Page 25 of Badd Love
I shrugged. "I think they have a better percentage of successful relationships than other dating shows, but most don't, so no, not really."
"Interesting," he said. "Well, play that shit, babe. You've got my interest."
"Wait, really?"
He nodded. “Yeah, it’s an interesting premise. I still think dating shows as a genre are sadistic bullshit, but this sounds kinda different."
We talked as much as we watched. We drank box wine, ate junk food, and talked about dating shows and reality TV in general. He told me some stories—which seemed highly unlikely to be true—about his family history when it came to relationships.
"Wait, so…your Aunt Joss fell into the Passage in the middle of the winter, your uncle Lucian jumped in and saved her…andthat'stheir meet-cute?That'show they met? And they're still together?"
"I mean, there's a lot more to it, but yeah. All my aunts and uncles have these crazy, interesting stories. Shit, Delia met Hunter when he came up here to try and buy out our company."
I groaned. "Can we not talk about Hunter Hawkins, please?"
He cackled. "And why would that be, Lindsey?"
“Because I’ve harbored a not-so-secret crush on the man for years…as in I used to make collages of cut-outs of him from magazines back in his billionaire playboy days." I covered my face. "And now he's married to my best friend's husband's sister. It just feels like a cruel, cosmic joke."
Dane, to my surprise, didn't make fun of me. "Yeah, I get it. Hawk is…he's even cooler in real life. It can be hard to not feel a little inferior around the pretty bastard, to be honest."
"Hawk? You call himHawk?" I groaned. "Comeon.”
"It's his nickname for friends and family. Although Dee doesn't call him that." He laughed. “You really do have it bad, don't you?"
"I do. It's embarrassing. I know it's dumb. I've always known it was just a stupid, childish celebrity crush. It's just a funny irony that he ends up in the orbit of my life."
The conversation tapered off, then, as I got more and more drowsy. I felt myself slipping toward sleep and then nodding off. At some point, I became vaguely aware that the TV sounds had shifted from my show to what sounded like a nature documentary. Something firm was under my cheek. Warm, firm, and more comfortable than any pillow.
Three-quarters asleep, I found myself wondering at something: at no point since he'd been here had Dane made any kind of move or play. Even his flirtation was restrained, and I had a feeling flirty was a core trait for him. He hadn't touched me. Hadn't asked any hard or deep questions. Hadn't demanded answers as to why I'd behaved like I had, even though he'd been pushing for those answers when he was on the other side of the door.
He'd just…hung out with me.
"Dane?" I mumbled.
"Yeah, Linz?"
"I thought you were going to demand answers."
"Changed my mind."
"I thought you'd try to kiss me or something."
"Much as a big part of me wants to more than anything…no."
"Why? To both."
His arm encircled my shoulder, held me against him. “Because that's not what you need right now, Lindsey."
I felt a hot bubble in my throat. Turmoil in my heart. Confusion in my mind.
I let him in, fully expecting to have to explain why I'm not in a frisky mood. I expected to have to unearth all my shit for him, because he absolutely deserves an explanation.
Instead, he was just…my friend.
When it would appear, that's exactly what I needed.
Dane rotated ninety degrees on the couch, taking me with him as he stretched out. My face was on his chest, his arm slung low over my back. He snagged the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over us both.
