Kiss and Break Up (Magnolia Cove, #1)(79)

I was saved from answering her random assessment by the one person I was hoping to avoid. “Beautiful morning, ladies.”

Daphne’s brow lifted. “If you say so, Thane.”

Dash swaggered closer. And closer. And he wouldn’t … he did. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, and he pressed a loud kiss to my head. “Missed you, Frecks.”

I pushed him off, my cheeks aflame as I grabbed Daphne’s hand and dragged her over the lawn. “Ew, it’s damp. Use the sidewalk, my heels will sink.”

We moved to the walkway, and she groaned at the dirt caking her black heels. “Ugh, Peggy.”

“Move it,” I hissed, glancing over my shoulder at Dash who was walking lazily toward us, devilish grin in place.

“What is going on?” Daphne picked up the pace.

“He interrupted my make-out session with some guy at Wade’s on Friday, threw me over his shoulder like some gorilla asshole, and then carried me to his car is what’s going on.”

Daphne cackled, and some of the guys on the lacrosse team stopped and stared as she threw her head back. “Oh, God. Shut up. Did he really?”

“Really.” I sighed.

We climbed the steps. “And then? Come on, it didn’t end there.”

“I was drunk as hell, so he took me home.” She said nothing, and when I glanced at her, almost running into someone’s backpack, she spun her hand in a keep going gesture. “And we did nothing.”

“Bullshit.” She laughed. “I know you did. You have that look that says you got laid or close to it.”

I almost tripped as we neared our lockers. “I do not.”

“Do too,” she chirped, unlocking hers.

“Fine.” I shoved my bag in and plucked out my English book. “We did something the next morning.” She slammed her locker, leaning close with expectant eyes. “I can’t say; it’s kind of embarrassing.”

“We humped each other like pre-teens,” Dash said from behind me.

I squeaked, spinning around to slap him in the chest. “Fuck off, Dash.”

He mock gasped. “Language, Peggy Sue. That’s no way to speak to the man who rubs you just right.”

Daphne snorted out a burst of laughter behind me. “Later, lovebirds.”

“We’re not—”

Dash slid a hand over my mouth. “She sees through your lies.”

I bit it, growling at him. “Would you stop? What is wrong with you?”

He crowded me back into the locker. “You’re wrong for me. In all the right ways.” He squeezed my cheeks between his fingers, pursing my lips and quickly smacking his against them. “I’ll see you at lunch, lady love.”

My face was on fire as he swaggered down the hall to his friends and left me there for everyone to gawk and snicker at.

Who the hell did he think he was?

I should’ve known. I was the one person who knew him best. Yet I’d forgotten the words I’d uttered just this morning.

Dash Thane did whatever he wanted.





I met up with Daphne at my locker before lunch, needing to grab mine from my bag.

“He’s seriously not backing down.” She examined her coral-colored nails.

“Tell me about it.” I huffed, plucking out my lunch. Something fluttered to the ground, and I groaned, wanting to leave it there.

My heart wouldn’t let me and neither would Daphne, who picked it up and held it out to me between two fingers. “What are you going to do?”

I opened the letter, my eyes skimming his messy words.



I’m such a prick.

And a dick.

And a fuckwit.



But I love you.

And I know you love me too.

That’s why I wrote this shitty-ass poem for you.



Daphne fell into fits of laughter, and I slowly folded the paper closed, biting my lips as I tucked it inside my bag.

“You totally have to show your grandkids that.”

“You’re acting like we’re some foregone conclusion.” I slammed my locker, my chest a bubbling, bouncing, mess.

Daphne bit into her apple, chewing before she commented. “Because you’re probably the only one who doesn’t see that.”

We pushed inside the cafeteria, heading for the back doors to sit outside. “He slept with Kayla. How am I the only one, besides her, who remembers that?”

“Because you love him, and it hurt you, but he was hurting at the time, and he’s a dick even on the best of days.” She took another bite, mumbling around it, “If you and Byron hadn’t gotten a little freaky in the back of that limo, he wouldn’t have been so crushed. He would’ve continued to fight for you, and you know it.”

Guilt gripped me, and I blew some curls from my lips as the wind washed over us. “This is all so stupid and messed up.”

“Love is always stupid and messed up.”

I pointed at a table near the garden ledge, hoping Dash wouldn’t bother looking for me. He always sat with his friends at lunch anyway. “Have you spoken to Lars?”

She tossed her apple into a trash can, taking a seat. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

“Fine. Have you heard from Willa?” I asked as I slid into the bench seat.