Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134073 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
“You’re going to make my stepsister Charlotte so jealous,” I blurt out, but I might as well get it all out there.
“Did she do something to you? You don’t seem like the vengeful type.” I look down at my food, chagrined. I’d gone out on this date with revenge in mind, but that hasn't played out. But I’m totally sure this Dash is the same Dash my friends went out with. It has to be because it was the same restaurant and the same first and last name. Crazier things have happened before, although I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
“I guess it’s a little more like sass. I’m going to take a date so they’ll stop teasing me about my love life.”
“They?” I peek back up at him, feeling guilty. When he calls it revenge it makes it sound so bad. This is not what I’d tell one of my students to do.
“My stepmom too.” I let out a long sigh. “Never mind.” I shake my head. “I should go alone and face them. It’s petty of me to only bring a date to shut them up.”
Dash’s nose flares for a second before he lowers his fork. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, it’s fine.” I shift, feeling uncomfortable. I can’t read his mood now and he’s gone from teasing to something else. I look down at my food again, willing myself not to fidget, which is a habit of mine when I’m unsure of myself. One my family brings out in me.
“It’s not fine.” My head jerks back up to look at him. Now he really sounds angry. “Not only does your stepsister fuck with you, but the mom does too?”
“They’re jerks, but I should be used to it. Or at least be over it.” I’m moving on with my life, but somehow they can always get to me.
“I think we can do better than me going with you to the reunion.” His face softens and the anger in his voice fades.
“What do you have in mind?” I joke as I take another bite.
“We’ll get married.” I almost choke on my steak as I cough, and he hands me some water, patting my back. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I laugh, trying to catch my breath. I wanted to ruin this date when I got to the restaurant, and now that I’m enjoying myself I can’t seem to stop. He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear. I’ve noticed he seeks out small ways to touch me and I can’t say I hate it.
“I wasn't joking.” His face is serious, but I know he has to be joking.
“So we go and pretend to be married?” When I stop and think about it, it’s not really a bad idea. They’d probably fall over in shock. Not only does Dash clearly have money, but he’s handsome too. “That would really bug them. I bet my stepsister would hit on you.”
“You’ll need a ring,” he says, as if talking to himself.
“Maybe a fake pregnancy test too,” I suggest and then snort a laugh. “No, then they’d think you're only marrying me because I got knocked up.” I laugh again and shake my head.
“This sounds crazy. You know that, right?” he says.
“It’s okay, I’m going to let it go and be the bigger person. I’ll show up and see my dad and then leave.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m going with you to the reunion. I just meant that it’s crazy that anyone would think you couldn’t get any man you wanted.”
“That’s really sweet of you to say.”
“I’m not your friend trying to make you feel better, Brooklyn. It’s the fucking truth.”
My chest warms at his conviction, but even from what little I know about Dash, he isn't the type of man to feed people lies. Although Cherry would probably say he’s trying to get in my pants.
“Well, I didn't always look this fabulous.” I bat my eyelashes as I try to hide that I’m suddenly feeling shy. “After all, these are my fancy yoga pants. Look, not one hole.”
“And adorable.” He leans over and brushes his lips against mine. “Too bad for anyone else who missed their chance. You’re mine now.” There he goes again, wrapping me up in his sweet words.
“You’re not too bad yourself. Why are you on a dating app?”
He’s been so charming. If this was the same man who went out with my friends, I think they would have fallen all over him. Not Blair though; she wound have junk-punched him when he tried to boss her around and stole her phone. She never would have found it swoony like I did.
“Why is anyone on a dating app?” he asks.
“Some people do it to hook up, but I’m sure some do it to find love.”