Oh, and pack an overnight bag.
I smile so hard that my face hurts.
At five, I quickly close the laptop and put a sign up on the counter. I text Gran to let her know I’ll be out tonight. She responds with a simple,Have fun!even though I know what their plans are. Tonight, the Bees are getting together to spy on Mia, after Lucille suggested it this morning at breakfast. I wanted to ask questions but decided to stay out of it.
I go upstairs and shower, taking my time because I can’t remember the last time I’ve been on arealdate. Years. Adam didn’t try, which is so fucking sad to think about. I shave my legs and use my body scrub. I dry my hair and leave it down because he likes it that way. He’s never said so, but his fingers find their way through it when we’re close. He tucks it behind my ear or twists it in his finger.
The dress fits like he had me measured in my sleep. The silk sits against my body without pulling or bunching, and the V-neck is exactly the right amount of recklessness. I step into the Louboutins and gain three inches, noticing how my entire posture changes. I put on mascara, some red lipstick, and a pair of gold earrings I borrowed from Josie two months ago.Whoops.
When I look in the mirror, I don’t get that overwhelming dread that I don’t belong with him, even if some people on the internet think that. It’s never been about his money or his position or who he knows. Those are things we never talk about because they don’t matter enough to discuss.
At six fifty, I walk down the stairs with a small duffel in my hand. I packed several outfits because I have no clue where we’re going. With Dyson, guessing is impossible.
The stairs open up, and Dyson is already there, waiting for me dressed in navy slacks and a white linen shirt with the sleevesrolled to his forearms. His hair is pushed back, and he smells like trouble. He looks up at me, and I swear he stops breathing.
His mouth opens and closes as he drinks me in. Those blue eyes trail from my eyes to my lips, down to my feet and back up again.
“Hi,” I say, chuckling. “You’re staring.”
“You’re gorgeous.” He moves toward me, tilting my chin up to his face. “I’m so lucky.”
I blink up at him, giving him a soft smile. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be staying at the B&B tonight and ordering a pizza.”
“We can’t have that,” he says, leaning in and brushing his lips against mine.
When I pull away, the look on his face is worth every second I spent getting ready.
He grabs my hand and leads me outside, where a car is sitting.
“Wow, you can drive?” I smirk. “Most guys like you …”
“Oh, fuck off,” he says.
Gran’s sitting at a picnic table, watching us.
“Ooh la la. Lookin’ good, kiddos!” she yells, raising her wineglass.
“Good night, Gran!” I call back, my face on fire. “Be back tomorrow.”
“Use protection! Or don’t. I’d like to meet my great-grandkids.”
“Gran!” I walk faster.
“Knock her up.”
Dyson laughs so hard that he has to stop and bend over with his hands on his knees.
“Don’t encourage this,” I say. “If you laugh, she’ll keep going.”
He opens the door for me, and I slide inside. As he drives, I glance over at him, smiling.
“Don’t say it,” he says.
“I’m just shocked a nepo baby can drive a car—that’s all.”
A few miles away, he parks, and we get out. We take the old beach path past the old Coast Guard station, and that’s when I see a helicopter on a helipad. I stop walking.
“Jump off a bridge with me?” he asks, reaching out for my hand.
