Page 59 of Quintessentially

“I’m trusting you.”

“I won’t let you down again.”

The sound of the school bus down on the street catches my attention. “Oh, Molly is back. I need to open the front door.”

Dax follows me down the stairs. As I hurry to the front door, Molly hops down from the bus and runs my direction.

“Is Dax here?” she asks.

“Yes. What am I? Chopped liver?”

Molly’s nose scrunches. “What’s chopped liver?”

“Something grosser than school pizza,” Dax says as he lowers himself to her level.

Molly runs toward Dax as she says, “Eww.” Nearly plowing him over, she wraps him in a hug.

“Your mom has popcorn in the back.”

Molly looks up at him. “Will you help me with my homework?”

“You have homework in kindergarten?”

I chuckle. “Welcome to my life.”

His sexy grin turns to me. “It’s where I want to be, Kandace.”

Turning, Dax follows Molly to the back of the store. For a moment, I close my eyes and breathe. I think about our kiss—the one we just shared, the best kiss of my life, and I want to believe. Yet I’m scared that Dax will leave and not return.

When I walk into the back, I hear Dax telling Molly that he’s coming to our house for dinner.

“You are?”

He looks up from the desk and nods.

“You’ve been here all day and you didn’t mention it.”

“It was a surprise.”

“Wait, does Mom know?”

“I think so,” he says with a grin. “She’s the one who invited me.”

“She invited you…when?”

“Last night when she called.”

I can’t believe my ears. “My mom called you. How did she get your number?”

“You’ll have to ask her.”

“Oh, I plan on it.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

Kandace

When Molly and I walk into the house, we are met with the delicious aroma of garlic and my mother standing at the counter chopping fresh vegetables for a large salad. As Mom turns our way, I rest my hand on Molly’s shoulder. “Honey, go take your bookbag up to your room.”

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