Newland or Dash will fuck with you.”
Mother trucker.
My hand curled too tight around my glass, slipping and almost losing purchase as I dragged it closer and took a long sip. “Yet you still asked me out.”
His grin had the straw plopping out of my mouth. Green eyes danced over my lips. “I got done with giving a shit. Let him try.”
Our food arrived, and thankfully, the subject changed to less frustrating topics. Such as movies, Game of Thrones, and the return to school the following week.
“What about Kayla?” I felt comfortable enough to ask, especially since he’d pried about Dash.
He twisted his lips, then sighed. “That got complicated for a bit, which is why I didn’t get in touch right after the party.”
What did that even mean? Judging by the sour pinch to his lips, I’d hit a nerve. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s done now. For good.”
“You had a fight?” While I didn’t mean to pry, I was here. On a date. With him.
He pushed his plate away, then stretched his arms up and over his head. If he was doing it to distract me, it was working. Muscles gathered and contracted in his arms as his fists opened and closed. He yawned, dropping his hands to his lap. “She’d heard about the party, came over to my place, and tried to start some shit.”
“Oh damn.”
Jerking his head, he grimaced. “She can get a little crazy. I wanted to make sure there was no blowback.”
“Blowback?”
He reached over the table, grasping my hand with his. Fingers warm and rough sent flutters pouncing around in my stomach. “I want to keep seeing you.”
“You do?”
His teeth grazed his lip. “Yeah, so I needed to make sure she knew we were done. Which meant fighting some more, and all that fun this is a real breakup stuff.”
I wouldn’t know, but I didn’t want or need to say that.
A warm smile nudged his lips. “Can I show you something?”
“Sure.”
He studied me a moment, and I sat enraptured by the curl of his lashes and the specks of gold in his eyes. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He paid the bill, left a tip, and led me by the hand outside to the parking lot.
Opening my door, I went to climb up when I felt his hands land on my waist, and then I was in the air before my butt hit the seat with a puff.
I laughed, dazed as I tried to right my dress and keep the color of my panties a secret.
My laughter died when he carefully moved me to face where he was still standing in the door, and I saw the intent in his eyes a half second before he tipped my face up. “Is this what you wanted to show me?”
A nod, then his mouth descended. His lips were warm and tasted like barbecue sauce. I let him lead, feeling lightheaded as he pressed harder, hungrier, and pried my lips apart.
His tongue didn’t move in gentle, calculated, swipes or pokes. No, it delved deep, forcing my eyes open as I gasped and pulled back.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Heat crept up my neck, making a beeline for my cheeks. With the moment ruined, I dropped my head, defeated by the truth. “I haven’t exactly kissed a lot of people.”
“I know.”
My head shot up, brows puckering and my eyes searching.
“It’s not a bad thing.” His finger swept across my cheek. “You’re gorgeous, but when you blush, you’re damn near irresistible.”
I smiled, even as my cheeks reddened further. He was real. As real as the blood rushing faster through my veins.
This was happening.
After flashing a quick grin, he fused his mouth to mine for a brief, gentle touch.
His hand stayed in mine the whole ride home, but this time, the silence wasn’t awkward. It was a comfortable silence, and as I gazed out the window to the blurring summer colors of the cove, I couldn’t rid my smile if I tried.
We exchanged numbers before I got out, and I made it to the porch before my smile wilted.
Dash opened the front door right as Byron was pulling away, his truck grumbling down the quiet street.
Dash
“So what did he do, fine dine you with food you hate?” I leaned against the doorjamb, assessing the Barbie who’d taken over my best friend’s body.
What the fuck was that dress? Yeah, it looked great on her, hugging curves I didn’t even realize she’d had, but it wasn’t her.
“Move,” she said, tone crisp, and some juicy