dash

“Oh, my God,” I grumble as the sound of the knock travels from my front door. “I’m gonna have to fuckin’ move.”

A quick glance toward the dim light coming through my bedroom window tells me exactly who it is. The only other person who would have the balls to show up on my doorstep before the sun is already star-fished across my mattress, none the wiser to the noisy intrusion that’s proving to be an annoying family trait.

At least one of us is getting some sleep.

I carefully move her arm from across my chest, holding back a frustrated chuckle when she rolls over and inadvertently smacks me hard across the forehead.

You love her, I remind myself at my annoyance. She gives you lots of good fuckin’ sex. You don’t really want to cuss her out in her sleep, dude.

Once I’m finally able to free myself, I pull on some sweats and close the bedroom door. As I make my way through my apartment, I glance around the living room for any sign of Evie and find her thong and a tank top from the night before. Quickly, I stash them behind my couch before I stumble toward the door and pull it open.

“Did I wake you up?” Mason asks as I rub my eyes awake.

“Why do you ask me that every morning?” I yawn. “You always wake me up. Asking implies that you didn’t mean to, which I think we both know is a crock of shit.”

“Awww… sounds like someone hasn’t had his coffee yet,” he chuckles as he smacks my cheek, pushing the door closed. You love him, too. Don’t punch him in the face, I remind myself as he heads toward my kitchen. “I take it you worked last night?”

“Yeah,” I nod, propping myself against the edge of the counter, facing him for the first time since he came in. “I left early, but I didn’t go to bed until about three.”

“I don’t know how you function on so little sleep, man,” he sighs, shaking his head as I deadpan. “I was in bed by ten thirty. I gotta get that full eight hours in.”

“Do ya?” I ask sarcastically, flipping him off when he starts to laugh at my expression. “That’s great. I’m glad you’ve got your priorities in order, dick.”

“Meh, you can sleep when you’re dead!” he smirks, giving me a brotherly pat on the shoulder. “I’m just screwing with you. I’ll let you go back to sleep in a second, I just wanted to stop in. If it wasn’t for these charming little coffee dates, I wouldn’t have seen much of you lately. You good?”

“Yeah, man, I’m fine,” I yawn, turning to check the coffee pot, discreetly pushing Evie’s keys behind my toaster. “Just been working.”

“Yeah, I know how it is,” he says, raking his palm over his face. “I feel like all I ever do is work anymore.”

“Today your last day before vacation, though, right?”

“Yeah,” he nods, thanking me for the coffee I’m handing him. “No students today since it’s the weekend, so I might get to leave a little early, but I’m not sure how much of a vacation it’s gonna be, though. I’ve got the bar and I’ll be working on shit at the house all week.”

“What’s going on at the house?”

“Random crap,” he shakes his head. “Just everyday bullshit I’ve been putting off. You gonna be around this week? If you’ve got time, I might be able to use your help with a few things.”

“Sure, man.”

“Thanks,” he offers before taking a quick sip and facing me again. “Oh, hey! How are things going with that girl?”

Umm… whatthefuck?

“What girl?”

“That girl,” he insists, pointing at me like it’s going to revive the memory of a conversation I know for a fact we never had. “A couple weeks ago, you had one of the guys cover a shift for you so you could go hook up with some girl you met. What was her name? I don’t think you ever said.”

“I don’t remember telling you about any girl,” I say, trying my best to be as truthful as our current situation will allow. I consider coming clean, same as every time I’ve seen him since me and Evie got together, but I swallow the thought almost immediately. “I’m not sure…”

“Yes!” he insists, cutting me off and making me cringe internally. “You met some girl from out of town and you took that weekend off a while back. Tony covered one of your shifts. Don’t you remember him bitch about it for like three days?”

Well, I don’t love Tony. I can punch him.

“Hmm,” I shrug, taking the opportunity to look away. Keep your mouth shut, dude. You told her you’d handle it this afternoon. “I don’t know, Mase. I haven’t met anyone new.”

“Well, then why the hell did I have to work with Tony?” he asks. “You know I can’t stand that guy.”

“Yeah, that dude’s a douche. I don’t think anyone likes him,” I deflect. I’m about to say more when I hear a creak from across the apartment. Shit… Evie. “Hold that thought,” I say as I move away from the counter. “I gotta take a piss.”

He gives me a nod and I make my way toward the hallway that will take me to my bedroom, not only to make good on my word, but to make sure Evie doesn’t come out half naked and blow our cover.

evie

I wake early to find his side of the bed empty, which I’d come to find was a rarity. I’d always been a fairly early riser, even more so now with early classes screwing with my internal clock, but I’d found Dash to be just the opposite.

I guess that’s what happens when you spend most nights behind a bar until three in the morning.

I trace the folds in the sheets where he’d fallen in beside me just a few hours before. They’re still warm and his delicious scent lingers, so I know I haven’t been alone for long, but the tugging at my heart isn’t something I’m willing to ignore.

How can you physically be so close to someone and still miss them?

I roll over onto my back, his cotton sheets against my skin offering me a little comfort as I inhale him in my post-sleep haze.

My mom is leaving for her trip today, so I know I need to get my ass in gear so I can see her off. However, my motivation to move bottoms out quickly as I consider the alternative of staying naked in Dash Hunter’s bed.

Quiet sounds come from the kitchen call me with the promise of my gorgeous, grumpy smartass propping himself against the counter. I can already see him waiting impatiently for the coffee to brew as his sweats hang low on his hips, revealing that delicious cut at his waist.

That mouthwatering thought is all it takes to have me pulling myself from the warmth of his sheets.

I free myself, pulling his discarded t-shirt from the day before over my head and moving toward the closed bedroom door. It creaks as I pull it open, stifling a yawn as I rub my eyes awake. My lips curl up slightly as I let my thoughts roam back to the memory of his abs in those sweats when I glance up, surprised to see him already rushing down the hall toward me.

“Hey ba-” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Shh! Shh! Shut the fuck up!” he hisses in a low whisper, his large palm gently mashing against my face as he pushes me back into his bedroom. “Get the fuck back in there!” he orders almost silently, ignoring the look of shock and fury on my features as he pushes the door shut behind us. “Oh, my God,” he pants, resting his back against the door, his eyes closed as he rubs his palms over his face. “Holy shit, that was terrify-”

His words are cut off by my hand smacking him sharply.

“Ow!”

“Aww, did I hurt you?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm as he rubs the afflicted spot on his arm. “Good! I hope it burns like hell, you fucker! What the hell was that?”

“Your brother’s in the kitchen, you psychopath!” he whispers defensively, nodding when my eyes go wide. “Yeah! I bet you feel like a real jackass now, don’t you?”

“What the hell is he doing here?” I demand, my voice low, matching his. “And no, I don’t feel like a jackass. You bum rushed me and nearly mashed my face into a wall with your giant man hand, you idiot!”

“I’m sorry! I panicked!” he says, his expression softer this time as he leans forward on his knees, catching his breath. “Listen, I have to go back out there, he thinks I’m peeing,” he continues, facing me. “Evie, let’s just get it over with.”

“What?”

“We should just let me tell him now, ba-”

“No!” I whisper harshly, cutting him off as my chest begins to flare. “We agreed on this afternoon.”

“I know, babe,” he sighs, shaking his head as he pulls me close. “But he’s here and I was thinking about how fucked up it’s gonna be to do this at work, ya know? Not to mention, I’m sick to death of being a fuckin’ liar,” he shakes his head, making a face. “Aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but…”

“But nothing,” he shrugs, kissing my hair and releasing me. “I’m just gonna do it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“He could kill us!”

“He’s not gonna kill us,” he rolls his eyes. “This has gone on long enough, babe. I’m gonna go out there and tell him the truth.”

“Dash, no!” I grip him by his sweats forcefully, pulling him back to my side.

He tries to pull away and in my panic, I clamp myself around his waist, restricting his movements in an attempt to thwart his stupid plan, bringing us both to the ground with a sharp thud.

The tumble surprises us both, but as I peer up at him, he’s not just surprised. He’s a little pissed.

“Are you serious?” he asks in a harsh whisper.

“You alright in there, man?” Mason calls from the kitchen, making my eyes go wide.

“Yeah!” Dash shouts back as he keeps his eyes on me. “Baby,” he continues as I shake my head, threatening him silently. “We have to tell him. This shit’s getting fuckin’ stupid.”

“You said three o’clock!” I hiss, tightening my grip as I glare up at him.

“Well, I changed my mind. Telling him at the bar is going to backfire.”

“Dash?” Mason calls out once more, my panic increasing.

“So, you think we should tell him in the kitchen? Surrounded by knives?”

“Baby, watch the nuts,” he groans as I shift. “And don’t be dramatic. Your brother isn’t going to stab us.”

“You don’t know that,” I argue. “He works with deviants, Dash!”

“He’s a teacher, you lunatic.”

His footsteps in the hallway still our movements, the shift in light visible beneath the door.

“Shit!” I gasp, ignoring his eye roll as I clamp my hands over his mouth. “Baby! Think of the children!”

“Good God,” he groans against my hand, shaking his head.

“Dude, are you okay?” Mason asks through the door, making my heart pound as I whip my head around in panic, resigning to my fate before I slowly look back at Dash.

His eyes search mine and where I expect more fury, I find something else. His grip softens as he brushes his thumbs over my waist. After another moment of silent bargaining I deflate, dropping my forehead down on his bare chest.

I know I’m being a coward, but I also know once we open that door, once Mason knows, everything is going to change for all of us.

I know Dash is right, we have to do this, but I thought I had more time.

“Dash, please?” I beg, the hushed words so low they’re almost silent as I swallow the emotion lodged in my throat. “I’m not ready.”

“I’m gonna be honest with ya, man. Shit’s getting a little awkward for me…” Mason admits, pulling my eyes back to Dash. “Are you okay? Should I come in?”

I’d imagined this moment countless times over the last few months, but never once did I see it happening while I was in nothing more than Dash’s t-shirt, straddling him in the middle of his bedroom floor.

Fuck my life. Seriously.

Dash’s eyes are still unreadable as he reaches up, gently moving my hand from his lips as I prepare to meet my fate.

“No, don’t come in,” he sighs. “I just… tripped over a… fuckin’… whatever,” he rolls his eyes in defeat before letting his head fall back onto the carpet and rubbing his palm over his face. “I’ll be there in a sec.”

“Thank God,” Mason says dramatically. “I thought it was gonna be like that time at the pool when-”

“No, man!” Dash shouts over him, cutting him off as his eyes go wide. “Nothing like that. I’m good. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Alright,” he replies, the shadow of his feet moving away from the bedroom door pulling a deep sigh of relief from my chest.

When Dash glances back down at me, I can’t help the way my eyes narrow.

“What happened at the pool?”

“Nothing… it just… it’s not important right now,” he deflects, pulling another crazy look from me as he gently pulls me up from the floor with him.

“Oh, my God,” I smirk. “What happened at the pool?”

“Evie, we’ve got our own problems to worry about,” he whispers harshly, making me bite back my amusement and nod in understanding. “Look, I don’t know what the fuck just happened here,” he continues, gesturing between us. “But you’re gonna have to get your shit together, baby.”

“I know,” I sigh, burying my face in my hands. “I’m just scared, Dash.”

“I get it,” he admits. “I really do and no offense, babe, but tough shit. We gotta tell him.”

“I know and we will,” I promise. “We’ll do it today like we said. I just need a little more time… and pants.”

“Okay,” he sighs, pulling me close and silently forgiving me for my unintentional abuse as he presses his lips to my forehead. “Just stay in here and be quiet. He’ll be gone in a minute.”

“Okay,” I nod, chewing on my lip. “I’m sorry I hit you… and pummeled you… and then called you a fucker.”

“I’m sure it won’t be the last time,” he waves me off, glancing down at me with a smirk. “I’m sorry I bum rushed you and mashed your face with my giant man hand,” he says as his smile widens. “Y’know, in my defense, you’re usually kinda into that shit.”

“Oh, shut up,” I playfully smack him again as my cheeks heat.

“See?” he winks, bending to give me a quick kiss. “Told ya.”