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How he smiles when I say something weird, rather than rolling his eyes. How he has the calmest demeanor with Pumpkin. How he encourages me to use a firm tone when I have something important to say. How he wore goofy clothes for me and showed me all the reasons to fall in love with this city. How he looked at my scar with mild curiosity rather than pity. How he touches me and sets every inch of my skin on fire.
That last bit might be a little too much for my dad, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t hear it.
Again, the room is quiet, and discomfort has started to creep its way in. I glance up at Dash, the man who makes me feel like I could conquer the world, and I notice a redness hovering at the tops of his gorgeously sharp cheekbones. For some reason, I can read him without hesitation. He’s embarrassed, and it’s my family’s doing.
Shame sits heavy in my chest next to angry defiance. I want to use my body as a shield between him and society’s judgment. There’s no doubt in my mind that more people than my father would hear the word ‘parole’ and pass judgment on Dash before getting to know him.
Those people would never discover how gentle a hand he has when it comes to an abused dog. They would probably sneer at his dilapidated house and bare bedroom. When they found the magazines under his bed, they’d immediately assume there was some nefarious purpose. Their eyes would gloss over his unhealthy weight only to sharply focus on the past he works so hard to make up for.
None of those people deserve Dash.
“Do you want some sweet tea? I promise I won’t spill it this time.” I stroke my boyfriend’s back and beam up at him, trying to eradicate the tension in his shoulders. When he glances down at me a ghost of a smile haunts his mouth.
So close.
“Sit down. I’ll grab you a glass.” I push Dash into one of the seats at the kitchen table before navigating to the fridge. As I pass Charlie, I give his side a friendly pinch. “You have any more stories?”
His grin appears with ease. “Loads.” Then he’s off again, and the thick air in the room begins to dissipate.
With precision I wasn’t able to master the first time Dash was in this kitchen, I pour him a full cup of tea. While the fridge door blocks me off from almost everyone in the kitchen, I toss a quick warning glare at my father where he leans against the counter. He meets my heated eyes with an expressionless glance that only boils my blood more. I use the coolness of the fridge to calm myself down before returning to Dash.
My boyfriend sits stiffly in the chair, discomfort an almost physical layer coating him. I’m surprised the tea makes it past his pinched lips.
Working on instinct, I lean down until my lips brush his ear.
“If I sit on your lap, do you think I’ll squish you?” I whisper.
Dash snorts and turns his head to meet my eyes. He has a real smile now.
Happy bubbles pop in my chest.
“If you do, I’d die happy.” His murmured response comes as he wraps a long arm around my waist and guides my butt down onto his legs. More bubbles fill me so much so that I can almost believe I’m weightless.
The two of us settle, twined together, my arm resting across his shoulders, his arm circling my hips. I lean my head against his, breathing in a lungful of fresh sheets with a tinge of motor oil, for a moment feeling as if everything is right and good in the world.
“So, my neighbors are interesting to say the least, but the walls are thick, and my place is a decent size. It’s actually a pretty nice setup.” Charlie finishes whatever story I forgot to listen to again. I push aside the twinge of guilt about being a bad friend. Charlie loves to tell stories. I doubt he’d mind repeating them for me some other time.
“It’s been too long since we’ve visited. Germany will have to be our next trip.” Mr. Keller declares, holding a beer out to his son, who clinks his in cheers.
“I’d love to have you. Really, the place is almost too big for one person.” The jovial quality is gone from Charlie's voice, drawing me to examine his face.
My friend stares at me, a hint of determination lurking behind his mahogany eyes. “You should come to Germany, Paige.”
“What?” I use the exclamation as a filler word because I heard what he said loud and clear.
“Come to Germany with me.”
Dash shifts underneath me, and I try to make it easy for him to move, worried I might be cutting off circulation in his legs.
Germany. I had planned to visit Charlie, back before Martin told me we were using our vacation for Hawaii instead. Now that I think about it, I should’ve bought a ticket to Europe months ago. Between jobs, while not the best financial situation, is a good time to schedule an impromptu international trip.
But if I’d run off to see Charlie, I wouldn’t have found Pumpkin. And if I never found Pumpkin, I wouldn’t have met Dash.
I don’t regret how things worked out, but a trip in the near future might be a possibility.
“That’s not the worst idea. Until I get hired somewhere, I’ll have a lot of free time, so visiting you for a week would be easy peasy.”
“No, Paige. Not to visit.” Charlie holds my eyes from across the room, his expression more serious than I’ve seen it in years. “Come live with me in Germany.”
