Indigo Nights (Nights #3)(54)

“I’m not really used to having to remind myself to put my sobriety first. Do you know what I mean?”

The girls shook their heads.

“It’s just, when I’m with Dylan, it’s easy to forget I’m an alcoholic.” I paused, trying to think how best to say it. “I’m not saying I’ve had the urge to drink, just that not drinking isn’t my focus when I’m around him.”

Haven nodded. “Well, that sounds like he’s a man who might just deserve you.”

“You think that’s a good thing?” I asked. I was pretty sure that the way he shifted my focus had been one of the reasons I’d been ignoring that I was in love with Dylan. If he made me forget I was an alcoholic, would that mean I was more likely to drink?

“It’s a great thing. You keep telling me that you want sobriety to be at the center of your life and not alcoholism.”

I nodded. That was true. Being with Dylan didn’t make me want to drink. It made me forget to think about drinking in the first place.

Ash tilted her head and smiled. “I told you you were next.”

Perhaps Ash had been right. Maybe it was my time to find my Prince Charming.

A piercing screech of a smoke alarm bled through our conversation and Haven leapt to her feet. “Shit. So much for Sophia’s nap.” She grabbed a broom and poked at the alarm.

The door started to open. “Okay, stop talking penises, we’re coming in,” Luke shouted just as the alarm stopped.

The boys filed in, laughing and chatting as if they’d all been friends for years. Dylan’s gaze immediately found me. It was so good to have him here. I just hoped he felt the same.

About everything.



We finally took our seats around the table, everyone making room to ensure that Dylan and I sat next to each other. Dinner was Jake’s responsibility, which normally meant we got some kind of stew, but today we had lamb tagine.

“So you all have dinner together every week?” Dylan asked as he passed his plate to Jake, who was dishing up food.

“Most weeks. We live just around the corner, and Beth’s not far away,” Ash said.

“And you three have known each other since—”

“Forever,” Luke interrupted.

Dylan kissed me on the temple. I was surprised at how demonstrative he was. I reached across his lap and he grabbed my hand, clasping his fingers through mine.

As I looked back at the table, I locked eyes with Haven.

“When you boys were off playing pool, we told Beth how together you two look,” Haven said to Dylan.

He nodded. “I guess that’s how it feels, for me at least.”

I squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.

“So, you’re serious about her?” Jake asked.

“Jake. No,” I said.

Dylan kissed my head again. “It’s okay, Beth.” He looked toward Jake. “Yes, I’m serious about your sister. It didn’t start out that way. To be honest, it’s taken me a little by surprise, but in my experience, sometimes the best things in life are the ones you least expect.”

My stomach flipped and tumbled, but Dylan wasn’t done.

“I think you’re very special.” He brushed his thumb across my cheekbone. I knew how special I was to him. But did that mean he loved me?

Being with Dylan made me realize what I should have waited for. I wished I’d just been patient in the knowledge that he’d come to me rather than waste time on people who didn’t deserve my love.

“I think you’re special, too.” My voice was small and my words few. I worried if I said more I’d lose it and ask him if he loved me.

His smile reached his indigo eyes and I craned my neck to receive a kiss from him. As much as I wished we were alone, it was nice to share this moment with my family. Hopefully Jake would lay off a little now.

I took a breath; Dylan’s kiss affected me like a muscle relaxant. “But just because I’m special doesn’t mean the hot sex has to mellow, right?”

He chuckled. “Give me a break, darlin’, I’m meeting your family for the first time. You can’t be saying shit like that.”

“Yeah, for Christ’s sake, Beth. I don’t want to hear it,” Jake said, scowling at me.

I shrugged as Haven and Ash laughed. The hot sex was an important thing to get clear. For now, I had to focus on how he treated me and how he made me feel rather than the words he was using.



Dylan

I put my suitcase in the cab while Beth gave the driver her address. Dinner with her family had been interesting. Good.

I’d said that I was serious about her, and I was. I wanted them to know my feelings for Beth were more than I’d ever thought they could be. Beth had said a similar thing on the way back from the airport. I could tell how serious I was, not just from how I felt about Beth, but because of what I did for her. That I was here in London, meeting her family, spoke volumes. I wanted to see her all the time and know every part of her, inside and out. I wanted her to know how I felt.

Beth’s family clearly loved her, which suited me. Although I was pleased to have met her family, I was overdue alone time with her. I wasn’t sure she was going to survive the cab journey fully clothed. The admissions we’d made to each other, although skirting around the heart of the truth, were enough to make me feel more drawn to her than usual.