Page 64 of It's About Time
“I think Gorilla Man is here for good reason,” my brother adds. “I just…”
Leaning forward in my chair, I stare straight into his eyes. “Let’s be honest. You won’t be happy with any man I date, so be grateful that I’m at least pretending to date one that’s one of your best friends.”
His face softens and he reaches out for my hand. “Just…be careful. Elliot has been through a lot—and so have you—and I guess I’m just afraid of lines getting blurred and you getting hurt.”
I cast my gaze over to Elodie and then back to him. “Sort of like the ones that got blurred between you and your nanny?”
Elodie laughs but Henley remains stoic. “Dil, I remember what that breakup with Vinnie did to you.”
I release his hand and lean back in my chair. “Yeah, well, I’m not stupid enough to fall that hard for a guy again.”
Elodie clicks her tongue. “Don’t jinx yourself, Dil. Sometimes things happen in a way we never expected.”
Nick enters the kitchen now, striding right over to Carol and kissing her on the cheek. “What’s everyone talking about?”
“Oh, how Dilynne and Elliot are fake engaged and Henley doesn’t know how to feel about it,” Carol replies.
Nick turns to me. “You and Elliot are engaged?”
I blow out a breath before I stand. “It’s a long story.”
Nick wraps his arm around my shoulder, guiding me toward the garage. “Well, luckily, I’m retired and don’t have anything else to do, so looks like you’re gonna fill me in.”
***
After hearing about the events that have led up to now, Nick sighs heavily. “Well, I can see why you two think this might help your situations, but I have to say, I’m a little surprised that you’re the one who came up with this plan.”
Leaning back in my rocking chair, I let my gaze drift across the garage.
I have so many memories from my teen years of spending time in here with Nick, learning all I could about cars, us even learning together. He’s the one who got me hooked on the auto auctions on the History Channel shortly after Henley and I got placed with him and Carol. And even though Henley thinks I don’t know, I’m completely aware of how hard he fought for us to stay with them, including writing a letter to the deputy district attorney so we wouldn’t have to be moved to another family again.
I wouldn’t be who I am today without Nick and Carol’s influence, which is why I find myself growing emotional the longer that we sit here.
“Hey.” Nick reaches out for my hand from his rocking chair next to me. “What’s going through that head of yours?”
I swipe away the tear that’s falling down my cheek with my free hand, avoiding his gaze. “I guess I just don’t want you to think less of me.”
Nick scoffs. “I can’t believe you’d think I ever would.” I shake my head but remain silent. “I just remember how Elliot’s words affected you when you were teens, so…”
Twisting to face him, I shrug. “It was a long time ago.”
“True. But he made you doubt yourself.”
“He did, but I also know that I wouldn’t have fought so hard to make something of myself if I hadn’t overheard that conversation.”
Nick nods. “I can see that. So now…”
“Now, we’re grown and I don’t know…” Blowing out a breath, I force myself to relax my shoulders. “I feel like we have more in common than I thought, particularly with our exes.”
“You know there’s nothing Vinnie can say to take credit for your success now, right?”
“Trust me, I know. But just being in the same room with him again is going to be irritating enough.”
“I told you I would go with you, Dilynne.”
My thumb rubs over the top of his hand. “I know you did, but I kind of feel like bringing my dad might be worse than bringing Elliot.”
Nick chuckles. “Yeah, I guess you have a point there.” He’s silent for a beat before he speaks again. “You know I’m so damn proud of you, right kiddo?”
