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.”

“Thank you,” I reply, looking away from those eyes I’ve missed so damn much. “You look good too. How are your sisters?”

“They’re all good,” he says, smiling fondly. “Still harassing my life, of course.”

I laugh as memories flash through my mind. “You love it. You were always such a good brother.”

“I don’t know about that,” he says, studying me for a few tense seconds. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Why?” I ask, scanning the bar. I see his girlfriend exit the bathroom then head in our direction straight away.

“Because I want to catch up with you. Do you know how many times I’ve thought about you over the years? Wondered what you’re doing, how you are?”

Probably not as much as I’ve wondered the same about him.

“Dash, there you are,” Vanessa says, possessively putting her hand on his chest. “Is it okay if we leave now? I’m not feeling too well.”

Dash sighs, and I know he doesn’t want to leave. Why would he? Everyone he loves besides his sisters is in this room.

“Give me a minute,” he tells her. “Why don’t you have a drink while I say bye to everyone?”

She makes a face but stays at the bar while Dash grabs my arm and leads me to the group. “Tomorrow. Meet me here at lunchtime.”

“You have a girlfriend,” I say, putting up my hand. “And before you play the ‘just friends’ card, if it wasn’t an issue, you would have mentioned this in front of her.”

“I’ve dated her for a few months,” he growls, hold tightening on me. “And if I knew you would be coming back into my life, I never would have touched her.”

My eyes widen at his outburst.

“You can’t just say shit like that,” I whisper-yell.

We stop in front of Summer and Reid.

“Dash has to go, because his girlfriend wants to leave,” I blurt out, making Dash’s scowl turn even deeper.

“Is that right?” Summer snarks, crossing her arms over her chest. “Doesn’t your girlfriend like us, Dash? Your family?”

Reid looks like he wants to laugh, but manages to contain it.

“She’s tired,” he says, pursing his lips. “I’m going to drop her at her house and then come back.”

“As if you’re going to come back,” I say, rolling my eyes. I look at Summer. “What’s the bet he’s not coming back?”

“I’m with you on this one,” Summer agrees. “She’ll pull out all the tricks to keep you there. Don’t worry, Dash; we’ll be here, having a good time without you. And Tag’s friend over there hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off Viola. I wonder if he’s going to ask her out on a date.”

Dash’s eyes narrow to slits. “Summer,” he growls, warning in his tone. “Pretty sure you’re meant to be on my side here.”

“There are no sides here,” Summer says, grinning. “But if there were, it would be between Vanessa and Vi, and sorry, but Vi wins hands down.”

I hide my grin behind my hand.

“Summer,” he groans, scrubbing a hand down his face. He then looks at me, eyes softening, and says, “I’ll be back.”

He leaves with his girlfriend, and I can’t help but feel sad, and a little lost.

He should be with me.

Summer wraps her arm around me. “He’ll be back. If not tonight, very, very soon.”

He’s going to go home and have sex with her. How depressing is that?

“I need another drink,” I mutter, exhaling deeply.

Reid looks down at me and speaks to me properly for the first time all night. “Don’t worry about Vanessa. She’s temporary.”

He walks away and I consider his words. Is she temporary? Am I just going to wait for Dash to become available? It sounds like a pretty sad option, if I’m being honest with myself, but at the same time, he definitely is worth the wait.

“Reid’s right,” Summer says, checking out her man. “He usually is, and it’s infuriating.”

“He’s not coming back,” I repeat, nodding my head toward the bar. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” Summer replies, linking her arm through mine.

Dash fucking Edwards.

What am I going to do with you?

*****

I wake up to a pounding head and a dry mouth.

Forcing myself out of bed, I grab a glass of water from the kitchen and swallow two pain killers with it. Sitting on the kitchen counter, I watch my feet dangle as I think over everything that happened last night.

Dash didn’t return.

Big surprise.

I did still have a good night though. All of his friends are amazing people, and I’m glad he has that. Where it leaves the two of us, I have no idea though. I close my eyes and tilt my head back.

I still can’t believe after all these years…

He’s my one who got away. A bold claim, being as young as we were, but it’s the truth. No one has ever compared to Dash, and over the years, I’ve done my fair share of comparing.

Would he break up with his girlfriend?

What if he only sees me as a friend now?

So many possibilities. I expel a deep sigh and shake my head at myself for feeling like a teenager with a crush again. If it is going to happen, it will; there’s no point overthinking and overanalysing all the ‘what ifs’. If Dash wants me, he is going to have to come and get me.

After he gets rid of his girlfriend.

Chapter Ten

I’m walking into my office on Monday morning when I see him leaning against the wall by my door.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, glancing around. I lower my voice. “And how did you even know where to find me?”

“Xander wouldn’t give me your number, so I just did a quick Google search of your name,” he says, pushing off the wall and approaching me. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back on Saturday night.”

“It’s fine. I’m used to being right,” I say, arching my brow at him.