’d painted her nails a matching maroon, but kept them short, because she didn’t need them breaking off when she wheeled her chair. “Don’t say it. It’s been years, and that was one server. I didn’t know how to deal with it back then, but I’m good now.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I grumbled.

“You wanted to, though. I can take care of myself. And that reminds me, when Felipe gets here, do not—under any circumstances—go all protective big brother on me.”

“I’m your little brother.”

“Exactly. Act that way.”

Damn it. She had my number. She stared me down until I gave a reluctant nod. Good thing she hadn’t heard about my little chat with Felipe before this date. She’d string me up by my balls.

Still, hopefully that chat was the reason Felipe had been careful about planning the date and it would be a success for Dakota.

Damn, I really hoped it was a success.

“Be careful with your diet,” I said. “It’ll be tempting to ignore it, especially if you have to make a special request, but⁠—”

“I know, Kit. It’s my body.”

I subsided. “Sorry.”

She’d be horrified if her bowel misfired in the middle of her date. With a spastic bladder and bowel, bathroom accidents could happen—especially if she ate something fatty or spicy.

“Trust me, I did everything possible to ensure smooth sailing on that front.”

I snorted, because I knew that meant she’d taken steps to empty her bowels. It wasn’t the usual information shared between brother and sister, but that ship had sailed so long ago we barely noticed oversharing anymore.

The doorbell rang. She sucked in a sharp breath and wrang her hands. “Oh god, that’s him. What am I doing, Kit? What if it’s a disaster?”

Her about-face was instantaneous.

“Whoa, breathe, hon. Felipe is great.”

“How do you know that?” she said. “Maybe he’ll turn into a jerk who doesn’t even see me.”