Kiss and Break Up (Magnolia Cove, #1)(36)

Dash shrugged. “Nah, I got her a yearly pass to Hooters. Much cheaper, and let’s face it, nicer things to look at.”

Dad’s lips twisted. “Your dad hasn’t thrown you out yet?”

“Will you take me in when he does?” Dash’s eyes lit.

Dad chuckled, then thumped Dash on the back. “Come on, Peggy Sue. The fun isn’t over yet.”

I struggled to drag my gaze away from my car. My. Own. Freaking. Car. But I did, catching up with them as they headed up the stairs and inside.

“Surprise!”

I screamed, my hands slapping my face as Mom, Phil, Daphne, Willa, Suella, Lars, Raven, Jackson, Dad’s closest friends, and more people from school jumped into the foyer.

Streamers flew into the air, cameras flashed, and music turned on as they all crowded me. Everyone was dressed in skirts, dresses, heels, half-suits, and nice shirts.

Still feeling petty about the fact I hadn’t shown it off, I was wearing the same outfit I’d planned to wear to Wade’s party the previous weekend. But after looking at some of the guests mingling and drifting through my dad’s house, I felt woefully underdressed and every inch my age.

Half an hour later, after yet even more people from school arrived, I cornered Mom in the kitchen before she left. “How’d you do all this?”

“Wasn’t me.” She shouldered her handbag, then fluffed my hair. “If you drink, just don’t get too crazy.”

I nodded, hugging her tightly, then Phil as well, and asked, “So Dad organized it?”

Mom smiled. “He allowed it, but no.” She looked through the kitchen, and I followed her gaze to where Dash was stacking presents on the table in the dining room.

She and Phil walked off. A knot rose up my throat, lodging there as I felt my eyes grow wet. Scratching his head, Dash stepped back, studying his handiwork. He’d made a color-coordinated tower out of all my gifts.

When he was satisfied, he grabbed his drink, then spun on his heel, freezing when he saw me watching. “Freckles, apparently people like you.”

I didn’t trust myself to talk, so I didn’t.

He strolled over, swinging a thumb over his shoulder to the pile. “Figured you’d want a photo for the cut and pasting shit you do. Speaking of, I got you something. Come with me.”

I followed him into the dining room and stopped when he pulled out an unwrapped box. He’d stuck a purple bow to the top and shrugged, handing it over. “If I’d wrapped it, it would have looked worse.”

I took it, setting it on the dining chair.

“Hey, birthday girl,” Daphne called. “Someone missed the memo and got here late.”

I turned to find Byron heading toward me with a flat look on his face. “Hey, you.” I went to him as he held his arms out.

He kissed my forehead. “Sorry, I was told to be here at eight.”

I groaned, pulling away to glare at Dash, but he was gone. My frown wilted as I tried to search for him.

“I know you said you didn’t want anything but cake, so …” Two gentlemen carrying an extra-large cake came in behind him, my dad directing them to the kitchen.

“Holy shit.” I raced in there as they set the cake down, my eyes roaming up and over the four giant tiers.

Hanging from the top was an envelope. Byron grabbed it, handing it to me as my dad saw the two men out.

I tugged out a card that read Happy Birthday with bright yellow sunflowers. Inside, two pieces of paper almost fell to the floor. “I know you probably need to clear it with your mom, but I thought, if she’s cool with it, that you’d wanna come see some snow with me over winter break.”

“I love snowboarding,” I said, smiling.

“I know.” He grinned, poking me in the cheek. “Willa and Daphne told me.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m any good, though.” I gave him a pointed look.

He chuckled, and I rose onto my toes to kiss his cheek. His head turned, and I was thankful my dad was no longer in the room, for his mouth opened mine and his arms caged my body to his.

His lips devoured, and his tongue glided. I bit his bottom lip before smiling against his mouth. “Thank you.”

“Did you open my present?”

I stumbled back from Byron at Dash’s question and couldn’t meet his eyes as he stood against the kitchen doorway. As if he’d been standing there for way longer than I would have wanted him to.

“I will soon,” I finally said, putting the airline tickets back inside the card.

“You were told to buy a cake, not to whip your dick out and show everyone how big you wish it was.”

Byron stilled. “The fuck is your problem? Because I’m pretty sure you solved any you had with Annika last Friday, right?”

Annika? My head snapped up, flying to Dash. He’d come over right after the party and tried to hook up with me. A curdling sensation roiled inside, souring those minutes I’d shelved as something sweet.

Dash scratched at his cheek, laughing beneath his breath. “Low blow, but I’m feeling generous, so I’ll let you have it. Later, Pegs.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get my dick wet. Want it to be you this time?”

Willa’s eyes popped as she halted outside the kitchen, hearing Dash’s words.