Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Hey,” he chimed back, mimicking me. Something confident and knowing crossed his face. What did that mean? “I’m Dasham.”
I nodded. Dash-am. More like Dash-ing. Dash.
Maybe I pulled off casual as I pushed at my hair to place the cap back on. It was probably in my best interest not to look directly into his eyes, making my stare land on his chin. “I’m Beau. Or I guess you know that because she used my name...”
My normally steady tone cracked like it had when I entered puberty. Jesus, I wasn’t fit for company. Best to stick to my plan and hightail it out of there ASAP. “Sorry. The airs got me…allergies…” As I fumbled over my lie, I clamped my mouth shut and cocked a brow at my own stupidity. I fisted my hands again and put them on my hips.
“You go by Dash?” I asked. What the hell was happening to me? I never put my hands on my hips, causing me to drop them to my sides.
“I do now.” He grinned a genuine smile, making my heart ache. Chae laughed at me—not with me—like she’d been doing for most of my life. They weren’t wrong. I wasn’t fit for company. I pivoted around to continue with my escape plan. Screw my worry about being rude.
“Dasham!” The voice drew all of our attention, thankfully off me. His sister. The resemblance was uncanny. Maybe even his twin. “Donny and I are taking off. Drive my car home?” Donny strolled up behind her with all the swagger in the world, effortlessly giving off that cool guy edge.
“What? Joy. No,” he countered, outraged, instantly squaring off with Joy. His pretty exterior didn’t change, but the hard edge to his voice and the way one eyebrow arched, changed the casual guy into a force. “Of course, I can’t. I don’t have a driver’s license.”
“You can handle it. You drive better than me. Besides, you’re the most responsible person in our family,” she reasoned while Donny came up behind her, wrapping his arms under hers, tugging her backward into an embrace. The smile on both their faces spoke of lots of things, none that could be done there.
“You got it, man?” Donny asked. “I’ll make sure to get Joy home—”
“No, I don’t got it,” he said, interrupting Donny. “I’m not driving by myself. End of story.” He dismissed the idea. His answer was given. “And you have a curfew. And you barely know him. Why would you go off alone? You’re absurd.”
Joy tossed his words away without a care. “I’ve never been home when I say I will be. My parents go to bed at like nine o’clock every night. Yours do too.”
“So?” he snapped back. “What about your word? And what about your promise to me? Nobody here likes me. I only came for you. If you’re gone, there’s no reason for me to stick around?”
“Oh, you’re ridiculous, Dasham,” Joy singsonged, rejecting his argument. “Go home now then.”
“Drive me home,” he shot back. “Then you can go wherever you want. We’ll see if I tell your parents.”
The exchange happened relatively quickly, but it allowed me the time to calm my body and regroup my thoughts. I did my best to rein in my over-the-top physical response while managing all this emotion I’d never experienced before.
“Maybe if you drive home, you can give Beau a lift,” Chae added reasonably, which sounded like the worst idea I’d ever heard. “I should’ve told you that Josh never gets home on time. I don’t have a curfew. I was gonna drive you home myself. I bet your mom’s the kind of mom who waits up. None of our parents do.”
The rush of uncertainty was back in full force. My gaze collided with Dash’s. My insides trembled.
His absolute refusal to go against the rules showed cracks. He appeared to consider the idea. “I get my license in a few weeks,” he said to me. “It’s late so probably no one will see me.”
“Our little celebrity,” Joy chimed with humor. I didn’t understand.
Joy and Dash had both won the genetic lottery. They had those pretty sun-kissed features and unique crystal blue eyes. They were both tall, thin, and wore preppy clothes, different from anyone else at the party.
“So we’re gonna go,” Donny said, his arms tightening around Joy, cuddling her against his chest as he took a step backward.
Dash appeared less than impressed and reached for his cell phone in his back pocket. It was a far fancier model than mine with a small keyboard attached.
“Tell me this guy’s information,” he said, briefly lifting his stare to Joy, his thumbs working the phone.
“Stop,” Joy said with a put-upon groan, then she turned to wrap her arms around Donny’s neck. He lifted her and started walking toward one of the trucks. We watched them go.