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Dash smirked at me and my mouth dropped open in shock. I think that was number three now, and there were no demons to be seen.

“I love my room,” I blurted. “It’s lovely. All of it. Thank you. I even like my tiny closet.”

“No girl likes a small closet,” he shot back.

Boy, did he have a lot to learn when it came to me.

“Right now, at Mr. Cole’s house,” I told him, “my closet is pretty much an empty space with a few things hanging up and a couple laundry baskets. I couldn’t fit more than one laundry basket in the closet in here if I tried. I love it. Wasted space is stupid. My coffin closet kicks ass.”

He grinned, and asked, “Did you really throw a rock a Quinton’s head?”

“Get out,” I ordered as I pointed towards the door. We absolutely were not talking about Quinton and that fucking rock. Good grief. That stupid story was going to follow me to my grave

Dash held up his hands in defeat. “Alright, alright. No mare laughing at your expense. You’re going to let it go. You hijacked my cat, it’s the least you could do. Get dressed and meet me down in the kitchen.”

He walked out of the bedroom without bothering to look back.

I still had his cat in bed with me. I’d call that a win. Oh, and he was making me coffee.

This day was already off to a good start.

Chapter Thirty

Dash wasn’t upstairs, and he wasn’t in the kitchen. I moved through the dining room, then the living room, not finding him. I was about to call out his name when I came to the mud room and stopped, snapping my mouth shut.

What was going on?

Dash stood in the open door with his back to me. He moved out of the open doorway and stepped further outside, completely leaving the safety of his house.

Who was he talking to?

“She’s not here, buddy,” I heard Dash say. “Maybe you should check at her house.”

“She’s here,” I heard Chucky’s angry rumble in response. “Her car is here, and I know she showed up here yesterday and hasn’t left since.”

What?

What the hell was Chucky doing here?

And, how had he found me here at Dash’s house? First, he showed up at Mr. Cole’s house. Now, he was here at Dash’s house.

What in the actual fuck? He must have followed me. That wasn’t creepy or anything.

I moved closer to the open door, unable to stop myself.

“Listen, buddy,” Dash said, “you need to get off of my property. Otherwise, I am going to call the police on you.”

That didn’t sound like a bad idea to me. This stalker business was getting old and it had only just begun.

“What the fuck?” Dash growled angrily. “Did you follow her from her house and then sit out here all night at my house watching for her? That’s sick. You’re not right in the head, buddy, and you need to get your ass off of my property.”

Slowly, I walked towards the front door. This was my mess and I didn’t think Dash should have to deal with it on his own.

“I’m not leaving until I see Ariel for myself.”

I pulled the door open wider and stood behind Dash. His scars were on display today and I hoped he didn’t turn around because I didn’t want Chucky to see them and say something nasty to Dash about them. That would be something he would do.

“I’m right here,” I said, and Dash’s body jerked in surprise. “Now that you’ve seen me, it’s time for you to leave. Dash has asked you to go twice now that I’ve heard, and I think you should listen to him before he’s forced to call the police on you.”