“Then what the hell is the problem!”

“Can you please not shout?”

“Do you think I give a fuck who hears? Anyone blind, deaf, or dumb, within a ten-mile radius, can see that I want to be with you.”

“It’s not enough of wanting to be together, Dasher. We don’t trust each other and you know it.

“I would be able to trust you if you would stop keeping secrets and let me protect you.”

“But I still wouldn’t be able to trust you.”

“I’m not asking for you to forgive me overnight. I’m asking for you to try.”

“I want to… so bad.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“Me,” I cried.

“Come here.” I shook my head so he repeated himself. This time, his voice was more forceful and commanding. I walked the short distance until I was by his side. He pulled me down to his lap and made sure to position me right over his erection. “There is nothing wrong with you, and whatever you did or think you did wouldn’t even matter to me. I’ve been too long without, Angel. Don’t make me wait another four or five years.”

As much as I wanted to scream yes and give in, I couldn’t. At least not now. Not when I was planning to do something that would cost more than my life. It will be unforgivable.

“I—I’ll have to think about it.”

I expected anger and violence, but all he did was kiss me softly on the lips. “I’ll take that answer… for now.”

I smiled down at him and he smiled back. I’m not entirely sure what happened in that office together, but something had taken a natural turn and changed for the better.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR

WILLOW

I HAD BEEN back in Six Forks for only two days and missed Dash like crazy. For weeks, he was the face I could count on seeing every day, but now we were back to our own lives with separate economic and social statuses.

The only upside was that I got to see my best friend again who actually had been strange. She was jumpier than usual, and I wondered if it was wise to have left her alone all summer, especially since Keiran Masters was back from juvie.

It was unnatural the way he hated her. It was as if he were obsessed with hating her.

The sound of the doorbell ringing snapped me back. I figured it was one of my mother’s friends coming to complain about their jobs while drinking too much wine so I flopped down on the bed.

I forgot Pepe had made it his new napping spot and unintentionally disturbed his sleep. He lifted his head and gave me the stink eye before settling once more. He had been giving me the cold shoulder ever since I returned, upset over my leaving for the entire summer. I didn’t understand what his problem was since he likely slept through it all.

“Uh… sis?” Buddy walked inside looking nervous. “You have a visitor. A guy visitor. A Dash freaking Chambers visitor.”

I flew out of my room and down the stairs, wondering if this was for real. I soon found out it was very real. Dash stood on my porch, gazing out at the street. His hand gripped the white pillar with chipped paint, causing his muscles to bunch under his plain white t-shirt.

“What are you doing here?”

Smooth, Willow. Real smooth.

His head had turned before his body did but when it did, I felt gut-punched. It had been two days too long.

“I miss you.”

Don’t melt, Willow. Don’t melt.

“I miss you too.” Yup… definitely melting.

“I can’t explain it. It’s just… weird… not seeing you.”

“Willow?” My mother’s voice called to me from inside. “What are you doing out here? Who’s at the door?”

“Shit. You better come in,” I instructed Dash. He looked all too happy to oblige. I pulled him in and closed the door just as my mom made it to the door with a dishtowel in her hand.

“Oh,” she remarked as she took in Dash. She appeared startled as she looked back and forth between us. Buddy stood off to the side grinning like a fool. “Well, go on, Willow. Introduce me to your friend.”

“Mom, this is Dash. Dash, this is my mother.”

“Dash? What an unusual name, but then I suppose Willow and Chance are, too. Come in and have a seat.”

I’ve never had a boyfriend or a male friend for that matter, but I was intuitive enough to know an interrogation was about to happen.

We were settled in the living room when she asked, “So, do you go to school with Willow?”

“Yes, ma’am.”