Chapter 41 Treat Her Well
TREAT HER WELL
DYLAN
“So,” Amanda said slowly. “You actually managed to woo Katie, huh?”
My sister didn’t waste any time.
The second I slid into the cafe booth across from her, she folded her arms, leaned back, and gave me that older-sister glare that used to make me squirm as a kid.
I smirked. “Woo? Really, Amanda? And why wouldn’t I? I’m so charming.”
She sipped her latte. “What else should I call it? Seduction? Did you blackmail her?”
I didn’t reply, ordering an iced mocha for myself. I needed some sugar in my system if I was going to talk about my love-life with my elder sister.
“You know I’m surprised and impressed.” She leaned in and said, “Everyone in the town knew you were obsessed with her. Except Katie.”
Heat crept up my neck. “Obsessed is a strong word.”
“Mmhm.” She narrowed her eyes. “You used to ‘accidentally’ jog past her house when you were sixteen. You followed her art competitions as if they were the Super Bowl. And you’d start stuttering whenever she came around at our place. Don’t play dumb with me, Dylan.”
Shit. I dropped my face into my hands. “You’re never gonna let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope.” She grinned. “So you’re not just screwing around?”
“No.” I lifted my head, meeting her gaze. “This isn’t some game. I… I care about her.”
Something softened in her expression. I asked, “So you’re not mad at me? Katie? Us?”
“I was never mad,” she said, shrugging. “Just disappointed that you both went behind my back to…” She waved her hand. “Bump uglies, or whatever you kids call it.”
I groaned. “Amanda, no one—”
“You are adults. And honestly? I’m glad you finally grew the balls to ask her out.”
“Hey!”
“What? I had to say it.” She laughed. Then her smile vanished. “But Dylan… if you hurt her, I’m kicking you out.”
“I would never,” I said instantly, chest tightening at the thought of hurting her.
“Good.” She nodded and patted my shoulder. “Treat her well.”
I should’ve felt relief after that. And I did. Mostly. But the unease settled back in when I thought about Katie at work. With that fuck-face.
That prick had been sniffing around her for months, maybe years. Yeah, she’d told him she liked someone else, told him she had a boyfriend, but I knew guys like him. He was entitled and smug, and Katie ghosting him at the restaurant must have hurt his weak ego.
He would stoop low enough to hurt her. I couldn’t let that happen. The thought of it gnawed at me until I couldn’t take it anymore.
* * *
Two days later, I was walking into her office building with a takeout bag hooked in my hand. It was lunch. A reminder that I was real, solid, and hers.
It felt nice to tell the receptionist that I was there to see my girlfriend.
But when I reached her door, my stomach knotted. Through the glass wall, I saw Justin standing inside her office. Katie’s arms were crossed, her shoulders tight.
I hated how my pulse raced, hated how every instinct screamed to go in there and drag him out.
Instead, I forced myself to knock lightly.
Katie looked up. Relief flooded her face, and she waved me in. “Dylan,” she said quickly. “You brought lunch?”
“Yeah.” I held up the bag, eyes flicking to Justin. “Thought you might need a break, darling.”
Justin’s scoff made me want to break his jaw, but Katie’s hand brushed my arm, grounding me. “Stay,” she murmured as if I was her dog, growling at Justin. She was right. I was. “Eat with me here.”
So I did, once that fuckface left. We set up at her desk, and she slid the takeout containers closer. Her eyebrows were furrowed.
“You okay?” I asked.
“It’s just work.” She nodded, though the tension didn’t fade. “He’s being… difficult.”
Difficult. That was one way to put it.
I handed her chopsticks and tried to focus on something lighter. “I talked to Amanda.”
Her eyes widened. “And?”
“And she’s not disappointed in us. Not anymore. She basically gave me her blessing—as long as I don’t screw this up.”
Katie laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tightness in my chest. “That’s good. I was worried.”
“Don’t be,” I said, leaning closer. “She knows how much I—” I caught myself and cleared my throat. “She knows how much I’m into you.”
Color bloomed on her cheeks, making me smile. She leaned across the desk and kissed me. The shyness of her kiss made me grin.
I didn’t have anything to worry about. Katie liked me.
But then shouting erupted down the hall.
I spoke too soon?
Katie pulled back and frowned. “What’s going on?”
We stepped out together, following the noise to the main hallway. A cluster of employees stood around as Justin waved a file in the air, his voice sharp.
“This is unacceptable! Who signed off on this design? Katie did, didn’t she? Always rushing, always distracted—”
Katie froze beside me.
“Watch your mouth,” I said, keeping my voice low, my hand wrapping around hers.
Justin sneered as he looked at me. “This isn’t your business.”
“The hell it isn’t. You screw up your own fucking work and try to pin it on her?” I glared at him, glad I had a few inches over him that made his neck crane. “That’s not happening.”
Gasps and whispers surrounded us.
Katie tugged at my arm. “Dylan, stop—”
But I couldn’t. I was glad to see Justin’s eyes wide when he took a step back from me. I stepped closer, my voice was on edge. “If you ever try to drag her down again, I’ll cut your—”
“Dylan!” Katie’s sharp tone cut through my anger. Her fingers dug into my arm. “Please. Stop.”
I looked at her. Really looked. She wasn’t angry at him and she was looking at me as if I were a stranger.
That realization made my stomach drop.
She turned to the crowd, straightening her spine, and said in a professional tone. “Everyone, return to your stations. I’ll handle this.”
The authority in her voice made people scatter, leaving us and Justin.
“Dylan.” Katie’s voice was barely a whisper when she said, “Go.”
I stared at her. “Katie—”
“Please leave,” she said with a cold look in her eyes. “Let me deal with this. On my own.”
It felt like betrayal, like she was choosing him over me, but I knew it wasn’t that simple. She wanted control. She needed it, and here I was, blowing up in her workplace like some obsessed fool.
My throat worked, but no words came. Finally, I turned on my heel and left, my fists clenched so tight that my knuckles turned pale.
Back in my car, the silence felt deafening.
I gripped the wheel, staring at the dashboard without seeing it. Rage pulsed in my veins. It’s all that prick’s fault!
Maybe she would never see me as more than a mistake. And she would leave me in the dust, just as I had hoped for the worst.
I had told Amanda I would never hurt Katie, and I wouldn’t. But damn if it didn’t feel like Katie had just carved my heart open and left me bleeding.
I leaned back, closing my eyes. For the first time, I didn’t know what to do.