Page 2 of Busted Dreams

Blowing out a breath, I lifted my gaze back up to the mirror. This was as good as it was going to get, no use spending any more time in here. At least I’d tossed my jeans and black T-shirt in the dryer so they were wrinkle free. Maybe if I was lucky, Astrid would be embracing her inner biker again. It was a hot look, and thinking about it made my jeans a little too tight for comfort.

I grabbed my jacket and keys, then jogged out to the Mustang. Taking her on the back of my bike would have been my go-to, but the weather had turned overnight. That was okay. We could talk in the car. That’s what people did on dates. Chatted. Got to know each other.

Before I pulled out of the driveway, I shot her a quick text to let her know I was on my way.

Grinning at her response, I shot onto the road.

So much thought had gone into tonight’s date. We’d start by grabbing dinner at a little Italian hole in the wall outside of Denver. Somehow by the grace of God, I’d snagged tickets to a local art gallery. She was going to die when she saw what was on exhibit. Then to finish it all off, we’d stop by GiGi’s, a French dessert café for coffee and whatever she wanted on the menu.

The tension that had been slowly building all day slowly leaked out with every mile closer to Astrid’s. Or Rhys’, since she still stayed with him. This was Astrid. Countless calls and text chats were beneath our belt by this point. I knew her, and she knew me. Tonight was about testing out how easily we could slip into being a couple.

The lights were on at her house as I pulled into the driveway leading to Rhys’ cottage. It was instinct at this point to glance at her old place, even though she hadn’t been staying there and hopefully never would again.

My heart started thumping a quick beat as I walked up to the cottage, knocking on the door with a few hard raps. Through the window, I saw Rhys amble toward the door, dressed in gray sweats and no shirt.

Damn. Was he trying to sabotage my date before I even picked her up?

“Did you brush your hair?” Rhys’ eyebrows climbed his forehead when he opened the door.

“How can you tell?” I grumbled and resisted running my hand over my head.

“Because it looks like it’s been combed to the side. But just barely.” He snickered and stepped to the side so I could enter.

I didn’t bother responding, focusing on the hallway where Astrid’s room was. Music blared from under the crack of her door. Standing in the entryway, I was not ready to start the date yet. If I could, I’d suspend time so tonight would last forever.

“Do I need to ask you what your intentions are?” Rhys grinned, crossing his arms as he leaned into the wall.

“No. Let’s not make this awkward.” I laughed and strode down the short hallway. His laughter followed behind me. I pressed my palm against her door to feel the vibration of the bass. Music had always calmed and exhilarated me all at once. A part of me loved that she enjoyed music so much she got ready to it, rather than listening to the TV or in silence.

See, this was a new thing I didn’t know about Astrid. Something that said we’d be perfect together.

The door swung open, and Astrid gasped as she ran right into my chest. Laughing, she smiled up at me as her small hands clutched the fabric of my T-shirt, stretching it just a little.

I cupped her jaw, dipping my head to capture her lips in a sweet kiss. The little breath that escaped her filled me with a single thought.

Mine.

Snaking an arm around her back, I tugged her closer to me until her body was flush against mine. She sunk into me like she’d done it a thousand times.

A throat cleared and she stepped back, but not as quick as I expected. Her newfound comfort with touch warmed something inside of me.

Her eyes sparkled as she shut the door behind her. “Ready?”

I nodded, threading my fingers through hers and maneuvered her in front of me to lead the way.

Rhys was in the same spot I’d left him in, only he’d rotated to face us. A small smile played at the corner of his lips as he watched her approach him. He only had eyes for her, but there was a tightness in his posture that wasn’t there before.

She stopped directly in front of him, and I took the opportunity to step up behind her, leaning into her, getting a whiff of the sweet scent of her shampoo. I nearly groaned but tamped it down.

“Your curfew is ten, not a minute late.” Rhys pushed away from the wall and used gentle hands to pull her away from me and into a hug.

I glowered.

Now I knew he was trying to lay his own claim.

“Thanks, Dad.” Her voice was muffled against his bare chest as he wrapped his arms around her in a tight squeeze.

When she pulled back, he cupped her face, reminiscent of the way I did by her room just moments before. I stalked to the side so I had a clear view of anything that passed between them.

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