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“Just bulking up for the ladies,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at me.
“I bet you have them lined up around the block,” I laughed.
“Well, that was my plan, but then I came home and found your house sliced in two. No damages, I hope,” he said, holding my hands out as he ran his eyes over my body.
“Nothing wounded but my pride. And the shower curtain I had to wear as clothing.”
“I would have killed to see that, Wilder,” he laughed just as Dash rammed his way through the door, practically leaping over the couch. He was breathing hard and sweating like he’d just run a marathon. “There’s…man…here…” He bent over, sucking in deep breaths as he held his knees for support.
“Dash! Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“Who’s this, Wilder? Keeping someone on the side and not telling me about it?”
“Wilder?” Dash asked, looking at him funny.
“Yeah.” Andrew had this adorable grin that he couldn’t stop if he tried. It worked on men and women alike, though he only used it onwomen. He wrapped an arm around my neck, pulling me against him. “I’ve called her Wilder since she was a kid. You know, because of her last name.”
Dash looked at me in confusion.
“My last name is Woods. So, naturally, I became Laura Wilder.”
“I still don’t get it,” Dash said, looking between the two of us.
“Woods.Little House On The Prairie? Laura Ingles Wilder?”
By the look on his face, he still didn’t get it.
“Anyway, I’m Andrew—Wilder’s one and only friend since I saw her underwear on the playground when she hung upside down from the monkey bars.”
Dash laughed, but it was that sort of disgusted laugh. If I was reading the room right, he didn’t like Andrew. Which didn’t make sense. Andrew was awesome.
“So, how do you know Wilder?”
“Oh, me and Lo go way back,” Dash answered, staring at him in challenge.
I glanced between the two of them, wondering what the hell was going on. And where did Lo come from?
“Yeah? How’d you meet?”
“At the grocery store,” Dash retorted. “Yesterday.”
“That’s…quick. Wilder, I had no idea you were that type of girl.”
“And what type of girl is that?” Dash scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I was just making a joke, you know, because she has a nickname after knowing you for a day.”
“It’s news to me,” I muttered under my breath.
“So, are you staying here now?” Andrew asked, turning his focus back to me.
“Um…I’m not sure what I’m doing. I have to get ahold of Edith. I left her a message, but she hasn’t gotten back to me yet.”
“Well, you know you can always stay with me.”
“Thank you!” I practically threw myself in his arms. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of it sooner. I even had at least one outfit at his house, so that would make me feel just a little better.
“Okay, but you can’t come home with me if you’re gonna wear that,” he laughed. “You’re not even wearing underwear!”