Vienna is a terrible human being.
I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I guess we are way past that point with her now.
“So, the ice rink?” I question.
“It’s all yours.”
My heart is beating outside my chest. I sit down on my lumpy mattress, and Dallas does the same. He places his large, warm hand over my knee and rests it there as I let everything sink in.
Wow.
A few minutes later, or is it hours, a door slams in the driveway.
“Shit.”
I run over to the small attic window and peek outside.
“Vienna’s home,” I announce. “Crap. We have to get out of here.”
“Why?” Dallas shrugs.
He shrugs!
Vienna is going to tear me a new one, and he just casually shrugs on my bed like it’s no big deal.
I pace back and forth in the small space until Dallas approaches and pulls me into a giant hug. His body is warm and his scent of pine and a hint of lemon capture my senses as I get lost in his arms.
“Hey.” His voice is soft and strong in my ears. “This is your house,” he reminds me. “Sheshouldn’t be here.”
Oh.
He breaks away from the hug, but he clasps his hands into mine.
“Where is she!?” I hear Vienna’s high-pitched voice from a distance and then her stomps as she draws near.
“I know you’re in here!” That familiar voice that haunts my dreams is close, just outside the door.
“We got this.” Dallas squeezes my hand, but doesn’t let go.
The door swings open and slams against the wall.
Vienna points her finger at me. “You,” she spits. “I told you never to come back here. Don’t worry, I already called the cops.”
“Good,” Dallas retorts.
Vienna steps in front of Dallas and eyes him up and down. Lust fills her gaze as my stomach churns.
“You know, I’m single, too.” She sucks her finger.
Gross.
“Um.” Dallas coughs into his free arm.
“And I’m filthy rich.” Her laugh that follows is a little maniacal, and I hope it’s the last time that noise infuriates my ears.
“Not much longer,” Dallas mumbles under his breath, and I elbow him in the side.
Vienna doesn’t seem to hear it over the inner thoughts of herself, however.
