Page 41 of Dash

I look over at Dash, and he gives me a big smile. He leans into me. “So proud of you, baby,” he whispers and then places a kiss on my cheek.

Geez, I’ve never been so proud to make an A.

***

You never realize how hard it is to keep your hands to yourself until you have to. Little did I know that my father had a hunch I would pass my test. He already had this dinner planned. I look out the dark black windows of my father’s Escalade as his driver escorts us to dinner.

“So, how is the new bike coming?” I ask, looking over at Dash beside me. His hand rests in mine on his lap.

“Great.”

“Is the new bike finished?” I ask my father who sits in the front seat.

“It should be very soon.” He leans over and says something to the driver, who nods with a, “Yes, sir.”

“If you ask me, I pay them too much to be this slow,” he growls. “We are on a very tight schedule. Our first race is in three weeks.”

“Three weeks?” I look over at Dash in surprise. “Will you be ready in three weeks?”

“Absolutely,” he says with confidence and a smile.

We pull up to the restaurant and my father turns in his seat to look at our joined hands.

I roll my eyes as I pull mine out of Dash’s. “I know the rules, Daddy.”

“Just checking.”

Just as I say that, Dash gets out and holds the door open for me. I thank him nicely and he gives me a flirtatious wink that makes me giggle.

I smooth down my red baby doll dress as we enter the restaurant. The hostess immediately seats us at my father’s favorite table in the back.

It reminds me of the first time that we sat down to eat. It feels like that was a lifetime ago, yet it was just a few weeks. I give a little laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Dash asks me.

“I was remembering when my father asked me to dinner and you just happened to be here.”

Dash gives me a smirk. “That’s why you asked to tag along?” my father asks, and Dash nods, still looking at me.

“Thought you would get lucky,” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I already got lucky.”

“Jesus,” my father says shaking his head. “You two are going to be the death of me.”

We both laugh at his unease. “But really, sweet pea, I’m glad you have time for me once again. I’ve enjoyed you being at the house. I’ve missed you.” He looks over at Dash. “She never had time for her mother and me when she was with Rodger.”

I duck my head in shame at his words. I hate how much Rodger took me away from them as well. I was just too weak to stand up for myself.

“Well, I would never do that,” Dash replies in all seriousness.

I have a feeling that he feels that way ‘cause of his own family. They don’t seem to be very close. Hell, they wouldn’t even come into town when Valerie’s parents told them that he had crashed his bike and ended up in the hospital. And I haven’t heard him talk to them on the phone since that incident, either.

I hear my father’s phone ringing in the distance as I stare at Dash. He and my father are in conversation about his new bike as my father answers it.

“Mr. Knight,” he says into his phone, and I take the opportunity to run my heel along Dash’s leg under the table.

He leans over. “You better stop that. I’d hate to take you back to the bathroom.”

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