Thief(19)

She leaves to serve another customer.

Sandwiches?

Memories of Max and me bringing each other lunch flashes through my mind, filling me with warmth instead of pain for once.

Reid walks out from the back, and I wave at him before heading back to work.





Chapter Twelve


“This is actually really delicious, Dash,” I say, moaning. “There isn’t anything you can’t do, is there?”

“I don’t mind cooking,” he replies, sitting down and watching me devour my plate of food. His house is amazing, something I’d buy myself. It’s two stories, and modern, mainly in black and cream, but with splashes of red and grey. I haven’t seen the upstairs, but I have a feeling it would be just as perfect.

“I don’t mind eating,” I remark, smiling at him. “This is going to be hard to top when it’s my turn to cook.”

He barks out a laugh. “Still competitive, are we, Vi?”

I grin. “I wouldn’t say I’m competitive. I just don’t like to lose.”

“I can see that. Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if we looked for each other over the years, instead of leaving it to fate?” he asks, changing the subject.

“I thought about it,” I admit. “I just didn’t know…I felt unsure. What would I say? Why didn’t you try and contact me? What if you hadn’t thought about me at all? So many questions, and I didn’t know how you’d react or what you were doing with your life. For all I knew, you were married with children of your own. I think it’s hard, because we were so young, so a part of me thinks—well, what if to you it was just a high school crush or something. Do you know what I mean?”

He nods. “I do. I understand what you mean exactly. I guess I kind of thought you just forgot about me, and if you needed me or wanted me, you’d come to me, you know? I’d go to Max’s gravestone every year and think about him, but about you too.”

I missed Max everyday, even now.

“I’m glad you did that,” I tell him, smiling sadly. “I wish he was here.”

“Me too,” he says. “Who knows, maybe he’d be a professional basketball player.”

“You could have done that if you wanted.”

“I actually got offered a scholarship,” he admits, looking down at his hands. “But I didn’t take it.”

“Why not?” I ask, not understanding why he’d turn down such an amazing opportunity.

“My sisters,” he replies, shrugging. “No one would have been there for them if I left. So I turned it down and stayed.”

“You’re so wonderful, Dash,” I say, feeling emotional. “I wish you could have taken it though, if that’s what you wanted to do with your life.”

“Everything worked out in the end. Honestly, that scholarship should’ve been Max’s.”

Sadness fills me at that comment, because he’s right. Max was definitely heading for huge success. Our eyes hold for a moment. “Everything did work out for you. You’ve done so well for yourself. You should be proud.”

“So should you.”

I lift up my glass of red wine. “Cheers to that.”

We finish up the meal and I help Dash clean up, even though he argues with me about that too. We decide to watch a movie, and I snuggle next to him on the couch, feeling more content than I’ve been in a very long time.

*****

I wake up in the middle of the night, wrapped in strong arms, in a king size bed covered in all white sheets. I must have fallen asleep on the couch, and Dash carried me up here to his room. I relax, lying back down next to him, letting him spoon me from behind. My jeans are gone, so I’m sleeping in just my top and panties.

“You’re not freaking out,” he says in a soft, sleepy voice, making me smile.

“I’m too warm and comfortable to freak out,” I tell him. “And your spooning skills are very impressive.”

He kisses my shoulder. “There’s a lot more where that came from.”

“Good to know,” I say, yawning. “Your bed is so comfy.”

Another kiss on my shoulder, lingering this time. “Go to sleep, Vi.”

I yawn again. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

Dash chuckles just as I fall asleep.

*****

The next time I wake up, I’m alone in the bed and the sun is up. Stretching lazily, I force myself to get up and head into Dash’s bathroom before sliding on my jeans and making my way downstairs. I find Dash in the kitchen, making breakfast.

“Morning,” I mumble, hugging him from behind. “Something smells good.”

He turns around and smiles. “Good morning. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”

“Well, in that case, I think I’ll head straight back to bed,” I say, eyeing the bacon frying in the pan.

“Do you want some coffee?”

“Yes, please,” I say, desperately needing some, glancing around the kitchen. He tells me to have a seat then makes me some coffee. I sip on it as he serves us both breakfast.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this spoiled in my life,” I admit, raising an eyebrow. “Be careful, or I’ll get used to it.”