Straightening my posture to match his, I reply, “I’m guessing when you say this whole thing, you’re referring to you and me?”
With his arms crossed, he leans in. “I was stupid to think this was something I wanted. I was listening to everyone else around me when I should’ve just stayed true to what has always worked.”
I step around the island, now within reach of him. “I’m not going to let you do this, Dylan.”
Letting out a boom of laughter, he leans in further. “No woman’s ever been able to get her nails into me; do you honestly think you of all people can?”
“I know what you’re doing, Dylan. Believe it or not, I do have you figured out. I won’t let you push me away this time. This shield you’ve put up is keeping out the bad but also the good. Dylan, you just need to let me in.” I reach for his hand, taking it in mine with no resistance. “I’m not out to hurt you.”
“Velyn, you say that now, but it’ll change,” he murmurs, his belief heard to be genuine in his tone.
I look into his eyes, but he turns away. “Dylan, look at me.” I grab his chin, turning his head back. “Don’t look away. I’m right here and I need you to really look at me. You say you shouldn’t have listened to the people around you, then do me a favor and stop listening to the ill-intentioned words of your father, and listen to yourself for once.”
He tries to pull away, but I grab both of his hands, bringing them around my waist, and that’s when I feel it…the tremble. I bring my hands to his face. “Dylan, why did you bring me here?” His expression remains stoic. “Please, tell me.”
With his eyes searching mine, he tightens his grip, rubbing my sides gently with his thumbs. “I wanted to show you.”
“Show me what?” I ask, prompting for more.
“What my life was supposed to be like. A time when I was happy.” It’s back; the vulnerability and the innocence of him wanting what was taken away.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer and whispering in his ear, “Give me a chance to make you happy.”
He moves his lips closer, searching for mine. The kisses start soft, slow, and planned, as if though each one serves a purpose. Then effortlessly, he lifts me on the counter, our lips never losing touch.
This exact moment is when I know without a doubt that everything is going to change for us, and good or bad, I have a feeling it’s going to be unforgettable.
Chapter 17 Dylan
“Okay, let’s go over the rules.”
Velyn and I both look to my brother, who has placed himself right in between us.
“Chase, we’re going to see a movie—there are no rules other than sit down, shut up, and phones off,” I say.
He looks to me then to Velyn. “Oh, how soon you forget. Remember last week’s date night? With how the two of you were carrying on, you would’ve thought we had slipped into a peep show.”
I smile at the memory then look at Chase. “I would like to point out where you mentioned, ‘date night.’ As in a boy and a girl. A couple. Not a boy, a girl, and a boy’s little brother.”
“Well, I would like to take this time also to point out that Velyn and I made a pact. She promised that even though she was now your girlfriend, I would not become irrelevant.”
I look to Velyn, who’s currently happily indulging in a bucket of popcorn. “What pact?”
She looks to me with a mouth full, then swallowing says, “It was a pinkie swear, babe. He got me with those baby blues and thick lashes—I couldn’t refuse.”
I let out a sigh as though inconvenienced, but they know I’m not. Not in the least. I honestly love that Velyn makes it a point to include Chase on our date nights. I love my brother, and knowing that Chase is as important to her as he is to me, makes it feel right that I could definitely fall in love with her—if I’m not starting to already.
It’s been two months since that day at the cabin, and things with Velyn and I are good. She has her moments as do I; however, hers have more to do with her father than anything else. It angers me to no end the amount of bullshit she puts up with from him. But I guess in a way that’s what makes me believe in her. Any person who’s willing to stick through that much shit with just the smallest glimmer of hope has to be one exceptional human being.
Chase moves forward. “I call the back. In case you two decide to get handsy again, I don’t want another thirty-minute lecture from the offended elderly couple behind us. I’m pretty sure last week the wife said something about a public flogging for indecency.”
I look to Velyn with a brow wiggle, and she breaks out in laughter which gets Chase’s attention. “You think that’s funny? I’ll be sure to let Pearl and Henry know you thought so. We have Euchre night planned this Friday.”
“Pearl and Henry?” I question.
Chase nods. “Yep, and let me tell you that Pearl holds no prisoners in negotiations. I had to promise to be a fourth so that we wouldn’t get banned from the theatre.”
“Who’s your partner?” Velyn asks.
“Her granddaughter.”
Velyn and I look to each other. “Set-up!”
Chase waves us off. “Doubtful, she’s in her forties.”
I laugh. “Well, hello, Mrs. Robinson.”
Both my brother and Velyn turn to me, brows raised. “What? I can do metaphors too.”
Velyn moves over, wrapping her arm around my waist, taking me into a side hug. “We know, babe, it’s just,
