What the hell was happening?
“You’re going to have to share with me what I did wrong that caused you to dismiss me so carelessly.”
“Me dismissing you?” The quick whip of Dallas’s head jerking toward Greer had him fearing whiplash. “I hadn’t left your house for thirty damn hours and you’re huddled up with another guy?”
The accusation was impossible to understand. Greer had made himself sick with all the worry and pain of being rejected by his one. Another man? He wished he could think of another man. Every thought, every day was of Dallas. Only Dallas. “What’re you talking about? I haven’t been with anyone but you since the first night I saw you at the club.”
“I saw you, Greer.” Dallas’s haughtiness laced every word. “I drove to your house before my shift because I couldn’t stay away. I missed you. I believed your lies. When I pulled up, you were in the arms of another dude. I fucking saw you.”
Of course, he hadn’t been with anyone and surely hadn’t had another man at his house. “What day was it?” Greer shot back, racking his brain for what Dallas could have possibly seen and misinterpreted.
“Because it happened more than once?” Dallas gave an exaggerated roll of the eyes and turned away. “I’m dealing with a lot right now. You really fucked with my head. It’s not right. Why does everyone fuck with my head? I try to be a good guy. I don’t play your games. Can you just take me home or drop me off in Corsicana? I can’t do this with you. I’ll get myself home.”
“Dallas. I sat home alone every night waiting until your ten o’clock class began. I sat on my sofa and watched you teach your class then sent you a single text message. I only allowed myself to say good night, not the millions of words I wanted to use to beg you to pay attention to me. Outside of going to work, that was the entirety of my week. I’m honestly telling you the truth. I haven’t been eating or sleeping. The only people who came to my house were my sister and her husband—my best friend, Beau. That was Tuesday afternoon. Kailey found out she’s pregnant and they came to share their news. I swear those are the only people who have been at my house.”
It took several long moments before Dallas finally turned, looking at him, blinking. The uncertainty staring at him had to mean Dallas wanted to believe Greer, but the guarded man was scared. Greer slowed the car until he was able to pull to the side of the road.
The relief was staggering to know Dallas had in fact come to Greer this week. Everything Greer had done to bring them together had been the right decision. All the crippling tension from such steep rejection began to ease. He let out a stabilizing breath, absorbing yet another twist in the path to their relationship.
Greer had pushed forward, remembering their extraordinary time together, trying to ignore the glaring fact that Dallas had walked away from him without a backward glance. Yet, he hadn’t. Dallas had come to him.
All the restraint Greer had used to stay quiet, shattered like a break in the dam. His truth tumbled from his lips. “Tuesday afternoon, after I took over the management of your account, I met with your brothers. I did both of those to be closer to you. To show you we could work together while being on the downlow. When I got home, my sister was at my house. My family isn’t close like yours. She’s all I’ve got. Kailey had been to the doctor that afternoon. Beau’s a physician who works a million hours. When I saw them, I thought the worst. It never occurred to me that they came to tell me good news. I was relieved and Beau probably hugged me, I usually don’t instigate those things. I may have hugged him back. Kailey was there. She must have been the first through the door if you didn’t see her. That’s all that happened. It’s all verifiable. I’m super aware of you. I can’t believe you drove down my street and I didn’t feel you there.”
As Greer spoke, Dallas visibly eased. Yet, his words still held a hint of skepticism. “It makes sense that you don’t believe in monogamy. Not that we’re to that point…”
Greer reached inside his breast pocket for his cell phone. He quickly found a picture of Beau. “Is this him?”
Dallas took the phone, blinking and squinting as his eyes adjusted to the bright light illuminating his stunning face. Greer gave a small smile. All between them was not lost. Dallas had come to him. Greer put the car in gear and started them back onto the highway. “Take a look through my phone. You’ll see some pictures of you in there. Look at all my social media. I have Twitter, Facebook, Tinder, Scruff…” Greer chuckled at his little joke. “You pegged me. I’ve liked to slut around, but not since I’ve met you. Monogamy’s an easy commitment to give to you. I feel like it’s a given for anyone who enters into a relationship with you,” Greer said, picking up speed, watching the road through his mirrors. “We’ve got a long way to go, and it’s late. We’ll talk it out when we get there.”