“Now’s your chance to run,” I tease as I open the door.
“I’ll take a beating if it means you’re still coming home with me.”
“I doubt anyone is home,” I laugh as Dash follows me in. Grumpy lets out a loud meow and I see him sitting there staring at me. “Sorry, Grumpster.” I walk over and pet his little head. “I mean, Mr. Grumpy is here.”
“Is he yours?” Dash scratches him behind his ear.
“No, he’s Blair’s. I thought about getting my own kitten, but Grumpy isn't the nicest to other animals.”
“Territorial. I can understand that. He wants to be the only cat to get anyone’s attention.”
“Maybe so.” I smile at Dash and he shrugs. “I’m gonna pack my bag. I’ll be right back.”
“No way, I’m coming with you.” He follows me down the hallway. “I want to see where you sleep.”
I try and remember if I picked up before I left this morning. I doubt it because I rushed out of my bedroom this morning to see what the commotion was.
“It might not be super clean,” I say, and Dash wraps his arm around my waist from behind me.
“Are you worried you might have left your panties on the floor?” He kisses my neck as we go into my room. I laugh when he walks in past me and falls back onto the bed, making himself right at home. “It smells like you.”
He puts his hands behind his head and I’m grateful the space is somewhat clean.
“And what do I smell like?” I ask as I go in my closet and grab my bag. Dash looks way too good on my bed and I have the urge to fall on top of him. But then we’d never get out of here.
“Lavender and sunshine.” I was sure he was going to say Play-Doh.
“What should I pack?” I poke my head out of the closet and he smiles at me. I have no idea what we are doing except for the family reunion.
Dash sits up and I swear he almost blushes.
“Your family reunion is Sunday, right?”
“Yes.”
“So whatever you want to wear to that.”
“What about tonight and tomorrow?” I think I know what his plans are since we’ll be in his place alone. It’s what I want too, but it’s adorable seeing him skirt around it.
He runs his hands through his short hair as he looks around.
“I thought we’d…” He struggles to find the words and I fight a laugh.
“Are you laughing at me?” He cocks his head to the side, studying me as a smile pulls at his lips. I put my hand over my mouth, shaking my head no.
“I think you are.” He jumps from the bed and I try to rush back into the closet but he’s on me. He lifts me off the floor and pins me to the bed. He gets on top and I let out a small scream when he starts to tickle me.
“I give! I give!” I shout through my laughter.
“This is what I want to do all weekend.” He stares down at me with soft eyes and a smile.
“I like that plan,” I say as he leans down and kisses me.
“Are you okay?” Blair bursts into my bedroom and I turn my head to look at her. “You were screaming. You scared the crap out of me.”
She puts down the rolling pin in her hand and I wonder how the hell she found it in the kitchen. She’s never used it in her life.
“Sorry.” Dash rolls off me and lies back on the bed. “This isn't what it looks like,” I say as I sit up.
“And what does this look like?” Dash teases me.
I glare at him, but it only makes him give me a panty-melting smile. Blair snorts a laugh and I roll my eyes.
“I’m packing my bag.” I dart back into my closet to try and hide from the embarrassment. Blair comes in with me a second later and I feel her close behind me.
“Are you spending the weekend with him?”
I nod, and when she doesn't say anything else I look over my shoulder at her. “You're not going to say anything?” I wait, because Blair is not one to keep quiet.
“No, because you’re happy. Charlotte is going to die when you show up at the family reunion with him. He’s going with you, right?”
“Yeah.” I realize that I don’t have this need to shove anything in her face now. I’m happy and that’s the biggest FU I can give someone that spends way too much time trying to make sure my life is miserable.
“Good.” She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. “Go and have fun. I should be sorry I messed things up last night, but seeing him burst in here on a mission to win you back has made us all like him.” She smiles at me and I can tell she’s really happy for me.
“Silver lining,” I agree, hugging her back. I hurriedly finish getting everything I need because I want to get to his place. Dash watches me the whole time from the bed and I can see the simmering excitement in him.
“I’m hungry, so you better have food plans at least. That’s all I ask.” Dash laughs and agrees as we leave my place after saying goodbye to Blair.
Dash once again pulls me into his lap when we get into the back of the car and my mouth is on his moments later.
“Maybe I’m not so hungry,” I say between kisses.
“We have all weekend,” he reminds me, but with the way he’s kissing me I think we’ll have longer than that.
Chapter Thirteen
Dash
“Oh, wow, something smells good.”
As the elevator doors close behind us, I walk into my penthouse on edge. “Hello?” I call out because no one is supposed to be here.
Brooklyn and I came straight here, but I made sure my housekeeper and chef were going to be gone for the weekend.
