Page 70 of Dash

I narrow my eyes on him. “That didn’t answer my question.”

He goes to open his mouth when my phone rings again. I go to press ignore thinking it’s Jackie, but my father’s name lights up my phone. “Hello?”

“Is he with you?” he demands, and I know he means Dash.

“Yes.”

“Put his ass on the phone.” I place the phone out in front of me and Dash takes it.

“Hello, Mr. Knight,” he says politely. I tilt my head to the side as I analyze him, and he still looks calm as can be. Shouldn’t he care that someone has violated us by releasing pictures?

“I’ve been calling your phone, boy,” I hear my father growl.

“It’s not on me at the moment, sir,” he responds.

“Well, find it and get your ass over to my house. And bring my daughter with you.”

“Yes, sir,” he says before he hangs up.

“Dash…”

“We’ll grab breakfast on the way to your parents’ house. Get dressed,” he insists then leans over and kisses me on the forehead.

I quickly throw all the dishes into the sink and then run upstairs to change into something more appropriate than a pair of cotton shorts and one of Dash’s t-shirts. Dash is already walking out the door while I rush to slip my tennis shoes on. So I grab a ponytail holder and run after him.

The car drive over to my parents’ house is extremely quiet. After about five minutes into it, I realize he isn’t going to talk so I reach over and turn on the radio while I put my hair up into a ponytail. But the closer to their house we get, the more nervous I get. My father sounded pissed, and well, I can’t decide how I feel about it. Just weeks ago, I was saying that we should release them ourselves. The boy would have no leverage if the pictures were released. Now they are. What does that do for us?

We walk in and head straight to my father’s office. I allow Dash to sit down first, and then I sit down beside him. He places his left arm over the back of the couch and pulls me closer into this side.

“Why is this such a big deal?” I’m the first one to speak. “It’s good that they are out, right? Now that kid can’t use them as leverage.”

My father’s black eyes travel from Dash to me. “Have you not turned on the TV?”

I shake my head. Why do people keep asking me that? Jackie asked the same thing. “Why?” They can’t be nudes, can they? “Are they not of us kissing at the track?” I ask as I start to panic. “Are they more…intimate pictures?”

He bangs his fist on the desk. “Have you taken more intimate pictures?” he demands.

“No, sir,” Dash says immediately, and I shake my head quickly.

My father lets out a long breath of relief. “The point is what they are saying about you.” He looks at me.

“What could they possibly be saying? Dash and I are together. Who cares if the world knows?”

“What I care about is your image. They are saying that you have been seeing Dash for a while now and that is why Rodger ‘attacked’ you.”

It takes me a few seconds to understand what he is saying, but once it sinks in, I let out a laugh that has Dash and my father both looking at me like I’m crazy. “Who cares what the public thinks. They are going to think whatever they want.” I shrug carelessly.

My father rummages through some papers on his desk. “Well, I care, and I’m going to find out who is responsible for this. I will take care of it.”

“I did it.”

My head snaps to look over at Dash so fast that I get a pain in my neck. “You what?” I ask as I rub it.

“What?” my father snaps.

Dash looks across the room to him. “I released them,” he says with no remorse.

“Why would you do that?” he demands.

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