Braxton groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “It can’t happen. You know that.”
“And why not?” Folding both arms over her chest, she narrowed her eyes.
How did I end up in the middle of this again? Oh yeah, by deciding it was a good idea to have an anonymous one-night stand. How could I forget?
“Because they work together!” My eyes widened at Braxton’s raised voice. It was a rarity, and I’d only ever heard it once before—the day he screamed and shoved Maddox on the ice at practice. And yet again, I was the cause.
Dakota scoffed. “Yeah, because workplace romances never happen.”
“It’s not the same,” he countered. “This isn’t some fictional book. This is your best friend’s life!”
“Is it so wrong for me to want to see her happy? Maddox is one of the good ones, you know that. And there’s clearly something there.”
“Tell me this, Dakota. What happens if the two of them don’t get the happy ending, huh? Not everyone decides to spend the rest of their life with the first guy they date.”
He had a point there. Braxton was Dakota’s first everything. She didn’t know what it was like to wade through the duds of the dating pool, to have guys not call her back, to watch as a guy you liked moved on with a new girl. But she had witnessed heartbreak. Her mom had been so besotted with her dad that she let it wreck her life, and that had left a lasting impression on my best friend. It was no small miracle that she’d let Braxton in, opening her heart to him after the disaster of her childhood.
“But what if heisthe right one?” Dakota’s voice betrayed how passionately she believed something could be found between me and Maddox.
Braxton challenged further, “If it doesn’t work out, is she expected to pretend like it never happened? With the amount of time they spend together professionally? He’s not going to walk away from his position, so is she the one who has to bow out? Hasn’t shebeen through enough?”
I needed to put an end to this. I couldn’t have my bad decisions driving a wedge between my best friend and the man she loved.
“Does anyone care that I might have an opinion on the matter?” I interrupted their heated debate.
Both heads turned in my direction. Judging by the guilty expressions on their faces, they’d forgotten I was in the room as they argued overmylove life—or lack thereof.
The fire in Dakota’s eyes extinguished, and she leaned forward to give me a hug. “Sorry, babe. You know I only want what’s best for you.”
“I know.” I tightened my arms around her. “I just don’t think Maddox is it.”
Sighing, she pulled away. A sad smile tugged at her lips as she nodded. “I guess. Do you think if Nix hadn’t—” Dakota paused, a shudder rolling through her body at the mention of his name. “Do you think if things had been different back in Hartford, you might have been open to the possibility?”
Reaching out, I squeezed her hand, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t even be here now if it weren’t for him.”
“Right. Of course. Don’t know what I was thinking.” She stood, her fingers slipping from my grasp. “I think we need a reset. I’m gonna go use the bathroom, and when I come back, we are going to start this night over again.”
“Sounds great,” I replied.
The second he heard the door close to the powder room down the hall, Braxton took her seat on the couch.
“Braxton, look—”
“We don’t have much time.” He cut me off, peeking over my shoulder toward where Dakota had disappeared.
“Excuse me?”
“I know it’s asking a lot, but I need you to come to Pipes on Tuesday night.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Care to explain why you’re asking me to return to the scene of the crime? Especially after that really convincing display you just put on?”
“I’m gonna propose to Dakota.”
A gasp was torn from my throat, and both hands flew to cover my open mouth. I knew it was coming, but I hadn’t expected to be invited to the show.
My heart swelled for my best friend. She deserved the kind of love Braxton showered upon her.
A pleased smirk graced Braxton’s face at having surprised me. “Thought it might be special since the Comets are coming to town a day early.”
