Thief(14)

“Dash?” I say out loud, making those around me look at me.

He looks different, of course, more masculine, nothing boyish about him left. I see tattoos peeking out of his shirt where it’s rolled up at the sleeves, but I’d never forget his face, or those eyes. He was all hard edges now, dressed in all black, looking really good. And for the first time since I can remember, I get butterflies in my stomach. He smiles, dimples popping out, eyes scanning the crowd. When they land on me, he literally stops in his tracks, and I can feel everyone now watching us. He studies me, jaw going slack and eyes going wide before he approaches.

“Vi?” he asks, voice deep and sexy. “Holy shit, is it really you?”

I nod, still in shock. “Dash, how are you?”

“I’m fine,” he says, gaze unwavering. “How have you been?

“Can’t complain,” I say, taking him in.

When we were teenagers, the timing wasn’t right. Right people, right chemistry, wrong timing. But now? Was I getting a second chance with him? Was fate finally handing me something back? Giving me a break? I take a step closer to him, and we both can’t tear our gazes away from each other.

The timing is perfect.

I know it.

I feel it in my bones.

And then I hear a woman say, “Dash, are you going to introduce me to your friends?”

I look to his right.

I hadn’t even seen her, but of course he has a woman in his life.

I should have expected it. I mean, look at him. For some reason, it still hurts though, and the butterflies in my stomach turn into something else, like a heavy weight.

Dash grimaces and tries to hide it, but it’s too late; we all saw it. “Everyone, this is Vanessa.”

“His girlfriend,” she adds, glancing in my direction.

Okay, so I’m wrong.

The timing isn’t right.

And it probably never will be.

I smile at the couple then make my way toward the bar. Instead of ordering the ten Wet * shots I really want to, I order a gin and tonic then sip it as I look anywhere except at Dash. Summer comes over and wraps her arm around me.

“Okay, I’m going to need a briefing over what just happened there,” she whispers, making me laugh.

I shrug my shoulders and stare into my drink. “Knew Dash from high school.”

“Dated?” she asks, eyes widening. “What a small world.”

“We didn’t date exactly,” I say, tilting my head to the side. “I lost my virginity to him though.”

Summer almost spits out her drink then wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “No way. Didn’t see that one coming. So let me get this right; you had a thing back in the day, and now you run into him for the first time in ages, and he’s with his girlfriend, who none of us have even met before.”

I nod. “I think that sums it up.”

“You know, I met Dash years ago. I came to live with Xander, and Dash is one of his best friends.” She puts her hand on my shoulder. “I’ve never seen him actually commit to a woman, and I have no doubt this will be no different.”

That didn’t sound like good news for me, either.

“You know what?” she prompts. “Forget about the girlfriend. Let’s just go dance and have a good time, all right?”

“All right,” I say, letting her pull me to the dance floor.

Dash and I could be just friends. We are adults, and so much time has passed since we meant anything to each other.

I should just be happy he’s back in my life.





Chapter Nine


“I still can’t believe you’re here right now,” Dash says as he comes to stand next to me at the bar while I’m ordering another drink. “Xander says you’re a real estate agent? His, to be exact.”

I wonder how he was able to ask about me with his girlfriend not leaving his side for a second. She must have gone to the bathroom or something, letting him breathe a little.

I smile at him then duck my head. “I am, yes. After trying a heap of other careers, I settled on real estate.”

He chuckles and orders his drink before saying, “Yeah, I can see you being in real estate. Although, I guess you have to trade in the Converse now, huh?”

“More of a heels girl now. What about you? What do you do for a living?” I find myself asking.

“I’m a mechanic,” he says, taking a sip of the amber liquid in his glass. “I own my own business.”

“Awesome,” I say, finishing my drink and placing the empty glass on the table. Dash suddenly grabs my wrist, turning it over so my palm’s up in the air. I know straight away what he’s looking at, the name ‘Max’ written across my wrist, a tattoo I got the day I turned eighteen.

“You didn’t message me every day,” he suddenly accuses, licking his lips. “When you left, you said you would, but then you didn’t.”

My eyes flare at him bringing this up. “I did for a while, Dash. For about a year, wasn’t it? I think life just got in the way after that, after I finished high school and went to university. It’s a two-way street, you know. You didn’t pick up the phone either.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw, but he leaves the subject alone. “You look good. You’re beautiful, Vi.”