“Right. Fired for some mysterious reason you won’t discuss.” She harrumphs, sounding exactly like our mother.
“Well, it was delightful catching up with you. Let’s do this again real soon.”In about ten to twenty years.
As I hover my finger over the hang-up button, she sniffs loudly as if holding back tears. “Wait. I need you to do something for me.”
“Okay…”
“Check yourself into rehab.”
Oh, for the love of God.Disconnecting, I drop my face in my hands.Dear Jesus, if you’re listening, could you cut me some slack?
Jonathan taps me on the shoulder. “Would you like a vodka tonic? We also have a local craft beer on tap.”
“Maybe later.” Figuring I should seek human company, I go to the gym where I punch a bag for hours.
After, I take a shower and binge on Netflix. At some point, I fall asleep and dream I have blue-goo alien liquids surging through my veins. While icky, it still beats my regular nightmares.
In the morning, pretty certain my blood runs red. I slip into workout clothes, head outside, and run into Dash, quite literally.
~ Chapter 9~
Dash
Hair in a ponytail, tight ass in spandex, and navel exposed by a cropped sweatshirt, Lanita Manuel brings my favorite wet dream to life. As my gaze lifts to the dark circles lining her eyes, guilt rises up from my belly. She’d be better off if she’d never met me.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
I shrug my emotions aside. What’s done is done. All I can do is move forward and try to make up for my past mistakes. “Want to go to the zoo? It’s supposed to be beautiful today.”
“Umm…” Biting her lower lip, she hesitates on the sidewalk, and swivels her head up and down the street. “I was about to take a run.”
“How about I join you, then we go. Truce?” I hold my breath and pray she forgives me because after tossing and turning all night, I realize I can’t let her go. “We should be friendly, at least until we find out who damaged my helicopter.”
Arms across her chest, lids lowered, she backs away. Dammit. I’m losing ground. Time to up my game. “I’ll race you to Starbucks.”
“Good luck, Englishman. By the way, it’s Dunkin’ or nothin’.” As she runs, I keep pace, glad I dressed for any possibility.
I have no idea where we’re going, so at first, let her take the lead. When she accelerates, I’m impressed. About a mile in, my legs burn. Another thirty minutes, I spy the sign, and sprint for the door.
Laughing, she kicks up her heels. Neck and neck we tear down the empty sidewalk and I let her pull ahead. As she’s about to grab the handle, I wrap my hands around her waist, swivel her to my chest, and using my back, open the door.
“I win!”
“Cheater!” Hands on her knees, she huffs and catches her breath. After, she shoots me a bright smile, the likes I’ve not yet seen.
As her entire face lights up, I cough, and turn away to hide my rising desire. I will not fuck up and spook her again. This time, I’m going to play it cool.
We order and sit by the window, people watching. Then, as she sips her cold mocha latte, her eyes lift to mine. “I’m sorry… about, well… everything.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” I clear my throat. “Let’s rewind. Hi, I’m Dashiell Montclair. Glad to meet you.”
The tough part over, we converse about the weather and places we’ve traveled. I find out, like my father, her mother was born in London.
“Small world. Do you go back often?” As she tucks a loose lock of hair behind her ear, my fingers itch to feel it’s soft silkiness.
“I return every couple of months. Because of his charities, my dad has a lot of social obligations and drags me along as his date.”Robin Hood needs a merry man at his side, or so he claims.
She nods. “Right. I read about you guys.”
