“Of course I gave a shit,” I say quickly. “I’ve never stopped caring about you, Dash.”
He looks straight ahead and says, “After we lost Max, you let me go as well. Almost like you wanted a fresh start, and I was just a reminder of what life was like when we had Max with us. You just fucking let go, Vi. I get Max was everything to you, but I should have meant something to you too.”
Is that what I did?
I consider his words and realise there might be an ounce of truth to them, even if that’s not what I set out to do. Maybe subconsciously I made the decision to do that as a coping mechanism?
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Dash, and I’m sorry. I didn’t even realise that’s what I did until you just said it.” I pause, swallowing hard. “You always meant something to me. You still do, and you always will.”
“You need to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. I know we’re both different people now, but at the same time, I feel like I still know you, like not that much time has passed. I just know you, Vi. And I want you.”
“I want you too,” I admit, putting my hand over his. “Everything else is just details.”
He glances at me before looking back to the road. “I think that’s the best thing you could have said.”
“We don’t have to rush into anything,” I say quickly. “I mean, maybe we could go on a few dates and see—”
“I won’t push you, Vi. We can take things slowly. I’m just happy to have you back in my life; you have no idea,” he says, jaw tightening. “It’s just me, you know? The guy you thought was yelling at his girlfriend on the first day back at school for wearing a short dress.”
I laugh at that, remembering that day like it was yesterday. “It was a short skirt, not a short dress. You were an asshole to me at the start.”
“I’d never met anyone like you,” he says, shaking his head. “I didn’t know how to handle it. You were getting to me so much, but I had no idea why. It took me a little while to figure out it was because I liked you.”
“Well, I’m glad you finally figured it out,” I say, squeezing his hand. “Don’t you think it’s weird how comfortable it feels between us? You were right when you said it feels like no time has passed.”
He parks the car and turns to face me. “I know, and I don’t want to freak you out, but I really want to kiss you right now.”
I wanted to kiss him too, yet it did feel weird, considering he only just broke up with his girlfriend.
“Can we wait?” I ask him, shifting in my seat. “You only just broke up with her, and it’s just...”
“I get it,” he says, cupping my cheek. “I said I wouldn’t push you, and I won’t. I’m just fucking greedy for you.” He smirks. “But I can control myself. Don’t move.”
He gets out of the car and opens my door.
“Thank you,” I tell him. “But it’s not necessary, Dash. I can open my own door.”
“And now she’s complaining about me being a gentleman,” he mutters, sounding amused.
He takes my hand in his, lacing our fingers as we walk into the restaurant.
Chapter Eleven
“That’s not how I remember this story at all,” I say to Dash, laughing so hard that people are starting to stare. “I came over to drop your homework off. The teacher asked me; I didn’t volunteer. And how was I meant to know you’d open the door half naked?”
“I was so stressed out that day,” he admits. “The twins were sick and extremely grumpy. I’d had a fight with my mum over me having to miss school because she couldn’t miss work. It was just a really shit day. And then you come in, sort the twins out, feed us all, and get them to sleep without a fuss.” He reaches over and takes my hand. “It was probably one of the nicest things anyone had done for me. And you didn’t even want anything in return.”
“I got a rose, though,” I say, smiling gently at him. “You had so much on your shoulders at such a young age. Honestly, you should be so proud of everything you did for your family. At the time, though, I remember being angry on your behalf and wanting to stick up for you.”
“Always sticking up for the underdog.”
“You were never the underdog,” I say, rolling my eyes at him. “You always overcame everything that was thrown at you.”
“Being weak was a luxury I couldn’t afford,” he says, smiling sadly. “I had to keep everything together for my sisters, and mum had to work to provide for us, so she was always gone. It could have always been worse.”
Not every boy his age would have stepped up to the plate, though. I don’t think he knows just how amazing of a person he truly is.
“What do you want for dessert?” he asks, scanning the menu.
“I’m too full for dessert.”
“We could share one,” he suggests, studying me. “I really don’t want this night to end.”
I duck my head and look at the menu. “How about some cheesecake?”
“Cheesecake sounds perfect to me,” he replies, and I can still feel his gaze on me.
The truth is, I don’t want this night to end either. But it is insane to just start something like this, after not seeing each other for so long, and because of Vanessa. My head and my heart are definitely at war, and I have no idea who will win the battle.
We share a cookies-and-cream cheesecake, and Dash pays the bill. I tell him that I’m paying the next time, which earns me a dirty look I choose to ignore.
“You’re not paying any time,” he says, wrapping his arm around me. “You can argue all you want, but that’s one thing I’m not going to compromise on.”
“Why not?” I ask curiously. “I have a job and earn money too, you know. Equality and all that.”
He kisses my temple. “Come on. You can argue with me in the car.”
I do just that.
When we get back to my house, he walks me to the door. We hug goodbye, and he’s about to leave, when in that split second, I change my mind.
I kiss him.
I think it catches him off guard at first, but then he’s kissing me back, hands in my hair, my back pressed up against the door, our mouths telling each other things that words never could do. He tastes like cheesecake, sweet and delicious, and his kisses are addictive. I run my fingers over the dark stubble on his cheek and suck on his lower lip before pulling away.
“Wow,” is all I can think to say.
He smiles then leans forward for another kiss, this time sweet and soft.
“Do you feel it?” he asks, pushing my hair back behind my ear.
“I feel something,” I blurt out, pushing my body up against his.
He chuckles and kisses just underneath my ear. “Not that. The connection, can’t you feel it?”
I don’t know what exactly it is I feel, but it’s taking over my body, clouding my vision, and sweeping through my senses.
It’s consuming me.
“When will I see you next?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my face in his shoulder.
“Tomorrow,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “I’ll cook for you at my house. How does that sound?”
“It sounds good,” I say then kiss his lips once more. “Goodnight, Dash.”
“Goodnight, Vi,” he says, reluctantly letting go of me and taking a step back.
I close the door and lock it behind me, but just stand there for a few moments, an almost foreign smile on my face.
Oh, how things can change so much in only a few days.
*****
“You’re here!” Summer yells as I walk into Knox Tavern.
“Of course I’m here,” I say, sitting down on one of the barstools. “You rang me a million times. Did Xander give you my number?”
“I stole it from his phone,” she confesses, pouring me a gin and tonic without even asking and sliding it over to me. “I’m on my lunch break.”
“One drink won’t kill you,” she says, leaning on the bar. “Now spill, tell me everything. No detail is too insignificant.”